As moms, seeing tragic news about gun violence involving children feels unbelievable but also increasingly familiar. In this week’s Meet a Mom interview, we’re sharing our conversation with Angela Ferrell-Zabala, the executive director of Moms Demand Action, a powerful and non-partisan leader in the movement against gun violence. MDA was founded in 2012 after the Sandy Hook shooting, Today the organization has 11 million supporters in all 50 states, and recently became part of Everytown for Gun Safety.
Angela took the helm in 2023 as executive director, when founder Shannon Watts stepped down as part of a planned transition. We asked this Washington, D.C.-based mom of four about her important role, talking to her own kids about gun violence and what will really facilitates change. Plus, we learn what all moms can do to help if they have only five minutes.
You have been an organizer your whole life. How did it start?
Growing up, my mother and grandmother always inspired me to show up and care for our communities. My mom always said that “we’re not okay until we’re all okay.”
That core value, along with my faith, led me to spending basically my whole life as a grassroots organizer, working across issues like immigration justice, civil rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and reproductive freedom, including years at Planned Parenthood before joining Moms Demand Action.
What spurred you to join Everytown & Moms Demand Action?
As a parent, it’s impossible to ignore the reality that guns are the number one killer of kids in this country. It got to a point where I knew I couldn’t look away or stay on the sidelines any longer. Motherhood makes this work deeply personal, but it also deepens my responsibility to every child who deserves to live free from the constant threat of gun violence — not just my own.
You’re confronted by so much tragedy in your work. How do you talk to your kids about these topics?
I try to lead with listening. Making space for what they’re feeling is the most important thing. Their experience growing up is so different from mine, with things like lockdown drills being a part of their everyday life. So my goal is to make sure their feelings are heard, their questions are answered thoughtfully and honestly, and also protect them from the nonstop stream of scary and misleading content online.
Why do you think there has been little progress against gun violence in schools and beyond?
First, what I’ll say is there actually has been so much progress on this issue, even though it definitely doesn’t always feel that way. Lawmakers used to be scared to talk about gun safety. Today, it’s part of the national conversation, voters are demanding action, and we’re seeing incredible progress in state houses (red and blue) across the country. Just last year alone, our movement passed 51 gun safety policies in 22 states.
But our challenge is that there’s still a gun industry and a gun lobby who put profit ahead of our lives. They buy out politicians, push false and fear-mongering narratives, and try to block our movement from passing common sense, data-driven policies that curb gun violence while being totally compatible with the Second Amendment rights.
What do you see as real solutions?
I want to see bold federal action that protects every community, because no one is immune to this crisis. That means things like universal background checks, banning assault weapons, and finally holding the gun industry accountable, the same way we do with any other industry whose products can cause harm.
What can moms do if they only have five or ten minutes to support the movement?
Start with a conversation. Talk to a neighbor, a family member or another parent. Whether it’s about safe storage, voting for leaders who prioritize gun safety, or asking questions about firearm safety before a sleepover, those small, human moments of connection are where real change really begins.
How do you take care of yourself — physically and spiritually?
I really believe that without joy, we can’t do this work, which has led me to be a bit of a hobbyist. I love teaching dance, meditating, journaling, cooking, watching trashy reality TV and goofing off with my kids and our dogs. I’m also a woman of faith, and that faith helps anchor me when the work feels heavy. I need my cup to be filled, so I can pour back into others.
Anything else you’d like to share?
This crisis can feel overwhelming, but none of us is alone in it. Everyone has a role to play. It’s only when we add up all our small actions together that we can make change. So if you want to get involved, you can text READY to 644-33 to connect with a Moms Demand Action chapter near you!
