Stop Our Shootings was founded in 1999 after the accidental shooting through the head of 12 year old Shanelle Johannessen Santisteban, when her best friend decided to play with a gun that was left unsecured in a briefcase as Shanelle folded clothes in her friend's closet. Shanelle survived a near brush with death with a long recovery with her jaw wired shut, as the bullet entered the right side of
her face, barely missed her spinal cord and then completely shattered her jaw on the way out. Shanelle at that time was an honor student, Olympic-hopeful gymnast and aspiring actress. Her entire life and the dreams of a young girl came to a screeching halt that day. Shanelle turned tragedy into triumph as she spent her teenage years traveling from school to school and speaking to entire student bodies on (1) the dangers of guns, (2) the natural attraction to pick one up and look at it, and (3) what to do if you see one. After the talks she handed out questionnaires to the children, to help us understand what children think about guns. Teachers remarked that they had never seen their students more polite and riveted, never leaving early, and lining up single file to thank her and shake her hand after. Shanelle is now happily married with four beautiful children! If you or anyone you know is the victim of an accidental shooting, please have them contact us.