Rebecca's parents also became involved in the fight for stricter gun laws, pleading with lawmakers to place more restrictions on firearm ownership. Danna helped found the lobbying group Oregonians Against Gun Violence in 1990 and went to Washington, DC, to lobby for passage of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act.
“We face death every morning,” said Rebecca’s father. Benson Schaeffertold the Los Angeles Times in October 1991. “Sometimes you get desperate. You keep missing the person. The gun issue allows us to channel our anger.” (The Brady Act was finally passed in 1993.)
The Schaeffers' goals included requiring waiting periods on all gun sales and requiring that guns be sold only by licensed dealers.
“There's so little we can do about Rebecca's death,” said Benson, a child psychologist. “We feel good about it. It's the only way we can tell the public that what happened to Rebecca is not OK.”
And besides the aftermath of the tragedy, there was of course the spectacle: a beautiful 21-year-old celebrity was killed by a stalker in her home in broad daylight. Terrifying and endlessly captivating.
The result is a lasting portrait of a victim who not only had what it takes to become a big star, but also of a young woman whose generosity touched everyone who knew her.
