Last night PBS aired the premiere of "Dear Rita," a powerful one-hour documentary about Rita Martinez. Rita was shot and killed last March by a stray bullet while watching cartoons in a bedroom at her grandmother's house. In an effort to prevent Rita's death from becoming "yet another killing," her mother made a vow to fight for sensible gun laws.

The fight began at the Million Mom March in Washington D.C. six weeks after Rita's death. Over the next year Rita's family, classmates and teachers poured their hearts out in the hope that others would see and hear how gun violence impacts families, friends and society.

Three film crews captured the total experience of the march. They filmed on a bus full of women and families from Milwaukee as they traveled to our nation's capital. Another crew arrived ahead of time to record arrivals from around the country. The third team stayed here to catch Mothers' Day as usual.

Rita's mother, Cynthia Martinez, was on the Milwaukee bus along with her sister and cousin. "I was still numb then," she said. "I felt I was spiritually led, standing in the gap for the children who are still alive."

Much like Martinez, many of the participants carried photos of their dead children. They all learned that Rita was one of thirteen children a day killed by a firearm in the U.S. For children under the age of fifteen, that rate is higher than that of 25 other industrialized countries combined.

Janet Fitch, founder of New Moon Productions, which co-produced the series, said the diverse range of people in Washington was inspiring. "The phrase 'We the People' stayed with me throughout the march. I kept thinking 'We the People' are different now than when the Constitution was written, and we're all here on the Mall, doing what franchised Americans are supposed to do- voicing our discontent with the status quo."

Brad Pruitt, co-founder of the local non-profit organization Collaborative Effect, which helped make the film, said that the last year was an awakening for him. "It is difficult for me to come to grips with how misinformed I was about the issues of gun violence in this country."

"Dear Rita" includes expert testimony that attempts to counter general stereotypes of who causes and is affected by gun violence. For example, suicides account for more than 50% of gun deaths in Wisconsin. Most of those occur in rural and suburban areas. The documentary raises questions about why our culture resorts to superficial means of solving problems and what needs to be done about it.

"Dear Rita" is the first in a three-part documentary series dealing with gun violence in the United States and the issues that surround it. New Moon Productions and Collaborative Effect produce the series, entitled "Guns, Grief and Grace in America." For more information call (414) 264-1797 or visit www.newmoononline.com.