ORANGE, Calif. – Paul Wilson’s life hasn’t been the same since October 12, 2011, when a gunman entered Salon Meritage in Seal Beach shooting and killing eight people including his wife, Christy Wilson. 

His wife was a 47-year-old mother to three children and grandmother to two babies. The couple had been married for 26 years. 

“Christy and I got to see the world and we did in 26 years what takes married couples 60 or 70 years to do. I’m blessed and I miss her every day,” said Wilson, an advocate for gun reform. 

The gunman shot eight people inside the salon and one person in the parking lot, and only one victim survived. It was considered the deadliest mass killing in Orange County history. The gunman had been involved in a custody battle with his ex-wife, one of the shooting victims. 

Wilson’s wife worked at the salon and had just testified in a court custody hearing on behalf of her co-worker the day before the shooting. 

Wilson wanted to seek justice for his wife and to prevent another person from experiencing what his family had to endure, so he lobbied for a legislation called “Christy’s Law” which would’ve imposed gun restrictions upon the filing of a disputed divorce or custody case, pending a hearing in which those restrictions can be waived if all parties agree. Christy’s Law did not get enough support. 

“We’re still driving to everyday to get done. It’s not only the gun violence side, but it’s also on the accountability side for our elected officials and our law enforcement to hold them accountable,” said Wilson.

He said he realized almost immediately after his wife’s death that he had to use his voice to speak for victims of gun violence.

“Having a voice and being able to speak that voice was therapy for me. It was a better option for me that going to a therapist and sitting one on one and talking about it. The opportunity to potentially have an important voice and make a change was something I immediately wanted to do,” said Wilson. 

Wilson said he has since remarried to a woman who understands his loss because her husband was also suffered a tragic death. Their family stopped by the memorial that honors his late wife and the other victims a couple days ago on June 5 which would’ve been her 55th birthday.