After her daughter Emily was shot twice and survived the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre, Lori became personally involved in gun violence prevention efforts. Lori has served as the Virginia Organizer of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence since January 2010. She has worked with the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, the Virginia Center for Public Safety, Protest Easy Guns and Mayors Against Illegal guns. She has lobbied on Capital Hill in Washington and before the Virginia General Assembly for responsible gun laws numerous times.

Lori graduated in 1976 from Saint Gertrude High School and attended Virginia Tech for two years. After a successful career in real estate, Lori volunteered for many neighborhood, church, school and civic organizations. She was born and still lives in Richmond, Virginia. She is married with three children: Emily, a Virginia Tech graduate and elementary school teacher; Wyatt, a student at William & Mary, and; Townley, a student at Benedictine College Preparatory. Her husband Channing is a self-employed residential builder.