John,

In the wake of the devastating school shooting in Nashville last month, I braced myself for the usual response. I expected the typical “thoughts and prayers” messaging with a lack of any real action to curb this epidemic of gun violence.

While there was certainly lots of that from across the nation, I was glad to be proven wrong by the Republican governor of Tennessee, Bill Lee. He signed an executive order this past week that strengthens background checks for gun purchases, and also called on lawmakers to pass a red flag law that would remove guns from dangerous people.

I applaud Governor Lee for doing the right thing and recognizing that easy access to firearms is a fundamental risk to public safety. While we certainly disagree on many key issues, this is a reminder that preventing gun violence should be a bipartisan effort. 

As he told reporters, “When there is a clear need for action, I think that we have an obligation to remind people that we should set aside politics and pride”.

I hope that Republicans across the country will follow his lead. Gun violence harms all of our communities – it’s ridiculous that this issue is viewed as right vs. left. No one wants to see their loved ones killed in a senseless act of violence, but we won’t see real progress on this issue without tangible legislation being passed.

I’ll continue to lead the fight for change in Congress, and I’ll welcome any of my Republican colleagues to our gun safety fight with open arms. We’re all in this together.

Onward,

Lucy McBath