I’ve been closely watching what’s happened in Tennessee in recent weeks, and John -- it’s unnerving.

I was glad to see both Tennessee lawmakers reinstated at the legislature after Republicans removed them for participating in a protest calling for action on gun violence and safety.

But I have to tell you, the words of one Tennessee Republican as he voted to expel his colleagues -- two Black legislators -- have stayed with me. He said: “That yearning for attention, that’s what you wanted? Well, you’re getting it now.”

Hearing that coded speech took me back to growing up in South Carolina during Jim Crow. I wasn’t intimidated then. I’m not intimidated now. And I know this community won’t be intimidated either.

We will keep standing up, John. Speaking out. Marching. Protesting. Demanding action.

What happened in Tennessee was a complete subversion of our democracy.

We must stand on the side of our democracy when others try to undermine the will of voters. We must stand on the side of our children who should be able to go to school without living in fear of gun violence.

There have been even more mass shootings in our country since the Nashville school shooting. In fact, there have been over 160 mass shootings this year alone.

I recently reintroduced my bill that would close the Charleston loophole that allowed the Mother Emanuel gunman to obtain his gun in 2015 without a background check. 

We must keep fighting for those types of commonsense gun-safety measures: Stronger background checks. Closing loopholes. Getting assault weapons off our streets. That’s how we can finally address the cycle of gun violence in our country.

John, I’m hoping you will add your name and stand with me as we continue to demand action on gun violence. 

Thank you, 

Jim