Dear John,

Today marks the eight-year anniversary of the Charleston church shooting. A white supremacist killed nine and injured one other during Bible study at Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church.

My heart is heavy today in memory of those lost. It especially hurts knowing these innocent lives were taken away in our place of worship.

As a mother, I know the pain of having a loved one stolen from me by gun violence. My son Jordan was shot and killed in 2012; he was only seventeen. We can’t bring back my son and all the other innocent lives taken too soon by gun violence, but survivors and loved ones all deserve better.

I won’t stand by while shootings continue to rage on, devastating family after family. Just this week, along with some of my colleagues in Congress, I have introduced discharge petitions to force a vote on vital gun safety measures. The discharge petitions would ban AR-15 style firearms, expand background checks, and close the Charleston loophole.

These bills would save lives and help make our communities safer. Proper gun safety measures would ensure we would lose no more loved ones to gun violence. We must stop future shootings so others will not have to know the same pain that I and too many others share.

I grieve today with those in Charleston that lost a family member, friend, or loved one eight years ago and all those around the country whose lives have changed forever by a horrific act of gun violence. We will not let our spirit get broken, and we will never stop sharing our stories.

With love,

Lucy McBath