John,

My name is Nancy Rotering, I'm the mayor of Highland Park, Illinois. One year ago today, a gunman armed with an assault weapon killed seven of my community members and wounded 48 others during our Fourth of July parade.

I will never forget the chaos, fear, and horror of that day. My mind replays the sound of gunshots and screams echoing over and over again. It's impossible to forget the desperate phone calls from families who couldn't locate their loved ones—and the sick realization that those loved ones would never come home. It's impossible to forget the funerals and the grief that hung heavy in the air.

Today, our community is coming together again to march in the same parade.

We are coming together to honor the lives stolen from us, to show solidarity with the families who will never be whole again, to support the victims who still carry their wounds, and to send a clear message to Washington that change must come.

I penned a letter to Congress, calling on our lawmakers to ban assault weapons – like the one used at our parade last year. Will you join me in demanding action? Add your name to Brady's urgent petition right now and make it clear that the American people want these weapons of war off of our streets.

A mass shooting like this one is every mayor's worst fear. And in many ways, I knew this day would come. I remember thinking to myself one year ago, "It's just our turn."

It's because we are all Highland Park. We are all at risk of being shot, whether we are marching in a parade, sitting in class at school, shopping at the grocery store, or simply walking down the street. That's the reality of living in America today.

That's why I went to Washington to testify in front of Congress and advocate for gun safety reforms. And it's why I'm teaming up with Brady to ensure that we finally ban assault weapons like the one that killed seven of my constituents and community members.

Please, will you take just a moment to add your name to our urgent petition? Brady has set a goal to receive 25,000 responses before midnight tomorrow. They're counting on activists like you to show Washington that Americans are united in support of an assault weapons ban.

I know that we can end this cycle of gun violence and win a future where weapons of war are no longer on our streets and in our communities. But we have to fight to win that future, John.

I'm ready to fight—and I hope you are too.

With gratitude,

Nancy Rotering
Mayor of Highland Park