Friends -

Yesterday in El Paso, Texas, a young man motivated by hate and enabled by easy access to weapons of war walked into a Walmart and killed at least 20 people in what is one of the worst mass shootings in American history.

Hours later, another one.

This time, shortly before closing time at a bar in Dayton, Ohio. The news as of right now is that 9 more are dead and 16 injured.

All in less than one minute according to police.

Our families should not be afraid to run errands on a Saturday afternoon.

They should not have to look at their kids and worry about whether the individual approaching a store with a gun is an open carry activist or someone coming to kill lots and lots of people.

They should not have to be afraid to attend block parties, movies, festivals, concerts or local bars.

They should not have to be afraid to worship or go to school.

They should not have to -- as all of us have at some point -- look around for the exits, wondering what route to take in case someone comes in with a gun with the intent to do harm.

This is no way to live.

Yet, we are the only industrialized country on the face of this Earth that forces its citizens to live this way.

Our hearts are, once again, with two more communities forced to reckon with tragedies on an absolutely devastating scale.

Our outrage is with our nation's leaders who know how to stop these horrors but consciously make the decision to prioritize the profits of gun manufacturers ahead of the safety of our communities.

We can change this.

We can save lives.

And if Congress -- and specifically Mitch McConnell and Republicans in the United States Senate -- fail to act, then we must act to replace them.

Because until that happens, shootings like these are not unimaginable ... they are inevitable.

All my best,

Gabby Giffords
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Sign Giffords' petition: tell Mitch McConnell and the United States Senate to debate and vote on universal background checks legislation that will make our communities safer from gun violence -- legislation that will save lives.

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