I’m furious, and here's why:

Yesterday, I got another alert on my phone that a mass shooting took the lives of five innocent Americans. My heart breaks for the victims and their families.

I had already planned on writing to you this morning about the need to act on gun safety legislation, because one year ago today, the House passed HR 8. Our bipartisan legislation requires background checks on every gun purchase nationwide. It's a common-sense proposal that 9 out of every 10 Americans support.

It is tragic and absurd that yet another mass shooting occurred in our country, and yet the United States Senate refuses to act. While Mitch McConnell bends to the will of the gun lobby, real Americans are paying with their lives. In fact, he has not held a single hearing.

New Jersey is a leader when it comes to common-sense gun safety legislation and we've joined the thousands of Americans who have marched to demand better from leadership in Washington.

Today, I join others in calling on Mitch McConnell to advance HR 8 in the Senate and enact the will of the people — as we were elected to do. Know that I will not give up this fight to keep all our communities and our children safe.

Mikie Sherrill