John,

During these turbulent times, I want to talk about an issue that’s been weighing on my mind for some time.

Every chance I get, I support and vote for legislation addressing gun violence with meaningful action, not lip service.

But the issue of our kids’, our families’ and our personal safety has increasingly become a national, everyday topic. Republicans know there is broad public support for legislative solutions, yet they ignore our needs and bow to the gun lobby.

Each senseless tragedy and each empty statement following is angering, heartbreaking and traumatizing for so many of us, and now more than ever, we need to take action.

I continue to hear from folks in our district and communities across the country who are more worried than ever about our nation’s gun violence epidemic and feel unsafe in virtually any space in their daily lives. This is unacceptable and I refuse to allow this to remain our reality.

We owe it to the victims, their loved ones and our future to put tangible, effective safeguards in place to protect ourselves from gun violence. It’s a moral obligation.

I’ve backed several bipartisan bills that we previously passed in Congress including the Bipartisan Background Checks Act that would require background checks on every gun sale or transfer and the Enhanced Background Checks Act to close the Charleston loophole allowing sales of guns before background checks are completed. 

Frustratingly, we continue to face GOP opposition to sign any gun safety measures that would save lives into law. That’s why we must work together to elect folks who will actually listen and act when friends and families who are mourning loved ones tell Congress to “do something.”

Even though Illinois is a national leader in enacting gun violence prevention, we continue to experience gun violence in part due to nearby states that have weak gun laws. We need federal action now.

The Biden administration’s new White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention is the first-ever federal office created to address this crisis. It’s a promising step to help ensure we can find more solutions like implementing our Bipartisan Safer Communities Act across the country but this is only the beginning.

John, I want to make sure we’re on the same page: Do you agree that we can make our communities safer by passing more gun safety legislation including the Bipartisan Background Checks Act and Enhanced Background Checks Act?

I stand firmly for the safety of the people, not the profits of the gun lobby. Thanks for standing with me.

Lauren