John–

Last night, at least 18 people were killed and 13 more wounded in my
college town of Lewiston, Maine after a gunman armed with an AR-15 opened
fire twice while people were bowling and enjoying a meal. Lewiston and our
other nearby communities are still in lockdown as law enforcement searches
for the suspect.

Now, when I think back on my most memorable moments at Bates College, it
won't just be move-in day, the first day of class, or even my
graduation—but also the day my community was terrorized by this
nightmarish act of gun violence. Unfortunately, this has become all too
common for my generation.

Like so many others, I spent last night locked in a backroom of my house
with my roommates, listening to sirens and helicopters flying low overhead
and obsessively checking the news for the latest updates.

Today, I'm feeling devastated and numb. Working in gun violence
prevention, I hear about senseless tragedies every day, but for it to hit
so close to home is horrifying. I'm overwhelmed with pain for my community
and those whose loved ones were killed, wounded, or traumatized in this
tragedy.

There's often a common thread in mass shootings, and the tragedy here in
Lewiston is no different: The shooting turned as deadly as it did because
of an assault weapon—a weapon invented for use on the battlefield,
designed to kill as many people as possible as quickly as possible.

The best way I know how to honor my community is by demanding meaningful
legislative action on gun safety. [ [link removed] ]That's why we're calling for Congress
to reinstate the federal assault weapons ban.

Lewiston is a small town and a close-knit community. The trauma from last
night's shooting will reverberate here for years to come. And we can
ensure no other community has to experience this avoidable pain by
responding with action.

Our communities deserve to live and thrive in peace. [ [link removed] ]Join me in telling
your U.S. Senators and Representative to save lives by supporting a
federal assault weapons ban.

Thank you for taking action,

Campbell McKendry
She/Her/Hers
Intern, Everytown for Gun Safety


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