Hi–

When I sit in my office at the Virginia State Capitol, I'm only a few
miles from where enslaved people were first brought into this country.
Over 400 years later, I'm cognizant of the shoulders I stand on as the
first Black Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates.

My rise to the Speakership isn't traditional: In 1994, while in law
school, I was convicted on federal drug charges and served seven and a
half years in prison.

That mistake set me off course—but I knew it didn't define me.

When I got out, I was newly focused on rebuilding my life: I worked tough
jobs, passed the bar exam, and eventually set my sights on running for
office to make life better for all Virginians—including those with stories
like my own.

In my four years in the legislature, I've witnessed major power shifts:
last year, Democrats flipped the House of Delegates to secure majorities
in both chambers, and I was elected Speaker.

Not only that: but nine Moms Demand Action volunteers were also elected,
meaning they now make up nearly 20 percent of our new majority in the
House. With this powerful Gun Sense Majority in both chambers, we're newly
empowered to take on the gun lobby and pass legislation to keep our
communities safe.

[ [link removed] ]Volunteer with Moms Demand Action to help us build on our gun safety
progress across the country.

This legislative session, our majority is focused on passing real
solutions that address Virginia's gun violence crisis. Just over a month
into our session, we've passed bills to prohibit assault weapons and ghost
guns, keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers, require and promote
secure firearm storage, and invest in community violence intervention
programs that keep our neighborhoods safe.

And as Virginia's first Black Speaker, I know that there's no way to talk
about gun violence without talking about its disproportionate impact on
Black communities, because generations of systemic racism and
disinvestment have led to us bearing the brunt of America's gun violence
epidemic.

That's why this Black History Month, the work the gun violence prevention
movement is doing to fight back against the gun lobby and invest in our
communities is vital. [ [link removed] ]Join us: Volunteer with Moms Demand Action in
your community.

With a diverse coalition of lawmakers, parents, students, and community
activists committed to keeping our communities safe, we can build a future
free from gun violence for all.

Thank you for being a part of this movement,

Speaker Don Scott
Virginia House of Delegates


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