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.

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. 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