John,

For too long, our nation has witnessed the devastating impact of gun violence.

Just one week after marching in President Obama’s 2013 inaugural parade, Hadiya Pendleton was shot and killed on a playground in Chicago.

To honor her memory, Hadiya’s friends started wearing orange – the same color hunters wear to protect themselves. Since then, thousands of Americans have joined them every June by wearing orange to remember Hadiya and the more than 43,000 people killed by gun violence each year.

Today is a stark reminder of the urgent need for common-sense gun safety reform – enough is enough. I’m running for Congress to take action against preventable gun-related tragedies. We need to:

• Implement universal background checks: We must ensure that every person purchasing a firearm is subject to a thorough, common-sense background check.
• Close dangerous loopholes: We must address gaps in outdated laws that allow individuals to bypass existing safety measures.
• Ban military-style assault weapons: We must keep weapons of war off our streets.

These measures are basic protections that are proven to save lives.

We owe it to the families who have suffered unimaginable loss to put an end to this epidemic. But politicians like Nick LaLota have stood against these necessary reforms for too long. It's time to act and prioritize the safety of our communities. We need leaders in Washington who believe in facts and research and who will stand up to powerful interests to protect our children and families. I’m proud to have been recognized by Moms Demand Action as a Gun Sense Candidate.

Today, I’m wearing orange to honor those we've lost due to gun violence, to support those who've been affected, and to demand action from our elected officials. Join me in demanding Congress take decisive steps to keep our communities safe from preventable gun violence by adding your name to the petition today >>

Onward,

Nancy