Eight years ago, America woke up to the news of another mass shooting, this time at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida. But as the hours passed and the news trickled in, it became clear that this one was different.

Later that day we learned why: The tragedy at Pulse was a hate-fueled attack against LGBTQ+ and Latino people that left 49 dead and dozens more wounded.

In the weeks that followed, some legislators tried to force action. There was Congressman John Lewis’s sit-in on the House floor. With the help of his colleagues, Senator Chris Murphy led a dramatic gun violence prevention filibuster that ultimately forced a vote on background checks.

It did not pass then, but we continued to fight.

We fought to elect leaders who would prioritize the safety of our communities over the profits of gun manufacturers. And we fought to convince our elected officials it was beyond time to act.

And then, finally, we passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. It is the most significant gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years, and President Joe Biden signed it into law.

But our work is not done. If we are going to continue to make any additional progress, we need to defeat Donald Trump and elect gun safety champions to the House and Senate.

The DNC is one of the organizations best positioned to help get that done. So I am asking:

Can you please make today the day you contribute $7 to the Democratic National Committee to help defeat Donald Trump and elect Democrats up and down the ballot this fall?

We must work towards a future where hate-filled individuals can no longer access firearms and harm our nation’s most vulnerable populations. I hope you will continue to stand with me in this vital fight.

With courage,

Gabby Giffords