One year ago, white nationalist and anti-immigrant rhetoric from this president led to a domestic terrorist attack in El Paso that claimed 23 lives—the deadliest attack targeting Latinos in modern American history.

In the year since, El Paso has shown resilience and grace as she heals. But in that same year, far too many politicians in Washington have refused to take common sense steps to prevent the next mass shooting. We deserve to be able to leave our homes, go to school, pray in church, and live our lives without fear of being gunned down.

We need leaders with the courage to fight for common sense gun safety laws, not ones whose silence can be bought with a check from the gun lobby. As an Air Force and Iraq War veteran, I know how dangerous these weapons can be in the wrong hands. As a Texan, my state has suffered four of the deadliest mass shootings in modern U.S. history: Austin, Sutherland Springs, El Paso, and Killeen.

We deserve better, and in Congress, I’ll fight for common sense legislation such as universal background checks and closing the boyfriend loophole.

In service,

Gina Ortiz Jones

Paid for by Gina Ortiz Jones for Congress

Gina Ortiz Jones was a member of the United States Air Force. Use of her military rank, job titles, and photographs in uniform does not imply endorsement by the Department of Defense.