John,

On February 14, 2018, I experienced the worst feeling possible. My daughter Jaime was murdered during the Marjory Stoneman Douglas school shooting. My son, also a student at MJS, luckily escaped this massacre.

My daughter would now be getting her license and starting to think about what she wanted to do after high school. She should be here, getting to experience the normal trials and tribulations of becoming an adult.

Instead, I will never see my daughter graduate from high school and college. Walk her down the aisle at her wedding. I will never get to hug her again. I will never get to tell her how much I love her and miss her.

Now, there is a hole in my heart. My family will forever be incomplete and a piece of me will always be missing because somebody was allowed to purchase an AR-15 without any background checks or permitting procedure.

Nobody should be made to feel the absolute anguish and helplessness that I felt that day. Losing a child to something as preventable and senseless as gun violence is something that cannot keep happening. Children, like my daughter Jaime, should not be taken from this world before they have a chance to experience everything that life has to offer.

It’s why I’ve dedicated the rest of my life to ending gun violence and working to find a solution in Congress that changes the gun laws in this country.

And it’s senators like Lindsey Graham that are blocking real change and common-sense gun laws. We all know that Lindsey Graham isn’t going to stand up to the special interests like the NRA and do something about ending gun violence.

It’s why I’m supporting Jaime Harrison and telling Lindsey Graham it’s time to go. Will you join me and chip in?

In fact, what drew me to Jaime is how much his actions and what he stands for embodies some of my favorite wisdom.

“Always look for the helpers. There will always be helpers. Because if you look for the helpers, you'll know there's hope.”

This Fred Rogers quote from one of my favorite shows that I watched with my children is one of the universal truths found in life. When there is tragedy and chaos, there are always people willing to rise above and serve their neighbors, community, and country.

And Jaime, to me, is a helper.

Jaime’s “Harrison Helps” program has provided over 400 children with backpacks and school supplies in his hometown, as well as Personal Protective Equipment and diapers to families all across South Carolina who are struggling during this pandemic.

He is going to fight for working families across South Carolina because he understands their struggle... because that was his struggle growing up.

Ask yourself, who does Lindsey Graham help? What are his priorities?

It’s pushing through a judge that is primed to take away healthcare from millions of people. It’s ignoring a pandemic that has needlessly killed over 200,000 people. It’s letting struggling families and workers decide between food and rent for the coming month.

It’s the special interests like the NRA that have bought and paid for his support. It’s waiting around for the next tragedy just to offer his thoughts and prayers.

Lindsey is not a helper for the people he represents in South Carolina nor for the country he serves in the Senate.

It’s why I’m asking you to join me in telling Lindsey it’s time to go. Will you pitch in with a gift today?

It’s time to restore hope to the people of South Carolina that they will have a senator that will fight for them and act in their interests.

Remember Jaime’s words and why he is the answer for South Carolina right now:

"While I breathe, I hope.”

It’s time to bring hope back to the people of South Carolina.

Let’s do this,
Fred Guttenberg