John — Two years ago this week, something really upsetting happened that I wanted to remind you of: The National Republican Party attacked me constantly for a month straight after I spoke up about gun violence, culminating in their accusation that I was “raising money for my re-election campaign off of mass shootings.” 

If you don’t recall, here’s what had happened: After the back-to-back mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton rocked our country during the summer of 2019, I sent an email to this list vowing to continue our fight in Congress for gun safety and continuing to advocate for the legacy of my son Jordan. 

I remember getting an incredulous call from my Campaign Manager Jake. National Republicans had picked up my campaign email, and were on an all-out offensive — accusing me of “politicizing a tragedy.” The Washington Post picked it up. Folks from Chris Hayes to Shannon Watts rushed to my defense. Journalists, Parkland parents, and my fellow Democrat colleagues were all incredulous.

To have a National Republican spokeswoman attack me — Lucy McBath — for advocating on behalf of grieving mothers who had lost their children to gun violence, in the raw moments after tragedies that affected two communities, killed 32, and wounded another 40 people… It was simply disgusting, John. Then, to make matters even worse, they continued these bad-faith attacks on me for over a month, until this week two years ago. 

I want you to know, John, that I am strong. I am resilient. There is nothing Republicans can say about me or our gun safety movement that can compare to the grief, rage, and pain I felt when my son Jordan was taken from me by a man with a gun who referred to the music Jordan’s friends were playing as “thug music” when he was parked at a gas station to buy some gum. 

I promise that even in the face of all sorts of attacks and lies about me, I will never stop fighting for Jordan. I will never stop fighting for gun safety reform. I will never stop fighting for the families and the legacies of the more than 80,000 Americans who have died due to gun violence since I was sworn in to Congress in January 2019. 

Thank you,

— Lucy

P.S. The GOP is going to keep using these dirty tricks and vile attacks against me. If you are with me in this fight for gun safety, please consider making a donation of any amount to my re-election campaign to help me fight back.