Friend, I am all too familiar with the cowardice of Marco Rubio. 

Just one week after my daughter Jaime was murdered at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, I confronted Marco Rubio at a town hall on gun safety. He couldn't even look at me. He refused to work with Parkland survivors to make it more difficult for people to access assault rifles – weapons of war – like the one that killed my Jaime. He has continued since the Parkland shooting to politicize any efforts to reduce gun violence. 

I will do anything I can to ensure Marco Rubio is no longer in the Senate, because we need an advocate like Val Demings, whose strength and integrity is exactly what Florida needs, to replace him. Will you join me in supporting Val Demings by rushing a contribution of $5 or more right now? 

Each and every day during her service in Congress – especially after the mass shootings in Parkland and at Pulse nightclub in her Orlando-based district – Val Demings has been one of the strongest fighters for gun safety reform.

I'm reaching out asking you for dollars to meet this goal, but it's about the people we can save. It's about creating a gun safety majority in the Senate that will enact the urgent change our country needs – change to prevent families like mine from going through any more senseless tragedy. But incompetent Marco Rubio is backed by the nearly $30 million campaign war chest of the Senate Republicans. In fact, NRA-loving Republicans have already funneled tens of millions of dollars into Florida to defend Rubio.

Val Demings can only win with the grassroots support of people like you and me, which is why I'm personally reaching out. I told the congresswoman I'd help raise $20,000 today for her Senate race – a race that experts are saying could decide Senate control. So please, can I count on you to donate $5 or more to help Val Demings win in Florida and make real progress on gun safety? Every dollar you give will build up grassroots resources that Congresswoman Demings needs to compete against massive amounts of GOP money.

I can never get my Jaime back, but helping changemakers like Val Demings – a leader who has passed lifesaving gun safety legislation – gives me the purpose I've needed since her murder. Thank you for doing your part to help.

Fred Guttenberg
Gun Violence Survivor
Jaime and Jesse's dad