Friend,

With President Biden's first official State of the Union on the horizon, I can't help but think back to when I attended Donald Trump's State of the Union speech in 2020 – and was promptly escorted out. 

The very next day, after having been impeached by the House months before, Trump was acquitted by the Senate when a majority of Republicans decided he was above he law. 

It was an emotional night for me. I had been invited to attend by Speaker Pelosi, but after Donald Trump said gun rights were "under siege all across our country," I thought of how I lost my daughter, Jaime, and absolutely couldn't stomach his lies. 

I've listened to too many politicians tell lies about the Second Amendment while ignoring the realities of gun violence. Donald Trump, Marco Rubio – they're all one and the same. Cowards. Shills for the gun lobby. We may have defeated Trump, but Marco Rubio and pro-NRA sellouts like him remain.

Thinking back on that moment, I'm more resolved than ever to stand up against those who get in the way of commonsense gun safety reform. That's why I'm doing whatever I can to defeat Marco Rubio and elect Val Demings as Florida's next U.S. senator. Will you join me by donating $5 or more to Val Demings' campaign so she can win in Florida and expand our Senate majority?

Val Demings and I have something in common: We've stood up to both Donald Trump and Marco Rubio – calling them out for their lies, dangerous rhetoric and blind allegiance to the gun lobby. 

I know Congresswoman Demings isn't just all talk (unlike far too many in Washington). She's actually passed lifesaving reforms like expanded background checks. In fact, she's been one of survivors' strongest allies in Congress when it comes to making progress on gun safety reform. This is probably because – as someone who served in law enforcement – Congresswoman Demings saw the scourge of gun violence up close and personal.

In 2019, 2020 and 2021, I watched time and again as we passed legislation to curb gun violence in the House, only to have it not even come to a debate in the Senate thanks to people like Marco Rubio. I've had enough. It's time to stop with thoughts and prayers. It's time to elect more gun safety champions to the Senate and expand our majority so we can pass lifesaving measures into law. Val Demings is exactly the champion we need to do it. 

But month after month, Marco Rubio keeps hauling in millions of dollars for his reelection campaign. The GOP has already funneled more than $10 million into Florida and is running a blitz of attack ads to defeat Val Demings, and McConnell's aligned super PAC has millions more to defend Rubio. That's why Val Demings and I need you. Please, donate $5 or whatever you can spare today to ensure Val Demings can defeat Marco Rubio and pass gun safety legislation through the Senate!

Nothing will bring 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 my daughter's murder. Thank you for doing your part to help.

Fred Guttenberg
Gun Violence Survivor
Jaime and Jesse's dad