Friend,

I was speaking on the Senate floor recently about the need for universal background checks – moments after Republicans again blocked a vote on the issue – when I was handed a devastating note: In real time, across the country, yet another school shooting was taking two more students from their families, injuring others, and leaving yet another community heartbroken.

In the moment, it took my breath away. To learn that our children were dying literally as I was speaking in a room with the very people who could do something to stop it. And yet, they do nothing. They are deaf – to my pleas, yes …but more importantly, to the grief and pain of the victims and their families.

To my colleagues in Congress, I say yet again, we must not avert our gaze. We must not give in to the NRA. If we continue failing to act in the face of tragedy after tragedy, we are complicit in these deaths.

I’ve been working to pass a bipartisan bill to make sure guns aren’t allowed in the hands of those who pose a clear threat to our communities and to themselves. Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell are standing in the way. It’s going to take every one of us speaking out to finally bring the lifesaving change our country needs – that’s why I’m asking you to be one of the 4,000 people to sign my petition to demand action on gun violence:

Please, sign now to demand Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump finally take action on our country’s gun violence epidemic and support legislation that we know will save lives.

This isn’t about politics – or at least it shouldn’t be. This is about keeping our loved ones safe from violence that can be prevented: full stop. This is about making sure the only thing our students are afraid of at school is failing a test, not being shot in their classrooms. This is about making our streets and communities safer for every single one of us.

Nothing we do can take back the loss and fear that gun violence has inflicted across our country – from California to Florida to right here in Connecticut. Nothing will stop me from speaking out each and every day to put a stop to these horrors. I’m counting on you to stand with me:

Click here now to sign my petition and tell Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell: It’s time to finally step up and pass the lifesaving gun reform laws that will keep our loved ones safe from senseless, preventable acts of gun violence.

It means so much to have you with me in this critical fight. Thank you for speaking out.

Dick