Dear Friend,

My heart is broken for our fellow Texans in Uvalde. I am praying for the families of the victims who woke up again this morning to grief and pain I can only imagine as a father. I refuse to accept that there is nothing we can do to keep our kids safe in their schools, or to protect worshippers or shoppers at the supermarket. We have speed limits in school zones and numerous laws to keep our children safe, but in this case, many Republican politicians have decided that there’s nothing we can do. I will not accept that.

The truth is that we are the only major developed nation that is plagued by this level of gun violence, caused by policies at the state and federal level that value unfettered access to weapons of war over children’s lives.

The House has passed, with a bipartisan vote, a bill to make background checks universal for gun sales, a basic measure that nearly 90% of Americans agree with. That bipartisan legislation is sitting in the Senate, and I urge them to pass it and send it to President Biden’s desk this week. Additionally, we must do something about the ease of access to the weapons of war repeatedly used in these kinds of massacres. I support a ban on assault weapons, like we had previously for many years, and am ready to work with my colleagues on other measures including potentially raising the purchasing age for certain assault style weapons.

The time for excuses and politics is over, and I will work with anyone to find common ground to save lives.

Here in the 32nd District, fears hit home yesterday as a student was arrested for carrying assault style weapons in the Berkner High School school zone. I’m so grateful for the good samaritan who reported the student and to the Richardson Police for making the swift arrest, but this makes it clearer than ever that teenagers should not have easy access to assault weapons.

As angry as I am that Texas continues to make headlines for all the wrong reasons, I am as determined as ever to fight for a state where all our children are safe and that all Texans can be proud of. 

Sincerely,

Colin Allred
Member of Congress

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