Friend,

I'm horrified. I'm devastated. I'm furious.

Nineteen children and two teachers are dead in Uvalde, Texas. Dead because an 18 year-old teenager legally purchased two AR-15-style rifles and 375 rounds of ammunition on his birthday and took them to a school to commit a massacre.

Tolerating such bloodshed is cowardice – and too many elected officials have it in droves.

Democrats don’t have all the answers, but we surely have some. We’ve already passed H.R. 8 in the House, which would establish new background check requirements and help prevent dangerous people from acquiring deadly weapons.

The House passed this bill last year – now it's the Senate's turn. Please sign your name next to mine to support the swift passage of H.R. 8 so we can prevent more deaths from gun violence.

There is no single policy that will prevent gun violence, but I believe background checks is a good first step and supported broadly across the political spectrum by almost 90% of Americans.

We need to acknowledge we have a problem. And we need to do something about it.

Democrats have tried to pass bills to prevent gun violence more times than I can count. Republicans block these bills for the same crass, unconscionable reason they block action that would address the climate crisis, prescription drug prices, and more: the corrupting influence of money in politics.

The campaign cash that flows from the gun lobby to Congress is a scourge on our country. When the Senate votes on H.R. 8, those who put their NRA donors ahead of innocent families and kids must stand up and be counted.

We will not solve America's gun violence problem overnight. But we can start by passing H.R. 8 and making background checks the norm. Add your name today to show your support.

My heart breaks for all the families whose lives have been shattered by senseless acts like the shooting in Uvalde. To my colleagues across the aisle and voters around the country: We must do better.

- Dean