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Team –

Today marks 6 years since the mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida. 49 innocent lives were violently taken during Pride Month on a night that was supposed to be full of celebration and love.

The Pulse nightclub shooting was one of the most horrific anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes in our nation’s history.

I have visited the memorial and spoken to survivors. Their pain motivates me to this day to take necessary actions to stem this tide.

We must recognize that these hate crimes happen all too often. That gun violence particularly affects the LGBTQ+ community. That we must take action to drive this hate out of our communities.

That's why I co-wrote the original draft in 1995 of what became the Byrd Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 with Senator Kennedy. But there is more work to be done.

I find this to be even more evident in the aftermath of the horrific shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde.

I’m frustrated with those who aren’t willing to take action. I am heartbroken for the growing number of families who have lost a friend or family member to gun violence.

Our nation is facing a gun violence epidemic. We are the only country that sees these kinds of tragedies. And marginalized communities often bear the worst impacts.

We need action, not words. No more “thoughts and prayers.”

To win the fight for a better future and make sure that these tragedies never happen again, we need elected leaders who have the courage and the drive to act.

Today, take a moment to thank Senator Cardin and Senator Van Hollen for their leadership and to help urge their colleagues to take action to prevent gun violence → [[link removed]]

We have to keep fighting for a better and safer future. It starts with contacting our elected officials now, and working harder than ever to elect leaders who will take action to protect our families and communities.

Thank you,

Tom
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Authority: Tom Perez for Maryland, Stanley J. Botts, Treasurer.
Tom Perez for Maryland
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