We all do what we do not for politics but for people. In the case of the gun safety legislation that passed through Congress Friday, it is for the schoolchildren of this country – who should be able to sit in their classes and learn, play, and be kids, rather than worry that they will be shot and killed. Powered by No Labels’ problem-solving allies on Capitol Hill, America has the first significant bipartisan gun safety measure in decades, a piece of legislation that is testament to the shared belief that we can meet our challenges if we find unity and purpose in service of doing what’s right. And doing what’s right even when the extremes oppose progress, because that is what the extremes of both parties too often (successfully) do. Thanks to patriots such as Texas Senator John Cornyn and Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema, a deal was struck that can encourage us all for a variety of reasons: - Leaders of both parties empowered a core group of problem-solving negotiators to find common ground, rather than looking to score political points or bottle up the process in order to stymie success.
- Those negotiators ignored the extremes on both sides – including President Trump and the National Rifle Association on the right (who claimed the bill went too far), and gun control advocates on the left (who argued the measure did not go far enough) – and focused on commonsense, substantive solutions that could actually get the votes necessary to pass.
- Most of all, we can be encouraged that a national demand for action after some horrible mass shootings was met with thoughtful public policy that can both unite much of the country and keep our children and fellow citizens safer without encroaching on Second Amendment rights.
These kinds of moments are inspirational for our movement. The passage of this bill demonstrates that our work can pay real dividends if we can continue to foster the dynamics that reassure individual members of Congress in both parties that if they stand up and do the right thing that tens of millions of Americans will have their backs. After Senator Cornyn was booed by a weekend gathering of Texas Republicans who were critical of his participation in the talks, he told the press that he was undeterred. “I’ve never given in to mobs,” he said. “And I’m not starting today.” Those 11 words are so simple, but so powerful. One way to think about why and how the country has become so partisan, polarized and off track is the failure of our politicians to stand up to the mobs on the far right and the far left. In passing this bill, leaders such as Senator Cornyn and Senator Sinema have demonstrated that they can courageously stand up for what’s right, ignore the mobs – and America will be the better for it. In addition to Senator Cornyn, please show your support for brave senators like Todd Young, a conservative who voted for the bill even though he is on the ballot this fall, and Lisa Murkowski, who faces a strong Trump-endorsed Republican challenger in a primary that’s less than two months away. Please also do what you can for House Republicans like Liz Cheney, Brian Fitzpatrick, Peter Meijer, and María Salazar, who crossed the aisle to back the legislation. Finally, on the other major issue dominating our national life as the week closes, the Supreme Court decision on abortion, here is what we think at No Labels: In the coming days, much of what will be said about the abortion issue will, by intent and result, further divide our country. As we have said before, citizens and elected officials of good faith have sincere and deeply felt differences on this subject. We must not let the extremes on both sides dominate this complex conversation. We urge everyone to come together in frank, respectful discourse as we collectively seek a path forward. It is only by listening to the voices of all of the American people that we will find resolution. These are, indeed complicated times – which means we need two-party solutions more than ever.
Margaret White
Co-Executive Director | 
