JOHN,

I’m furious. 

There were 9 mass shootings on July 4th… with 9 people killed and 65 people injured.

This is unacceptable. This cannot be our America.

Here are a few statistics I’ve been repeating over and over in my head the past few days:

In the first 188 days of this year, we have had on average more than one mass shooting a day and a minimum of four mass shootings a week. And today, gun violence is the leading cause of death for children in America. How can congressional Republicans continue to ignore this?

Nothing feels safe anymore – school, the grocery store, a concert, a Fourth of July Parade… The gun lobby and the congressional Republicans they have in their pocket are hoping that America has grown numb and complacent to gun violence, but we cannot let that happen. Our anger and persistence is the only thing that can end gun violence. We have to make it clear that if our elected officials don’t pass gun reform now, we will vote them out in November. 

Here’s what our leaders in Washington SHOULD be doing to stop this epidemic:

1. Senate Democrats need to do away with the filibuster, no matter the cost. If they don’t, we won’t see any comprehensive gun violence legislation passed.
2. Implement universal background checks
3. Create a federal gun registry
4. Ban extended magazines
5. Increase funding for federal anti-gun crime units
6. Institute an assault weapons ban
7. Repeal the Tiahrt Amendments - which has restricted the ability of law enforcement to investigate gun crimes

Not one of the actions stated above would have any significant effect on a law abiding, responsible gun owner’s ability to keep and bear arms. I promise you that congressional Republicans know this to be true, but they won’t admit it because they need their base in fear. By not acting to curb America’s gun violence, and actually encouraging it to spread by loosening gun restrictions, they are breaking their oath of office. Congressional Republicans weren’t elected to give thoughts and prayers; they were elected to protect and serve the American people. 

I’ll end with this – whatever you do, do not let yourself or those around you become complacent or numb to daily gun violence in our country. And I promise that when I’m in office I won’t stand for complacency from my colleagues either. 

In service, 

Max