Ending Gun Violence

Gun violence is an epidemic in this country, yet Congress remains hamstrung by obstructionists when it comes to passing meaningful gun safety legislation. I carried a gun every day as a Marine in Iraq. Guns saved my life. Grenades also saved my life, but that doesn’t mean we allow grenades to be sold and used freely on our streets today. I believe we need common-sense solutions that most Americans, even most gun owners themselves, are in favor of that do not infringe on the Second Amendment.

For example, we need background checks for violent history before every gun sale, which is supported by 86% of gun owners. We need to close the so-called “boyfriend loophole” and pass more extensive red flag laws. We need to finally ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, designate mass shootings as acts of terrorism, and expand safe storage and Extreme Risk Protection Order laws. We need more leaders with the political courage to take action because our kids are dying in our schools and on our streets. I was one of the first lawmakers to refuse to participate in Republican-led “moments of silence” in Congress because the status quo is unacceptable: we need real change.