an epidemic we can end with policy changes

In recent years, our community has fallen victim to mass shootings and other forms of gun violence. These senseless tragedies are devastating communities across our nation but we can take real action to prevent them.

Last week, I voted in favor of universal background checks for all gun sales and transfers. The legislation has a few exceptions: gifting a gun to a close family member, loaning a firearm for hunting or target shooting, or to provide a gun in a moment of self-defense.

A majority of voters in District 2 supported initiatives to increase minimum purchase ages, expansions of background checks. This vote is consistent with the views of our community.

I will continue to prioritize common sense solutions to gun violence and providing support to the agencies working to keep us safe, like the Departments of Justice, Education, and Health and Human Services. I will continue to urge my colleagues in Congress to allow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to study gun violence as a public health crisis.

There's no law that could prevent all acts of violence. But there are places to start and measures that will greatly reduce the number and magnitude of the shootings happening every day across the country. It's past time we make them.

Rick