It happened again. Exactly five years ago, a gunman killed 17 people at Parkland High School. Last night, a gunman killed at least three people at Michigan State University.
Again, shelter-in-place warnings flashed across phone screens. Again, students and teachers frantically searched their surroundings for a place to hide. Again, parents across the country received text messages and phone calls that said their worst fear was unfolding. Again.
We’ve written to you about the American epidemic of gun violence before. Each time, it gets harder to find words to make sense of something so senseless. It gets harder to feel like there’s anything any of us can do to stop this from happening again. But this time is different. This time, I have hope.
Because the state lawmakers who now hold power in the Michigan State Senate and House — the new majorities this community helped to elect — are committed to doing more than tweeting their condolences. They’re taking action.
Right now, Michigan state lawmakers are working to pass policies that will ensure safe gun storage, require universal background checks, and prevent people who are a danger to themselves or others from buying a gun. These policies have been proven to save lives.
We have a choice. We can continue to debate the reasons behind gun violence in America or we can act. We cannot continue to do the same thing over and over again and hope for a different result.
— Joe Tate (@SpeakerJoeTate) February 14, 2023
This is why we win elections. This is why we focus on the states. This is why we must keep going.
So that someday, we won’t have to say: again.
