According to the Gun Violence Archives there have been 356 mass shootings through July 2022 in the United States. Thoughts and prayers are not enough. We need more permanent solutions, not just empty words.

I am the social justice chair of a Black woman’s group that has been advocating for the de-escalation of violence—specifically gun violence—for the past decade. Our strategy is grounded in intervention and prevention while recognizing the need for programming that is customized to the unique needs of communities hit hard by this scourge.

In 2021 California strengthened its gun laws and saw a 37% decrease in gun death rates. Other states with lax gun regulations saw a substantial increase in gun death rates. The Gun Safety Bill passed by Congress is a step forward but we must be much bolder on a national level.

We must keep children safe at school. People have a right to go about their daily lives and return home to their families, alive, at day’s end. I support a total ban on assault rifles. These were designed and intended to equip soldiers; they are weapons of war, and have no place in our society. So much work in this area has been obstructed for years by the Gun Lobby, and it is high time that work is completed. As Congresswoman, I will work hard in support of legislation to keep firearms out of the hands of mass killers. Passing the long-delayed Universal Background Check though Congress will be a critical step to maintain the hopeful stirrings of bi-partisan progress evidenced by the Gun Safety Bill.