Two years ago today, my son, Andrew, was in music class at Oxford High School when a 15-year-old with a gun opened fire on his classmates in the hallway, killing four and wounding seven.
In these last two years, the trauma from this attack continues to physically and psychologically impact not only my son and family who experienced this tragedy firsthand, but families across our community.
Our country’s gun violence epidemic impacts communities of every size, and guns are the leading cause of death among American children and teens. We cannot keep asking our kids to be brave while putting them in harm’s way each time they walk into school. We cannot be content with teaching every classroom of children in Michigan and across the country to confront the possibility of a massacre with regularity.
I write this not because I want to re-live this nightmare, but because this trauma can end. I want to be very clear: we can do something about this.
You and I both know: extreme Republicans in Congress are the reason we are unable to prevent school shootings.
In fact, my opponent John James is supported by the very same gun industry which has profited off of tragedies in our communities.
John James is why parents like us worry every day we send our kids to school.
John James is why we cannot dig into the deep-rooted causes of gun violence, especially in marginalized communities.
John James is why we cannot fully heal.
The shooting at my son's high school gave me so many more questions than solutions. Today's anniversary reminds me that I don't have all the answers. It makes us all feel like we should give up.
With John James in Congress, there is no guarantee that November 30 is the only school shooting anniversary I'll have to remember.
But through this sadness, this pain, and this grief, I am more determined than ever to push the needle on gun laws in our country and keep the horrific and tragic events at Oxford from happening again.
Thank you for reading this note, and I hope it inspires you to get involved and make real change.
We need action now: secure.actblue.com/…