Audrey on Gun Safety
I grew up in a family that safely and responsibly used firearms, and I am a gun owner myself. I deeply respect the rights of farmers, ranchers, hunters, and sportspeople to own and use firearms safely. That right is part of our rural heritage.
But like most Americans, I also believe in our shared responsibility to keep guns out of the hands of those who would do harm. No child should fear going to school. No parent should worry that their kid won’t come home because of gun violence. We can protect both our Second Amendment rights and our children, because safety and freedom are not mutually exclusive. Gun safety doesn’t have to divide us. In fact, most of us agree on the solutions. It’s time for Congress to catch up with the American people and take action to save lives.
Audrey on Gun Safety
Gun violence is now the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States, surpassing even car crashes. We lose more than 40,000 Americans to firearm-related deaths every year, and many of these tragedies could be prevented with simple, commonsense safeguards. California shows us what’s possible: after enacting stronger background checks, waiting periods, and Gun Violence Protection Orders, our state’s firearm death rate dropped by 56%, compared to just 16% nationally. But until we raise the bar at the federal level, loopholes in other states will continue to allow guns to flow across borders and into the wrong hands. In many parts of the country, someone with a felony conviction or a history of domestic violence can still buy a gun at a show without a background check or waiting period. It is putting lives at risk, and enough is enough. We can fix this, and we must.
Kids should feel safe at school, full stop. Parents shouldn’t have to fear an empty seat at the dinner table because of gun violence. I believe in the right to responsibly own firearms, and I also believe in our responsibility to keep those firearms out of the wrong hands. We don’t have to choose between safety and freedom. We can have both, and that’s why I’ll fight for common-sense gun laws that protect our communities while respecting our rights. This isn’t about politics. It’s about saving lives and giving our kids a future free from fear.
As your Representative, I will work to:
We can respect responsible gun ownership and still act to save lives. Our kids’ right to be safe at school matters more than the gun lobby’s grip on Congress.
