I want to stop sending you this message

In the last few days, gun violence struck Gilroy, El Paso, and Dayton. These cities join a growing list of American communities that have been devastated by acts that could be prevented – if only enough lawmakers had courage.

I want to stop having to share these messages of sorrow and mourning with you.

I want to stop the revolving door of fear, of immeasurable pain, and of grieving families. I want to stop the "thoughts and prayers" and political platitudes — instead, I want action.

We cannot continue to put lives at risk. We need to be able to take our children to school, to a movie, or to a neighborhood festival without looming fears of violence.

We need policies like background checks and red flag laws that will stop troubled Americans from buying lethal weapons. What we don't need? Military-style weapons in American homes and politicians in the pocket of the NRA.

And importantly, the president must stop inciting violence and encouraging white supremacy, racism, and xenophobia. Hateful misinformation cannot continue to dominate the conversation — it translates into real-life violence.

I'm calling on Mitch McConnell to immediately bring the Senate back to Washington, D.C. to vote on the universal background check legislation the House has already passed. This commonsense bill has broad bipartisan support across the country. I hope you'll join me in raising your voice for commonsense gun violence prevention, and against hate speech.

We are the only developed nation with this problem, and, with courage, we can solve it.