Massachusetts is known for having one of the lowest rates of gun violence in the nation. That’s no surprise, because we also have some of the strongest gun laws.
But 
the laws we have in place didn’t stop a school lock down today in Northampton.
They didn’t stop a man believed to be carrying weapons from driving into the parking lot of a Junior High School. They didn’t stop the precipitating lock downs of all the area elementary schools.
They didn’t stop a terrible robo-call letting parents and guardians know our kids would be late coming home because they weren’t allowed to leave their schools.
They didn’t stop my kids from having to experience being crammed into a corner, afraid for their safety.
And they’re not stopping me from dreading school drop off tomorrow—both for my two kids (pictured here) and, frankly, for myself.
So we keep pressing on for greater gun safety.
That’s why I’m cheering on the Massachusetts Senate which passed the so-called “red flag” bill today. The bill essentially allows a judge to remove firearms from a person believed to be unstable, a danger to themselves or others. The Senate followed the House in passing this critical legislation. The differences between the House and Senate bills will be worked out and then the final bill is off to the governor.
There are only around eight states with this kind of legislation. Soon, hopefully, Massachusetts will be number nine.
There’s tremendous promise for gun safety advances at the state level, acknowledging that we’re stalled nationally.
That’s why we have to push on for more conflict resolution work in schools, sustained mental health care services, programs that address bullying, robust gun buy-back programs, and much more.
At MoveOn, I was fortunate to help lead a gun campaign during President Obama’s last year in office. Our multi-channel organizing, in partnership with key national allies, won the day and President Obama signed an executive action focused on background checks and gun safety. And MoveOn members, who were at the center of a grassroots people-powered campaign, were standing behind him.
If elected to the MA Senate, my neighbors and constituents can bet that I’ll take my years of gun safety work and bring it home to our district, joining Senate colleagues in strengthening our laws. For all of us.
