I believe in and support the Second Amendment. I believe that individuals across our district, state, and country who operate guns with care and safety should be allowed to exercise the right to do so. As an Army officer, I am trained on an M4 semi-automatic weapon.
I also believe we must be honest that gun violence presents a severe public safety and public health issue. And it is precisely because of my experience both operating firearms and working in national security that I believe we must pass common-sense gun safety legislation. We must prohibit terrorists, the mentally ill, and domestic abusers from obtaining guns. As an Army servicemember, I do not believe ordinary citizens should be able to easily obtain weapons or materials that allow them to outgun their local police or the military.
Mass shootings and gun violence are a threat to the security of our families, our communities, and our schools. No parent should fear their child’s safety after dropping them off for class. Failing to do all we can to protect our children is a failure to put the public first – and, in my view, a neglect of duty to address one of the nation’s pressing security issues.