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Dear Friend,
The shooting at Annunciation Catholic School this week is an unspeakable tragedy. My heart breaks for the children whose lives were stolen and for our entire community left shattered. As your representative, I refuse to accept that this is the reality our children must grow up in. Gun violence is the leading cause of death for children in America. No other developed country lives like this; it is a uniquely American failure.
That is why I have consistently pushed for federal solutions to this crisis. I have supported legislation to expand universal background checks, ban assault weapons, and provide federal funding for community based violence intervention programs. To keep our children safe, Congress has to address every dimension of the crisis, which is why I have also championed investments in mental health resources.
When Congress returns next week, I am calling on my colleagues to put aside our differences for bipartisan support for gun reform legislation on the federal level. Simply said, enough is enough. Congress cannot continue to let the gun lobbyists and political division stand in the way of protecting innocent lives from senseless gun violence.
If you are struggling in the wake of this tragedy, please know that you are not alone. The 988 Minneapolis Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7, and it is free and confidential. Additional crisis support resources are also available here.
Our country deserves a future where children can go to school without the fear of violence and where parents can drop their children off at school in safety. I will continue to fight every day until no community has to endure this type of heartbreak again.
In Solidarity,
Ilhan Omar
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