The United States is experiencing an unprecedented public health crisis in the form of gun violence. To pretend that Vermont plays no role in this crisis or that we remain somehow unaffected is naïve to the point of absurdity. We here in Vermont must do our part by passing universal background check legislation in our state now to keep guns out of the wrong hands. GunSense Vermont has been, and remains, at the forefront of this fight.

To those who are suffering as a result of Sunday's violence, we are sending strength.

To our elected officials, we are sending the message: enough is enough. To do nothing in the face of this crisis is unconscionable.

GunSense Vermont is a growing coalition of people–gun owners, non gun owners, Democrats, Republicans, Progressives, Independents, and more–who understand that there is no other threat to public safety in the United States that looms as large as gun violence. Universal background checks are essential to combating this epidemic of violence that has brought our country to its knees.