Speech for Congressional Campaign

The following writing sample is a speech that I wrote as the communication director for a Congressional campaign in Tucson, AZ. The candidate gave this speech at a Moms Demand Action event in front of more than 100 people and politicians such as Gabby Giffords, Mark Kelly, and Ann Kirkpatrick. This speech reflects the views of the Congressional candidate for whom it was written.

Responsible gun owners have nothing to fear from common sense gun laws. Period. I include myself in that category. When you own a ranch, a gun can be as necessary as any other tool. There are many Americans like myself who own a firearm but value human life above all else, and it is our responsibility to make sure guns stay out of the hands of people who would cause harm to our loved ones. 

I don’t need to explain the statistics to you. In our world of uncertainty, horrific stories of gun violence are a constant we know we can expect. Gun violence is so much more than statistics and stories though. It destroys families in a matter of seconds. My family is not immune to the possibility of being torn apart by a gun. Neither is yours. Children are scared in their classrooms. Rightfully so. Adults are scared in night clubs, at concerts, and in their offices. Rightfully so. Who among you has never wondered “what would I do, where would I take my children, Heaven forbid…” 

We need common sense gun laws and we need them now. 

Bump stocks, superfluous amounts of ammunition, and assault weapons have no place in civilian life, and have caused extreme pain and suffering in the lives of far too many Americans. The Center for Disease Control must be allowed to study gun violence as a health epidemic, we need comprehensive background checks without loopholes for gun shows, and people who have a history of violence and abuse should never have access to firearms.

The Gun Violence Restraining Order otherwise known as the Extreme Risk Protection Order allows family members or law enforcement to petition a judge to temporarily remove firearms from individuals likely to cause imminent harm. This may include thoughts of suicide or harming others. The petition is based on behavioral risk factors for dangerous behavior rather than a mental health diagnosis. 

This life-saving legislation has already passed in California, Oregon, and Washington, with bipartisan support, reaching as much as 71% support in Washington. It is gaining popularity in Florida and 20 other states. 

This is but a small step in the right direction. Gun violence is a complex public health crisis. Once the CDC is able to properly study the intricate elements of the various types of gun violence, we can expand on these most basic actions that need to be implemented before another life is lost to something as unnecessary as gun violence.