Originally published in The Progressive Magazine on October 27, 2025.
Every morning as I bring my daughter to school, I worry for her safety. Like many parents, I would do anything to protect her. Yet the fact is that gun violence in the United States is not an avoidable problem—it is woven into our daily lives, a constant source of stress and vigilance.
Just a few weeks ago, my six-year-old daughter came home and told me about the lockdown drill they had that day at school. Six-year-olds, and kids of all ages, are now living with the fear of getting shot at school. And parents like me are not just concerned. We’re heartbroken, shaken, and infuriated that this has become our reality. This year alone, through mid-October, more than 1,000 children in the United States lost their lives due to gun violence and more than 2,660 were injured.
Understandably, many Americans—a majority in fact—support more restrictive gun laws. I agree. A store that sells firearms is only three minutes from my home. In many states, purchasing a firearm—including assault-style weapons designed for rapid firing—can be almost as easy as picking up a gallon of milk.