Green and Grumpy

Dear young people. We need to talk. I am deeply concerned by how many of you continue to suggest that you will not vote. I am reaching out to you as a dad and as someone who has worked with many of you because I am a dad whose daughter was murdered in school because of gun violence. I have listened to young people from across the country who have shared their fears with me over gun violence, and their futures, and have told me about their anxiety because of active shooter drills. We worked together to pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and to bring to reality the Office of Gun Violence Prevention to the White House. We were only able to do these incredible things because we voted, and we voted for people who respected our rights to be safe. Over the years I have listened to many of you tell me how you believed that young people would do a better job at governing than my generation. Who knows, you may be right. I have listened to many of you tell me how you plan to be future leaders and plan to make a difference as soon as possible. I have also listened to you follow that up by telling me that you may not vote. I just don’t get it. You can’t talk about change, and you can’t talk about being a leader, and not vote. Here is my concern for all of you who want to be the change we need and who want to lead. If you fail to vote in this election, you may never get the chance. If you fail to vote, even as a protest, and Trump wins as a result of YOUR FAILURE NOT TO VOTE, your ability to be the change makers is lost. Your ability to be our future leaders will end. If he wins, his words about ending Democracy and future elections should send a clear message. The message to young people, should Trump win because you did not vote, is simple. If he wins, you lose. If you mean what you say about wanting to do a better job and wanting to lead, IT BEGINS NOW. If you mean what you say, the only way that you can show your commitment to your own beliefs IS TO VOTE NOW!!! If you believe what you say about wanting to continue the work on reducing gun violence, you know how to vote and you know who to vote for. If you believe what you say about bodily autonomy, you know how to vote and you know who to vote for. If you believe what you say about climate change, you know how to vote and you know who to vote for. If you believe what you say about protecting voting rights and making voting more accessible, you know how to vote and you know who to vote for. Theare so many issues that I could go through, and you would know how to vote and know who to vote for. We may not agree on everything with every issue, but this is Democracy. You can only protect Democracy if you participate in it and the most powerful way to do that is to vote. I will be voting for @KamalaHarris and @Tim_Walz, and down ballot for a Congress that they can work with, because I want to protect your futures. I want to protect your rights to be future leaders. I hope that you want to do so as well. It will only happen if you vote. DO NOT SIT THIS ONE OUT. JUST FUCKING VOTE!!!