Today’s historic gun safety victory in Congress is a testament to courage. Just eight weeks into the new Congress, courage is what inspired the House to pass #HR8.

When it looked like the gun lobby would forever silence any debate on stronger gun laws, courage shone through. Courage embodied by relentless advocates and resilient survivors, and exemplified by leaders who ran for office and won on the promise to fight for a safer future.

Tragically, the cost to our communities while we waited over a decade for this progress has been far too high. Hundreds of thousands of American lives have been lost. Far too many families and communities, including my own, have been forever changed.

Today’s victory in the House is a critical first step toward stronger gun laws that will save lives. The responsibility to take the next step now shifts to the Senate.

Over 90 percent of the American electorate is demanding that the Senate move this legislation forward. Voters are watching. When tragedy strikes, they will remember who took action to protect them, and who looked the other way.

Never doubt the will of the American people. Their courage to fight for a safer America will not be ignored. giffords.me/82101 #EndGunViolence #CouragetoFight