Alright, we're rolling Thank you for. coming in virtually if not physically and be with you good to see you good to see you too. Alright so you have supported the bipartisan background Checks Act and to the Enhanced Background Checks Act. Could you tell me about this well you know on the heels of such a outpouring of energy from young people. I have to Parkland who did so much to. The urgent need to have a real legislation that addresses the fact that we are witnessing too much life lost to guns in this country and it's long overdue that we do something to demonstrate that not only are we aware of this fact that we wanna change the outcomes and when you have 90 percent of folks who have been. For universal background checks you know it should be a no-brainer and so we pass HR Eight in the House we were able to do something that in my opinion was long overdue and that wasn't sure that all gun sale purchases have to be a background check Now. there are some exceptions you know between relatives or if you're loaning a gun at a shooting range or a hunting, you're out there hunting with your friends but as far as sales you know no matter where that sale is happening. it is important that we. The background of those individuals making that purchase the other they always close the Charleston loophole, which you know addresses what happened in South Carolina tragically almost think five years ago now you know to those individuals who were there and praying in church in lost their lives. you know to somebody who not only obviously had some darkness in his heart, but the way the law was written because his background. Had not cleared within three days he was automatically able to purchase or receive the firearms so this bill would close that loophole and extend the time from three days to 10 days, you know wait next seven more days just to make sure that we keep guns out of the hands of people who don't have any business. possessing them. Both make perfect sense, yes they do and they're and they're supported broadly. These are bills that are have wide bipartisan support. I'm talking 90 plus percent of the population supports these endeavors. How long do you think it'll take for a Senate vote? Well? that's a tough question because you know we pass the these bills earlier last year, you know we've been pushing for this for some time now and In the matter is nothing has been done in the Senate. you know and it's unfortunate. It's unfortunate that even something as universally desired as you know, background checks continues to be held up. you know because of special interests that have you know certain individuals who call themselves public service servants. they're they're not acting in the interest of the public. They're acting in the interest of a special group of people who made it their business. Hold up progress so you know we have to change the power dynamics if we really want to be in the position to move these things forward, we have to fill them out that too yes, these politicians still take money from the NRA and why do you think that is well? I mean the the challenges we live in a in a world where the role of money generally speaking is far too dominant it. In every sector prioritize and glorified and you would hope that there will be some spaces and given the nature of the work given how important the work is to make sure that we all can collectively be represented appropriately, but you would do everything in your power to keep the influence of money out, but you have the exact opposite dynamic in politics where we've allowed money to overrun the system to a degree that special interests that. Significant capital are able to put immense pressure on certain individuals who feel like it is their business to have to receive these contributions in order to maintain their power so they put their power and they put the fact that the money they receive as the only means to that power ahead of the very people that they represent so the short answer is we have to reduce the influence of money in politics The longer answer is we have to make sure that our electric is incredibly. And capable and able and willing to make change with their feet by going to the polls and as you said voting these folks out who are taking money from special interest groups that we know they should not be. and you've been named the Gun Sense Candidate by mom's demand action and Organization dedicated love them. Yes, they're dedicated to stopping gun violence. Can you define that of it? How do we stop them? So we're gonna Do you want to define mom's demand action and what led you to to join forces. with Moms Demand Action. First of all. it's one of I mean that is just an incredible name right moms demand action. I mean, I think it's so powerful. you know, particularly action right, the notion that we have to demand action. We have to we don't have time anymore. We haven't had time for a long time and you get to a point where people are just Fed up with the lack of urgency that is. Been far to the norm for far too long and so you know I stay at mom's demand action because they're on the front lines you know these are individuals who come together a community of people who come together form an Organization to say we're gonna continue to beat the drum on this and not just do so when we are confronted with yet another heart wrenching tragedy what we have to witness the loss of innocence, but we're gonna do it even in those quiet moments if you will even in those times where you don't turn your TV on or you don't go on Twitter and you don't see these these stories it'. To continue to do that work day in and day out and I stand with them every single step of the way. it's it's important that we do not only address these things when it feels like it's politically salient it should always be sailing. It should always be impactful because we're talking about our future. How about you right and you're your peers and make sure you grow up in a safe world and not have to worry about every space you go into. Yes, there are so many reasons to feel unsafe nowadays so many tragedies so many things affecting us and sometimes this could cause us to lose focus on issues like gun violence when we have other screaming issues just in our face, how do we stay focused on gun violence when there are these other screaming issues? there are these tragedies after tragedies. Well, It's a really good question. And I think it's important to think about the issue the issue that underlies why we struggle at times to deal with any number of issues whether it's gun violence, whether it's our health care system, whether it's racial injustice whether it's income inequality the underlying dynamic that is causing problems is the money the role of money in politics and we can utilize. Of these examples at every instance to highlight how we've got to root out this corrupting aspect of our public square, which is meant to help us collectively do right by each other. I think it's important that we also understand that when we're talking about how we can love each other and how they can be more equitable and be more just in any way, shape or form. we're also talking about less violence let's violence as. And again that can be talked about in the context of you know how we deal with you know the fact that there are people out there who want to hurt us or want to oppress us or versus how do we wanna deal with the fact that there are people out there who should not own weapons if they can't do so and responsible fashion it's the it speaks to the fact that we've got to get to a place where collectively we are more loving more thoughtful. Caring country and so there's always an opportunity to talk about this issue beyond just the narrow issue of you know gun ownership and responsibility around it. it's there's a broader conversation about just how we relate to each other. how we get comfortable with each other in this space, how we connect with each other. we certainly want to protect our rights and I believe we should protect our rights But how we protect them and how we do so in a way that enables us to continue to grow as a community and trust each other and love each other It's critically important. Create this has been an amazing chalk. It's been kind of enlightening about which issues to thank you. Thank you for again for coming in and talking to me about this well we've had our fair share of conversations over the last few years, and I just have to say you have a really brought so much joy to me. I think you. Focus your dedication to the craft it is a real joy to watch him blossom and continue to grow and so you just reach out and call me anytime. Thank you. Alright.