This is an absolute tragedy that sickens me. My heart breaks for the Gillis family and for all of Kaylin’s friends.We are seeing stories just like this around the country and to have it happen right here at home is devastating.

Under no circumstances should anyone have to fear for their life just for taking the wrong turn. It is abundantly clear that anyone who believes they can wield a gun in such a reckless and dangerous manner is not demonstrating that they have the capacity to responsibly own guns. We must stand up for the victims of gun violence and take concrete steps to prevent tragedies like the one that occurred Saturday evening in Hebron.

To this end, we need to do everything possible to keep guns out of the hands of those who seek to use them to inflict harm on others, or themselves. This includes enhancing red flag laws, as well as promoting responsible gun ownership and education.As we learn more about what happened on Saturday evening, it is my hope that we will together identify the steps that can be taken to ensure that everyone is safe in our communities. 

As a community and a nation, we must prioritize the safety and well-being of our citizens and work together to foster a society in which horrifying incidents like this become a thing of the past.