We need to take action to end senseless gun violence. As lawmakers, it is our duty to stop every preventable death that we can, from domestic violence, to suicide, to mass shootings. There are a variety of policy options we can pursue - preventing sales of firearms to people that have been identified as dangerous to themselves or others by mental health providers, requiring background checks on all gun sales and closing the gun show loophole, preventing the sale of firearms to people that have been convicted of violent crimes, raising the minimum age for gun purchases, and creating mandated waiting periods before a gun can be taken home. Expanded funding for community policing and mental health care would further help, and college campuses should also be given the right to opt-out of open carry policy that is opposed by students, faculty, staff, and even university police departments. Victims of gun violence do not belong to any one race, class, or political party - hopefully, the Republicans at the legislature will recognize this, and work with us to pass common sense gun reform.