POLICY ISSUES
This campaign launched March 11, 2025. Since the beginning, we’ve talked about taking a different path to achieve a different result. I intend to look at past, current, and future legislation through a lens of restore, reform, and repeal. What legislation has passed that negatively impacts our country and that needs to be repealed? What has been taken away that should be restored? And lastly, what in our political system needs to be reformed?
This isn’t your typical campaign, and this isn’t your typical issues section. Our intent wasn’t to tell people what to think, but rather to listen to their concerns. In response to what we heard, this is our plan to improve the lives of the people we seek to serve.
Gun Safety
In 2023, the most recent year for which complete data is available, 46,728 people died from gun-related injuries in the US, according to the CDC. Nearly 60% of those deaths were suicides. The gun death rate in the U.S. is much higher than in almost every other developed nation. We’ve seen an alarming rate of mass shootings over the past several years. For the fourth straight year, firearms have killed more children and teens than any other cause. As a kid growing up in Upsala, we practiced tornado drills in school. School kids today practice active shooter drills.
Let me be very clear here – I am not advocating for taking everyone’s guns away. I want to say that again – I am not advocating for taking everyone’s guns away. I am a responsible gun owner, and I’m also a hunter. The idea that promoting gun safety means “taking everyone’s guns away” is a false dichotomy. I am a firm believer in the 2nd Amendment, but it’s important to remember the words “well-regulated” are also included in the text. There are steps we can and should take to reduce the number of gun-related deaths in the US. I support background checks, waiting periods, and “red-flag laws” especially when it comes to domestic violence. Domestic violence is not talked about nearly enough. Partner/child abuse is often an early indicator of criminal behavior. I do believe in forfeiture of privileges based on criminal conviction of violent crimes such as domestic violence.
