Tim Kaine: “I take the floor because of a letter that I received in my office a few days ago. This was a letter that was mailed to…”

“I take the floor because of a letter that I received in my office a few days ago. This was a letter that was mailed to our office via email on March 23, and I just want to read it. Hello Senator. My name is-- I am going to omit the name. My name is . . . and I am terrified to go to school. I have lived in your district for almost six years, and never have I been more scared than I am when I go to school every day. My father was in the army, my mother works with wear blue run to remember (a military non-profit for gold star families). I am no stranger to death, and yet I am scared that one day that may be waiting for me at school. I lived in Lakewood Washington, I went to Saint Francis Cabrini, and we once had a lockdown because a car ran down our fence while children were at recess. I was present during the shooting at Fort Hood in 2013, my sister can't remember, but she was so close to the perpetrator. I still have nightmares from both of these incidents. I am supposed to be safe at school, but today when it was rumored that someone was planning to target our school out of revenge on an ex-partner, I was reminded of that day I spent huddled under a desk in art class, [feverishly] reciting the Hail Mary. Something needs to change, I'm not the only kid who feels this way. Why should I be scared to go to school? This letter came to my office on March 23. A few days later, this student and all of America woke up to the story of the shooting in Nashville.…”