Gun violence in America is an ongoing tragedy. Each new school shooting leaves a scar on our collective conscience, and yet, despite our growing outrage, the political machine continues to churn without substantive action. The recent shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia serves as yet another horrifying reminder that our children are not safe. But what’s worse than the violence itself is the failure of elected officials to act meaningfully. Thoughts and prayers are not enough. They never were.

In a recent interview on The Tonight Show, Senator Mark Kelly—a former astronaut and vocal advocate for gun control after his wife, former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, survived an assassination attempt—spoke bluntly about the need for voters to hold their leaders accountable. "People need to vote and hold their elected officials responsible for these tragedies," Kelly urged. He emphasized that change happens when the people demand it at the ballot box, not when leaders offer hollow condolences and then do nothing.

The Power of the Ballot Box

With an election approaching, we have a unique opportunity to make our voices heard. Every election cycle, the public holds immense power in deciding who will lead, who will make the laws, and who will fight for the safety of our children. But too often, our collective frustration gets lost in political theater or drowned out by the overwhelming influence of special interests like the gun lobby.

The gun lobby's influence is particularly pernicious. It quietly funnels money to politicians who promise to block gun control efforts, muddying the waters of political discourse. They do so under the guise of "protecting freedoms," but at what cost? Every year, countless lives are lost to gun violence, and yet, many politicians remain silent, cowed by the money pouring into their campaigns from these powerful lobbies.

Take Representative Earl "Buddy" Carter, who represents the district where the Apalachee High School shooting occurred. After the shooting, Carter offered the standard politician's platitude: “I am praying for all of Barrow County today as we mourn the lives lost and those impacted by a senseless, tragic act of violence... Every child and educator should be safe in the classroom. Unity, not division, is how we combat those who wish us harm.”

It’s a nice sentiment, but empty. Carter has received $10,275 from the gun lobby. His words ring hollow because, when it comes time to vote for real gun control measures, Carter—and so many others like him—have stood on the side of the NRA, not with the grieving families of gun violence victims.

Thoughts and Prayers Are Not Enough

The time for "thoughts and prayers" is over. Thoughts and prayers did not protect the students of Apalachee High School. They did not save the victims of Uvalde, Parkland, or Sandy Hook. Our children deserve more than platitudes from their leaders. They deserve safety in their classrooms and public spaces. They deserve leaders who are willing to stand up to the gun lobby, not those who take their money and continue business as usual.

But how do we, as citizens, push back against the overwhelming influence of dark money? The gun lobby is wealthy and powerful, and once the election is over, they use that power to ensure that their agenda dominates the conversation. However, we have the power to make change. And that change starts at the ballot box.

Taking Action

Senator Kelly’s call to action should resonate with us all. We have an opportunity to make a difference by voting for leaders who will stand up to the gun lobby and prioritize the safety of our communities over campaign donations. The upcoming election is our chance to make our voices heard in a way that will have real consequences.

But once this election cycle passes, many might feel a sense of hopelessness. How do we continue to fight against the insidious influence of the gun lobby, especially when so much of their funding operates in the shadows, behind closed doors? This is where new organizations like VoteDown.org are stepping in.

VoteDown.org is set to launch in the coming months and aims to counter the effects of the dark money that flows through our political system, particularly from organizations like the NRA and other gun rights groups. Their mission is to expose and punish the politicians who are being funded by these groups, making them feel the pain when they sell our children's lives so cheaply. When politicians are held accountable for the money they accept, it becomes harder for them to hide behind "thoughts and prayers" when tragedies occur. VoteDown.org will help ensure that the public knows exactly who is standing in the way of gun reform and let the public take action against them even after this election season.

The Future Is in Our Hands

Gun violence is not an unsolvable problem. It is not inevitable. Countries around the world have enacted common-sense gun reforms and have seen significant reductions in gun-related deaths. The difference in the U.S. is not that we lack the solutions—it’s that we lack the political will.

But that can change. The upcoming election is our chance to make a statement. We must vote out the politicians who take money from the gun lobby and vote in leaders who will fight for common-sense gun reform. We can no longer afford to sit on the sidelines, hoping that our leaders will do the right thing. It’s time to demand it. And, after this election, let's continue to use tools like VoteDown to keep the pressure on Congress, counter the insidious effects of Dark Money and finally bring safety to our schools.

If we fail to act, we will continue to see the same headlines, hear the same platitudes, and mourn the same tragedies. But if we unite, if we make our voices heard, we can start to build a safer future for our children. Let’s make this election the turning point. The power is in our hands—let’s use it.