Growing up, my dad was a union mechanic. On his wages, my parents were able to buy a modest ranch home, take annual camping vacations, and save a little for retirement.

Thanks to my dad and mom's hard work — and some hard work by some excellent teachers — I was able to be the first in my family to go to college.

And I was determined to pass along that work ethic to my children — inspired by the example mom and dad set in their lives.

This weekend, we saw two mass shootings within 24 hours of each other.

Like you, I've just had it. America doesn't have markedly more mental illness or poverty or more violent video games than other countries. What we do have? Way more guns. And violent white nationalism being encouraged from the White House. It's a toxic combination.

Assault rifles are weapons of war. A semi-automatic rifle and high-capacity magazines are designed for carnage. The Dayton shooter killed and wounded three dozen people in only 30 seconds.

I'm furious.

Yesterday, the Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced a plan that could keep little kids in Trump's prisons for up to 100 days. A HUNDRED DAYS.

Innocent children. In prison. For months and months, separated from their families.