Let’s get to the polls today and vote, Missouri! The piles of money spent by anti-democracy PACs on advertising are shocking and shameful. Our family voted early to make sure our voices were heard. No on 4, No on 5.

Before that: Wednesday we tabled with community partners on the east side of Columbia—and had a great time connecting with neighbors. We have many local and virtual events and ways to get involved in coming weeks! Text READY to 644-33 to get involved. @everytown.org 2/2

Columbia, Missouri @momsdemandaction.org supporters held a fabulous monthly meet-up yesterday—celebrating a new volunteer joining our leadership team, and organizing for months of community tabling events, election work, and ways to share our secure storage campaign with the wider community. 1/2

Packed house tonight at the NAACP candidate forum—a last opportunity to ask questions in advance of the August 4 election. Many questions submitted by voters toward the end of the forum about public safety, about the juvenile justice system, heath care access, and secure elections.

Grateful to my fellow friendly Boone Democrats. To those who organized us, and to those braved the heat at the fair this week to connect with Boone County voters. Thankful for all the folks keeping our values and our party visible during dark, anti-democratic times. 🇺🇸 @missouridemocrats.bsky.social

We helped voters check their registrations, had loads of good conversations about Amendments 4 & 5, signed folks up to get the Boone Dems weekly emails and calls to action, shared info about candidates on the August ballot, and happily helped folks shop for fun buttons.

🇺🇸 Last night we took a shift in the @boonedems.bsky.social booth at the big Boone County Fair. We sweated through yet another entire set of outfits (SO gross) but had such a great time talking with neighbors about the August 4 election.

I am grateful for Missouri candidates who commit to governing with gun safety in mind. And also grateful for giant gas station slushies. Please make a plan to #vote in the August 4 election, neighbors!! @momsdemandaction.org

Great day knocking doors in southwest CoMo with Sharon Jones—our next Columbia City Council Ward 4 councilperson! We had many good conversations with neighbors at their doors about their concerns—from public safety, to strong public schools, to accountability from city government—as the city grows.

At Columbia Library this morning for Rainbow Story Time. Since my kids are now in their 20s, it’s been a minute since I attended story time. It’s magical, sweet, and the kids absolutely love it. And the outpouring of support from our community: off the charts. Everyone is welcome at the library!

🇺🇸Happy Independence Day! A throw back to 2016–the year everyone around here was obsessed with HAMILTON (except the 8th grade social studies teacher who refused to allow these boys to discuss it). “…And when push/Comes to shove/I will send a fully armed battalion/To remind you of my love!”

The SCOTUS decision striking down the Hawaiian people’s ability to say where a person may carry hidden, loaded guns is—as Justice Brown Jackson wrote—protecting guns. To the court’s extremists private property rights and Hawaiian traditions are nothing compared with the gun lobby’s right to profit.

Missouri @momsdemandaction.org volunteers had a fantastic meeting this morning with staff in Rep. Emanuel Cleaver’s office. Congressman Cleaver co-sponsors 2 lifesaving gun safety bills, and we were pleased to be able to thank staff and share our personal stories. @cleaver.house.gov #GSU2026

Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin joined #GSU2026 at breakfast, rallying volunteers headed to the Hill.🇺🇸 We will get there, she said, to the place where we’ll have laws in place that end gun violence. When that’s done, we’ll have to work hard to remember this batshit crazy time. @momsdemandaction.org

Sen.Chris Murphy gives excellent rally speeches—like he does it every day. Rallying a thousand #GSU2026 advocates ready to lobby on the Hill tomorrow, he recounts how this movement started after Sandy Hook. The DC policy failures and lifesaving successes since then. 1/2 @momsdemandaction.org

Long day of travel, but super excited to be with hundreds of my fellow volunteers at Gun Sense University—and to reconnect with our big Missouri chapter delegation. @momsdemandaction.org @everytown.org @studentsdemandaction.org

A gorgeous night to be in Centralia with so many Boone County Dems for the Anchor Fest parade! We are so excited to flip Missouri House District 44 for Bekki Brewer this November. #moleg @boonedems.bsky.social

Our mid-Missouri group will also be super busy in June—starting with our #WearOrange event to honor National Gun Violence Survivors Day. 🧡 Save the date for a family-friendly Wear Orange evening: June 5, 5:30PM, in Douglass Park!

Last night mid-Missouri @momsdemandaction.org volunteers gathered at the Columbia Library for a productive local meeting. We covered the Missouri Legislature’s session which ends Friday—a hectic time when we're watch dangerous gun bills closely, in a year where many have been moving forward. #moleg

The vote is held to pass Senate bill 905: 98 YES and 48 NO. #moleg

Rep. Keri Ingle speaks about the many mass shootings that should have changed our direction as a country--starting with Columbine. And about the KC Chiefs super bowl celebration shooting she and many colleagues attended, where a woman connected to her district was killed and many more were shot.

Rep. Jamie Gragg says: kids fear guns because we've hidden them away. And we tell them to fear guns. They fear armed guards because we've told them to. We protect malls, banks, cannabis facilities with armed guards. He suggests this should be normal in schools. #moleg

A growing body of research shows that the lingering trauma from exposure to gun violence affects everything from the ability to maintain attention to overall enrollment numbers and performance on standardized tests: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3102/...

Districts can't employ another full-time employee to work to prevent school shootings, says Rep. Elliott. The sponsor confirms that this bill would allow *everyone* in a school district to be able to carry guns in schools. Custodians, volunteers--anybody could do it. #moleg

The number of hours is less than what SROs receive in hours of instruction, confirms Rep. Boyko. Why are fitness requirements included in the bill? We want people who are physically capable, says Jones. #moleg

Another Republican who has worked (works?) in the gun industry rises to ask about the Missouri Rangers training and about the firearms/gear involved. The particular holster required by the bill gets approval from both lawmakers.

Rep. Gregg Bush raises comments from educators he's spoken to about Missouri Rangers. These Rangers may not be trained enough; teachers would be the ones at increased risk when one of these volunteer militia patrolling our schools are disarmed. Our priorities should be feeding and educating kids.

Giving retired military access to our children is reasonable, says another GOP lawmaker in support. What are we supposed to protect our kids with, books?

Rep. Marty Jacobs--who was school principal in Liberty MO--asks who pays for this Missouri Rangers program. The sponsor says it's up to the district, or an individual can pay for their own training. This is bill is unclear, Jacobs says, also on supervision (building principal?).

When we discuss this bill, we have to acknowledge our state includes areas where students have access to handguns, they're untrained in gun safety--this is not about a fairy tale view where students have experience with responsible ownership and training.