Dear Williamson County chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America,
My name is Chad Riden and I’m running for Governor of Tennessee as an Independent.
Katie Edwards contacted me and asked for some campaign materials for your meeting because my campaign has been given the Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate distinction for standing up for gun violence prevention and recognizing gun safety.
Like you, I support criminal background checks on all gun sales to keep guns out of the hands of people with dangerous histories, including felons, domestic abusers and people with dangerous mental illnesses. Responsible gun owners know that supporting the Second Amendment goes hand in hand with common-sense solutions to reduce gun violence.
Instead of slick campaign propaganda designed to prove I’m everything to everybody, I’m sending you this letter. I’m not writing this to ask you for your vote. I’m writing to THANK YOU for what you’re doing right now at this meeting. Standing up for common sense gun laws is not a popular thing to do (yet) in Tennessee. You are on the front lines of an uphill battle against people who are armed with both guns and a lot of money.
I told Ms. Edwards that my 15-year-old daughter and all of her friends think our current gun laws are inadequate. They feel very strongly about a lot of issues that seem like a longshot in Tennessee. They can’t vote.. YET.. but in 2-4 years, they will be active voters and they will stand up for what they believe in like we’ve never seen before. Change is coming. Our children will be the votes we need for all of these things. They will vote for what is right because that’s what YOU have taught them. Thank you for that. Thank you for being good moms.
My mother always says, “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem” and that’s why I’m running for Governor. I am fed up with bipartisan politics and the hypocrites at all levels of government. Our elected offices go to the highest bidder and rich candidates backed by their elite friends spend millions on advertising claiming to be just like us.
As an Independent candidate my chances of winning this election are slim to none. I keep saying my goal is to push the conversation in a positive, progressive direction.. but honestly, I just want my daughter to be proud of the things I’ve said and done. Someday, if not already, your kids will think about the work you’re doing right here, right now and they will be proud.
Thank you again for everything you do.
– Chad Riden