As I reflect on the long and often frustrating battle to end gun violence, I am heartened by the unwavering dedication of leaders committed to making our communities safer. The state of Connecticut is home to many of those leaders—or, as I call them, heroes.

The president’s decision to attend the recent Safer Communities Summit, organized by U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, stands as a testament to Connecticut’s remarkable leadership and progress since the tragic events at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The event was a fitting recognition of the one-year mark of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, passed in the wake of last year’s tragedies in Buffalo, New York and Uvalde, Texas.

As a survivor of gun violence, I understand the profound impact that a single moment of senseless brutality can have on a person, family, and community. The shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary shook our nation to its core, and the scars it left on the state of Connecticut are deep and enduring, as Gov. Ned Lamont and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal eloquently spoke about at the summit.

However, from that unimaginable tragedy emerged a steadfast determination to prevent such atrocities from ever happening again. It’s what led me to found GIFFORDS in an effort to stop gun violence from tearing apart communities. It’s what has driven leaders like Senator Murphy to transform the gun safety movement over the past 10 years into a force to be reckoned with.

Connecticut has emerged as a beacon of hope in the battle against gun violence. The state is a national leader when it comes to passing effective gun laws, recently earning an A- grade in the GIFFORDS Annual Gun Law Scorecard. Its congressional delegation is second to none in pushing for lifesaving federal legislation. And Senator Murphy’s Safer Communities Summit, which brought together community leaders, advocates, government officials, and concerned citizens, was an extraordinary gathering that showcased the progress we made with last year’s Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) and underscored the state’s commitment to finding commonsense solutions to this devastating crisis.

At the heart of the Safer Communities Summit was the same spirit of collaboration that led to BSCA’s passage a year ago. Senator Murphy’s ability to bring together a diverse coalition—now and then—demonstrates a profound understanding that lasting change can only be achieved through collective action.

Attendees honored victims and survivors. Policy pros delved into the results we are already seeing from new funding and policies, and previewed important implementation work still to come. Experts from Everytown, Sandy Hook Promise, Community Justice Action Fund, Roca, and my own team at GIFFORDS showed us how the BSCA has already impacted communities for the better and outlined the path forward. This historic bill, the first of its kind in a generation, is undeniably saving lives—and this is only the beginning.

In all, the summit proved to be a platform for meaningful conversations on the issue of gun violence, empowering survivors to share their stories and enabling activists and experts to share their insights. But it was more than just a gathering of gun safety supporters—it was a reminder to all of us of the power of our movement and what we can accomplish when we work together. The importance of inclusiveness and the urgency of this issue cannot be overstated, but the summit reminded us yet again that hope can arise from even the darkest tragedies.

As President Biden reminded us in West Hartford, “whether we’re Democrats or Republicans, we all want families to be safe. We all want to drop them off at the house of worship, a mall, a movie, the school door without worrying if that’s the last time we’re ever going to see them.”

Let us all honor the victims of gun violence by continuing to come together, regardless of political party, and enact meaningful change. No community should have to suffer the devastation caused by gun violence. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act showed us that through unity, determination, and unwavering resolve, we can create a future where everyone can live without the fear of gun violence. More must be done, but the BSCA was an important start.

Together, we can build a brighter, safer tomorrow. Together, we will.