If residents want a hardworking New York State Senator to help eradicate gun violence, then I encourage all voters no matter their party affiliation to re-elect Anna Kaplan to the New York State Senate. She has spent every waking hour researching gun safety protocols and then sponsoring and voting for gun safety legislation in the State Senate.

Like many Americans, I worry every day about school shootings along with others as well. I fear for our school children, their teachers, school support staff and more. I cannot imagine what they experience psychologically every morning as they walk into their schools and classrooms. What kind of a society have we become? Will it ever end?

Recently, I told some European friends about the gun safety drills our kids have to go through should a shooter suddenly start shooting into a classroom mowing our children down. Our friends were shocked. Absolutely shocked since they don’t have any such worries like this yet.

Sen. Kaplan co-sponsored the anti-ghost gun legislation – the Scott J Biegel Unfinished Receiver Act — in the state Senate. It was quickly signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul.

How many of us have heard of ghost guns before? They are untraceable firearms used by criminals. The NRA and other pro-gun organizations have spent millions of dollars to stop legislatures from outlawing ghost guns.

These guns are do-it-yourself guns made up of gun parts that anyone, including kids, can assemble and then use. They do not have serial numbers or specific components. This is an easy and secretive way a person can evade gun permit laws requiring registration and tracing.

I am pleading with every single voter to please re-elect Anna Kaplan to the state Senate so she can continue her critically important work protecting us, our families and friends.

This election is like no other one. Not only is it about saving our democracy, but it is about protecting and saving our children and others from gun violence and death.

Eleanor Lange

Manhasset