“I’ve heard from those among you who question my legitimacy. I acknowledge that if I were an average citizen looking at how I ended up holding this office, I, too, might have questions and concerns. I am the youngest man to ever hold this office, and as such, some of you believe I lack the experience and gravitas to handle the job. I acknowledge and recognize those concerns, and all I can do to reassure you is promise that I will give you my very best every single day I’m in office. I’m surrounded by cabinet members, military leaders, advisers and staffers who know more than I ever will about their various areas of expertise. Their advice will not only be welcomed in my office, but it’ll be accepted and acted upon. The first time I walked into the Oval Office as your president, I vowed to leave my ego at the door. This isn’t about me. It’s about all of you and how I can use the power entrusted to me as your president to continue the important work my predecessor began in the areas of education, housing, childcare, health care, prescription drug prices, transportation, climate change and national security, to name just a few areas of critical concern.

“Following the tragic school shooting in Des Moines, I’m determined to push for common sense solutions to our country’s vexing problem with gun violence. I’ll say it again—I am not looking to take guns from responsible owners, but we can and must do better at keeping guns out of the hands of people who shouldn’t have them through enhanced background checks, red-flag laws, waiting periods and an increase in the age to purchase guns. If a young person can’t buy a beer until they’re twenty-one, they probably shouldn’t be able to buy a weapon of war until then either.”

An enthusiastic round of applause greeted that statement.

“I understand there are strong feelings on all sides of this issue, but I hope we can agree that our children, teachers and support staff need to feel safe in their schools, and the rest of us need to feel safe as we go about our daily business.”

Another sustained round of applause greeted that statement.

“Tonight, we’re joined by Cath Powell, who lost her children, Mason and Julia, in the Des Moines shooting.”

Cath was greeted by the most enthusiastic applause yet. Tears slid down her cheeks as she accepted the outpouring and mouthed thank you to the audience.