Earlier this month, I met with the families of the shooting victims at Sandy Hook Elementary School. It was a heart-wrenching meeting. I couldn’t help but think of my kids and my grandkids as I listened to the families’ tragic stories.

But I wasn’t just thinking about my own family. I was also thinking about children in every Montana community. Meeting the Sandy Hook families reminded me of my obligation to make our communities safer places to live work and raise a family.

I was born and raised in Montana. My family taught me to shoot, and I taught my kids and grandkids the same. I even used to make a living with a gun as a custom butcher. Like all Montanans, I value responsible gun ownership and strongly believe in the importance of the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment.

The recent measure to expand background checks on gun sales was right in line with Montana’s values. A Democrat and a Republican hammered out the common-sense compromise. It was a smart, bipartisan approach to reducing gun violence without infringing on our Second Amendment.

In fact, by closing loopholes in the law and more clearly defining who is a responsible gun owner, the bill actually made our Second Amendment rights stronger.

I will always do what’s right for Montana. And whether we’re talking about making our communities safer or cutting wasteful spending to reduce the deficit, I will always look for ways to reach across the aisle to get things done.

Even though this common-sense measure didn’t pass, I’m still committed to the Montana spirit — when we work hard and work together, we can get things done. And as always, I’m committed to making sure you know exactly where I stand.