When Kaine decided to run for the U.S. Senate, the gun lobby went after him yet again. They tried to use false attacks on his record to defeat him. And they failed.

In his commitment to be a voice for gun violence prevention in the Senate, Kaine has supported legislation to close the loopholes that let felons and domestic abusers buy guns online and at gun shows without a background check. He introduced and co-sponsored legislation to crack down on illegal gun sales. He supports legislation to give law enforcement more time to complete a criminal background check before a sale is allowed to proceed. He has consistently advocated responsible, pro-public-safety restrictions on gun ownership — a position that strikes the right balance of protecting both our Second Amendment rights and the safety of our communities.

More than a year ago, a reporter asked Kaine about Clinton’s commitment to standing up to the gun lobby and its political threats. No matter what she said about our gun laws, Kaine responded, the gun lobby would try to mislead voters on her record, “so why not go head-on on an issue that will improve safety?”

Fast-forward to today, and that is precisely what Clinton and Kaine are doing together: running as the gun safety ticket. Kaine’s presence as Clinton’s running mate represents a shared commitment to tackling gun violence fearlessly and decisively, both on the campaign trail and, more importantly, in office. Together, the Clinton-Kaine ticket will forcefully advocate a responsible commitment to saving lives and protecting the rights of law-abiding people. It is a position I suspect the American people will reward this November.