It is OK to be scared, it is understandable to be frustrated: Tennessee is facing a number of tough issues that we simply can’t afford to ignore.

As your representative for House District 97, I have worked hard to pass laws on stricter jail sentencing, ensuring bail on capital crimes is set through the accountable consideration of an elected judge, and getting mental health care to those in need, when they need it.

The thread running through all of these measures — from keeping guns out of the hands of criminals to coordination of public records — is public safety. Without it, we are paralyzed. I’m proud of the notable successes we’ve had in the legislature, but the job isn’t finished.

Large majority of local residents support gun reform, poll shows

Governor Bill Lee has called a special session of the 113th General Assembly for Aug. 21, where I plan to present a new public safety blueprint that all Tennesseans can get behind. This special session is critical for Tennessee’s lawmakers to gather for a common-sense debate about firearms, crime and the common good.

The car thefts that plague our state’s urban areas are fueled by the search for guns that will, in all likelihood, be used to commit a violent crime. When these bad actors shoot someone in the commission of a crime, but don’t kill them, they currently have a 30% chance of simply serving probation with no real time behind bars.

Again, in this session, I plan to reintroduce my Aggravated Assault Bill, which has popular support in Memphis and Shelby County, in order to ensure that gun crime does real time.

Across Tennessee we are attracting unprecedented levels of new businesses, investment and jobs, all of which is improving the competitiveness of our state. I truly believe that our best days are ahead of us and to judge by the influx of families into our cities, I’m not the only one.

Unfortunately, I also know that our success isn’t written in the stars — unchecked crime and the social instability that goes along with it will undo the good we’ve accomplished.

Poll confirms it: Local residents think speeding is a major problem

Addressing these issues will require hard work and critical debate to find common-sense public safety solutions with which we can all be comfortable.

No matter your political stripe, society shouldn’t feel like it is teetering on the brink. That’s why we are gathering in Nashville for a special session at the end of the summer: We all know that there is more to be done.

I believe that the measures that I’ve worked hard to pass have gone a long way to help all Tennesseans feel secure enough to focus on building the better life they see for themselves.

A community that can realize its own vision will ensure that together we build a better state, one that we can all be proud of, and works for all of us.