By Katie Peters, Communications Director

These nine women candidates have made gun reform an essential part of their platforms to build a safer America.

Gun violence prevention is a women’s issue.

In the United States, women are 16 times more likely to be shot and killed than women in other high income countries. In fact, it’s reported that every 16 hours a woman is killed with a gun by her partner. And around 4.5 million women alive today have been threatened with a gun by an intimate partner, and nearly 1 million women have been shot or shot at by an intimate partner.

Nothing increases the lethality of a violent relationship more than the presence of a firearm—domestic violence victims are five times more likely to be killed if their abuse has access to a gun, and guns are used in more than half of all intimate partner homicides.

If Congress is going to take gun violence prevention seriously, then we must elect more leaders who can genuinely speak about the impact it’s having on the lives of women, their families and their communities.

In a year that brings a record breaking number of women running for office, we’re proud to have endorsed more than 100 of them who are leading on gun safety. Each has the courage to stand up to the gun lobby and fight for stronger gun laws.

Meet nine women that will make America a safer place:

 Lauren Underwood (IL-14)

As a registered nurse, Lauren has seen firsthand the damage a firearm can cause when in the wrong hands. “Lauren has been on the front lines of treating the tragic impact of our country’s gun violence crisis,” said former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, co-founder of Giffords. “She understands that the best place for us to address the gun violence epidemic is not in the emergency room, but in Congress.”

 Volunteer for Lauren’s campaign. 

 Lucy McBath, (GA-06)

After Lucy McBath lost her son in a shooting in 2012, she felt compelled to join the growing movement for stronger gun laws. Since then, Lucy has become an outspoken advocate for meaningful, commonsense gun laws that will prevent more children from being victims of gun violence. We’re proud to stand alongside Lucy and work to make Georgia a safer and stronger community for all.

 Get involved with Lucy’s campaign. 

 Mary Barzee Flores, (FL-25)

Mary Barzee Flores understands what it will take to keep our communities safe. A former judge, she is committed to fighting for proven solutions to the gun violence epidemic that has taken the lives of too many Floridians. The NRA and the gun lobby don’t intimidate Mary, and they can’t stop her from speaking out on gun violence.

 Volunteer with Mary’s campaign. 

 Angie Craig, (MN-02)

Angie Craig is challenging incumbent and NRA-favorite Jason Lewis. As a mother of four sons, two of whom are avid avid hunters, Angie understands that Second Amendment rights and commonsense gun safety laws go hand-in-hand. Her opponent, Rep. Lewis received an A from the NRA and over $10,000 in donations from corporate gun lobby groups. Minnesota has the seventh highest gun death rate in the country — Angie is determined to change that.

 Find out how you can get involved with Angie’s campaign. 

 Sharice Davids, (KS-03)

Raised by a single mother Army veteran, Sharice Davids graduated from community college in Kansas before attending law school and going on to serve as a White House fellow. An expert in Native American issues, Sharice has long fought on behalf of the underserved. Her courage to stand up the gun lobby and champion gun safety is exactly the kind of leadership Kansas deserves.

 Help send Sharice Davids to Congress. 

 Lisa Brown (WA-05)

Lisa Brown is a proven leader on gun safety. As the first Democratic woman in the state to serve as Senate Majority Leader in Washington, she advocated for banning bump stocks and high-capacity magazines, closing background check loopholes, and raising the legal age of gun ownership to 21. She’s challenging incumbent Cathy McMorris Rodgers who’s received close to $60,000 from the gun lobby and voted against gun safety measures time and time again.

 Get involved with Lisa’s campaign. 

 Abigail Spanberger (VA-07)

As a former Operations Officer in the CIA, Abigail is devoting her life to public service. She knows that saving lives from gun violence is an American issue, not a partisan one. Abigail wants to keep our law enforcement and children safe, which is why she supports extreme risk protection orders and requiring background checks for all gun purchases.

 Help send Abigail to Congress. 

 Jahana Hayes (CT-05)

Jahana Hayes grew up in a housing project in Waterbury, Connecticut, where she confronted poverty and gun violence at an early age. She went on to earn two advanced degrees and win the 2016 National Teacher of the Year Award. Jahana is running for Congress so that her children and every child in America can have a better, safer future.

 Volunteer for Jahana’s campaign. 

 Kim Schrier (WA-08)

As a pediatrician, Dr. Kim Schrier has spent her career serving Washington children and families. She made gun safety a central part of her campaign early on when she launched an ad highlighting the danger unsecured firearms pose in homes with children and teenagers who are struggling with mental illness. In Congress, Kim will fight for effective measures the gun lobby has long used its cash and influence to block, like expanding background checks and reinstating federal funding for research on gun violence.

 Get involved and support Dr. Kim Schrier.