Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, Retired NASA Astronaut Captain Mark Kelly, and Americans for Responsible Solutions PAC Endorse Roy Cooper for North Carolina Governor
November 2, 2016— Americans for Responsible Solutions PAC (ARS PAC) – the gun violence prevention organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and retired NASA astronaut Captain Mark Kelly – today announced its endorsement of Roy Cooper for North Carolina Governor. Citing his support for a broad set of responsible gun violence prevention policies that help keep guns out of the wrong hands and protect the rights of law-abiding Americans, ARS PAC declared Roy Cooper its North Carolina Champion for the Vocal Majority.
The endorsement is part of ARS PAC’s “Vocal Majority” campaign this fall to mobilize millions of Americans to make the 2016 election a referendum on gun violence prevention and to support leaders up and down the ballot who are committed to taking responsible steps that reduce gun violence. ARS PAC previously announced endorsements this year in races for the United States Senate, United States House of Representatives, state legislatures, and gubernatorial races and plans to make additional endorsements of candidates this fall.
“Roy Cooper knows that with our right to own guns comes the responsibility of keeping guns out of the hands of felons, domestic abusers, and other dangerous people. We are proud to support Roy Cooper, a leader committed to standing up to the Washington gun lobby and to bipartisan change that will help prevent gun tragedies. We look forward to having Roy Cooper as a champion for the vocal majority of North Carolinians who are calling on their elected leaders to do more to protect their rights, reduce gun violence, make our communities safer,” said former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and Navy combat veteran Captain Mark Kelly, the Co-Founders of the gun violence prevention organization Americans for Responsible Solutions PAC.
“I’m honored to have the support of Gabby Giffords and Mark Kelly, two Americans and gun owners who know that we can protect the rights of law-abiding people while doing more to keep the guns out of the hands of criminals,” said Roy Cooper. “As Attorney General of North Carolina, I’ve seen how our weak gun laws make it hard for law enforcement to fight crime and protect our communities. As North Carolina’s Governor, I’ll fight to protect Second Amendment rights and our responsibilities to keep guns out of the wrong hands.”
Along with its endorsements of its Champions for the Vocal Majority, this year ARS PAC is making significant investments in races and ballot initiatives across the country to support pro-gun violence prevention candidates and responsible ballot initiatives. ARS PAC is also working to hold candidates in the gun lobby’s grip accountable, including Senator Kelly Ayotte in the New Hampshire Senate race.
On Tuesday, September 27th, Congresswoman Giffords and Captain Kelly also launched a six-week, 14-state, 42-day nationwide bus tour – the Vocal Majority Tour – to encourage the vast number of Americans who support commonsense change to our gun laws to step up, speak out, and be catalysts for change this November. The Vocal Majority Tour has traveled to communities in battleground states and districts for grassroots events with local leaders, elected officials, and candidates to help ignite the Vocal Majority and elevate gun violence prevention in this fall’s election. The Vocal Majority Tour has already stopped in Florida, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., North Carolina, Georgia, and South Carolina.
Follow the Vocal Majority Tour at: www.TheVocalMajority.com.