In Advance Of VA Gubernatorial Debate, Gun Safety Organization Calls On Ed Gillespie To Answer Questions On Public Safety

July 21, 2017 — In advance of tomorrow’s first gubernatorial debate, Americans for Responsible Solutions PAC, the gun safety organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her husband Captain Mark Kelly, called on Ed Gillespie to answer questions about his unknown record on public safety.

Peter Ambler, Executive Director, Americans for Responsible Solutions PAC:

6 Unanswered Questions About Ed Gillespie’s Position On Gun Safety

1. As governor, would Ed Gillespie protect the loopholes the let felons, domestic abusers and the dangerously mentally ill buy guns without a background check — a loophole that 88 percent of Virginians favor closing ? In 2014, the National Rifle Association stated that Ed Gillespie “opposes the so-called Obama-Bloomberg “universal” background check system that would criminalize the private transfer of a firearm between life-long friends and many family members.” [Source: Since deleted NRA web page] 
2. As governor, would Ed Gillespie oppose strengthening Virginia’s gun trafficking laws? Virginia has become known as a breeding ground for gun traffickers, largely fueled by individuals who legally purchase guns on behalf of those who cannot pass a background check. Efforts to repeal Governor Wilder’s attempts at combatting the state’s gun trafficking problem have made Virginia less safe. Earlier this year, two dozen people, many of whom were from Virginia, were arrested for trafficking over 200 firearms to New York.
3. As governor, would Ed Gillespie protect the loopholes that give domestic abusers easy access to firearms? In 2012, over 100 women were killed in Virginia  by a current or former domestic partner.Many of these domestic violence-related homicides involved firearms. Unlike federal law, existing Virginia law does not prohibit individuals convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors from possessing firearms  or ammunition.
4. As governor, would Ed Gillespie support allowing guns in schools? Federal and state laws ensuring that schools are gun-free zones have helped make K–12 schools even safer, significantly reducing gun violence in these places. School-associated student homicide rates decreased after the federal laws restricting guns within 1,000 feet of schools were adopted in the early 1990s. Despite the evidence that gun-free zones make our schools safer, the gun lobby wants to arm visitors, teachers and faculty at elementary, middle and high schools and to allow college students to possess guns on campus, which will only lead to more gun deaths and injuries, not less.
5. As governor, would Ed Gillespie oppose legislation that empowers law enforcement and families to remove firearms from individuals in crisis? Over the past three years, a growing list of states with strong traditions of gun ownership have passed Extreme Risk Protective Order (ERPO) laws that create a court-ordered mechanism for family members to work with law enforcement to temporarily prevent access to firearms for at-risk individuals. Research shows that people are more likely to die by suicide if they have easy access to firearms. ERPO laws can prevent suicidal individuals from accessing guns during a crisis, which can help prevent gun violence tragedies and save lives.
6. As governor, would Ed Gillespie oppose legislation that requires Virginians to obtain live-fire training in order to obtain a concealed carry permit? While the corporate gun lobby pressures states to weaken or eliminate concealed carry permitting structures, it’s important to note that Virginia does not require individuals to undergo any live-fire training in order to carry a concealed firearm. Live-fire training plays a critical role in preparing concealed carry permit holders for the responsibility of safely carrying a loaded, concealed firearm in a public place.

Earlier this year, Americans for Responsible Solutions PAC hosted the first-ever Virginia gubernatorial candidate forum focused exclusively on gun safety issues. The forum, which was attended by Virginia’s two Democratic gubernatorial candidates provided an opportunity for the candidates to share their views about addressing gun violence in Virginia and their plans to keep families safe.