Giffords Endorses Gun Safety Champion Congressman Joe Crowley for his Reelection to Congress in New York
April 25, 2018 — Giffords, the gun safety organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and Captain Mark Kelly, announced its endorsement of Congressman Joe Crowley’s reelection campaign for New York’s 14th congressional district.
Since 1998, Crowley has served residents of the Bronx and Queens and in 2016 was nominated by his colleagues to be Chair of the House Democratic Caucus. Crowley has continued to champion efforts to reduce the nation’s gun violence epidemic and strengthen our laws to save lives.
“Joe Crowley is a leader. Whether it’s getting first responders the benefits they’ve earned or calling attention to the horrific impact of the country’s gun violence epidemic, he is tireless in fighting for what’s right,” said former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, co-founder of Giffords. “Too many people are dying everyday because the majority in Congress refuses to address America’s gun violence crisis. We need leaders like Joe in Washington D.C. who are committed to protecting kids and communities – and not worried about the wishes of the gun lobby. I’m proud to endorse Joe for Congress and I look forward to continuing to work with him to strengthen our nation’s gun safety laws.”
“Enacting common sense gun safety legislation is one of the most critical moral obligations of our time. We can stop needless gun violence from claiming more lives – it will only take courage and action on behalf of our nation’s leaders,” said Congressman Crowley. “I promise to do everything within my power to enact gun violence prevention legislation that keeps our schools, communities, and places of worship safe. I’m humbled to receive support from Giffords and Everytown – two organizations that have consistently led the charge to ensure Americans are safe from gun violence.”
Giffords recently launched the #VoteCourage campaign aimed at electing gun safety advocates to Congress and defeating politicians who have historically worked against gun reform, or done nothing at all to prevent gun violence. The political program targets incumbents in mostly suburban districts and uses a mixture of TV and digital advertising, on-the-ground organizing, and a voter registration push to create momentum for meaningful progress on gun safety.
The mass shootings at Parkland, Florida crystallized the country’s frustration with the lack of action to pass gun safety laws. Currently, the country is averaging nearly 34,000 deaths from guns every year, and recent polling shows that support for stronger gun laws is at an all-time high.
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Giffords is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives from gun violence. Led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, Navy combat veteran and retired NASA astronaut Captain Mark Kelly, Giffords inspires the courage of people from all walks of life to make America safer.