Giffords to Target Washington Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) for Gun Safety Inaction
Giffords’ #VoteThemOut Campaign aims to defeat gun lobby politicians, including McMorris Rodgers
May 4, 2018 – Giffords, the gun safety organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and Captain Mark Kelly, added Washington state Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) to its list of campaign targets. The announcement is part of Giffords’ larger #VoteThemOut campaign to elect gun safety champions to public office and unseat politicians who have refused to pass lifesaving gun violence prevention legislation.
Peter Ambler, Executive Director of Giffords:
“Americans can and must vote to keep politicians accountable for putting our lives in jeopardy. For too long, elected officials have come to the defense of the firearms industry, even in the face of a gun violence epidemic that injures and kills tens of thousands of Americans each year. Politicians like Cathy McMorris Rodgers have failed to take the action necessary to protect our children, schools, and communities. This November, Americans in every state have a chance to bring much-needed change to our neighborhoods by voting out gun lobby candidates who stand in the way of our safety.”
A seven-term incumbent, Cathy McMorris Rodgers is an NRA-endorsed candidate who has received over $26,000 from the gun rights organization during her time in office. She has not only voted to loosen restrictions on interstate gun purchases, but has also supported cross-state concealed carry and opposed a trigger lock law in DC.After the Parkland shooting, McMorris Rodgers even had plans to speak at a fundraiser where an AR-15 rifle–the very same model of gun used in the shooting–was to be auctioned off.
Her actions are inconsistent with progress made elsewhere in Washington. Last November, Washington voters elected a Giffords-endorsed gun safety candidate, Manka Dhingra, in the race for State Senate District 45. Dhingra’s victory created a pro-gun safety majority in the state. To bolster her candidacy, Giffords partnered with the Alliance for Gun Responsibility on a direct mail campaign to inform over 15,000 households of Dhingra’s superb record on gun safety. Giffords also endorsed Jenny Durkan, Seattle Mayor-elect, who has long advocated for gun violence prevention measures.
Despite the fact that Washington has the 10th strongest gun laws in the country , the state has yet to pass important measures such as limits to bulk firearm purchases, child access prevention laws, and funding urban gun violence prevention programs.
In the midterm elections, McMorris Rodgers will be challenged by Lisa Brown, an EMILY’s List and Giffords-endorsed gun safety advocate who has also served in the state legislature. Lisa Brown has stated that she supports banning bump stocks, closing loopholes in the background check system, and enhancing mental health treatment.
This February, Giffords 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 is targeting 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.
As part of the campaign, Giffords also released a series of new digital ads today highlighting the close ties between 10 of the #VoteThemOut incumbents and the National Rifle Association.
Today, Giffords also launched a new digital resource for voters spotlighting the elected officials they are seeking to unseat. The overall effort is working to clear the deck and make room for new leaders in Congress pledge to support legislation that will address the country’s gun violence epidemic
The mass shooting 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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