Giffords to Target Minnesota Congressman Jason Lewis (MN-02) for Anti-Gun Safety Record
Giffords’ #VoteThemOut Campaign aims to defeat gun lobby politicians like Lewis in upcoming elections
May 4, 2018 – Giffords, the gun safety organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and Captain Mark Kelly, added Congressman Jason Lewis (MN-02) to its list of politicians to defeat in the upcoming elections. 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:
“Since assuming office in 2017, Jason Lewis has shown himself to be a gun lobby hardliner who supports policies that put our communities in danger. This year, we need to use the power of the ballot box to shut the door on politicians like Lewis who consistently vote to make our schools, streets, and neighborhoods less, not more, safe.”
Jason Lewis, a first-term incumbent representing Minnesota’s 2nd district, has supported a concealed carry reciprocity bill that would have allowed gun owners with a conceal carry permit to carry concealed firearms in any state. He has also voted to relax restrictions on the purchase of firearms by individuals with a history of mental illness.
Although Minnesota ranks among the top 25% of states with strong gun laws, the state’s gun safety measures are far from comprehensive. For instance, Minnesota has yet to pass universal background checks or extreme risk protection orders.
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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