Giffords Endorses Representatives Robin Kelly, Mike Quigley, and Brad Schneider for Reelection in Illinois
These endorsements come as part of Giffords’ #VoteCourage Campaign to elect gun reform candidates nationwide
Washington, DC – Giffords, the gun safety organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and Captain Mark Kelly, announced its endorsement of three Illinois incumbents, Congresswoman Robin Kelly, Congressman Mike Quigley, and Congressman Brad Schneider for reelection. These elected leaders now join a growing list of endorsed candidates supported by Giffords in 2018, as part of the organization’s #VoteCourage campaign , an effort to elect gun safety champions. The organization expects to announce additional endorsements in the weeks and months to come.
Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, co-founder of Giffords:
“America experienced three of the deadliest mass shootings in modern history in just the past year. Over 38,000 people in our country were killed by a gun. Illinois has not been immune to this deadly crisis: somebody is killed by a gun in Illinois every 6 hours. Despite this devastating reality, the gun lobby has used its cash and influence to stifle any attempts to pass laws on Capitol Hill to make our schools, streets, and communities more safe.
“The American people are outraged and tired of inaction. They are ready to use their power to demand that the leaders we elect to represent us are committed to creating a world where gun violence is not a daily problem. Voters are calling for leaders who will always put protecting the safety of our communities first, not themselves, and certainly not the gun lobby.
“The leaders we are endorsing today have acknowledged the devastating toll of our nation’s gun violence crisis, and they are working tirelessly to combat it. Their passion, leadership, and dedication as a leading gun safety champion will be critical for our next victories in Congress to save lives and prevent future tragedies. Giffords is proud to endorse Robin Kelly, Mike Quigley, and Brad Schneider, leaders who have the courage stand up to the corporate gun lobby and who will never stop working to make Illinois communities safer.”
The three Illinois candidates endorsed by Giffords for reelection today include:
- Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL-02) is at the forefront of the gun violence prevention movement, serving as a tireless advocate for communities experiencing gun violence that rarely makes the news. Congresswoman Kelly is the Co-Chair of the Congressional Gun Violence Prevention Taskforce, a Member of the House Task Force on Community-Police Relations, and the author of the Kelly Report on Gun Violence in America, an in-depth Congressional analysis on gun violence in our country. Committed to reducing gun violence that threatens the public health of American communities, she staunchly supports expanding background checks, allowing the temporary removal of guns from individuals in crisis, banning assault weapons, preventing stalkers and abusive dating partners from possessing firearms, establishing a federal gun trafficking statute, and requiring gun dealers to properly secure their inventory. We are proud to endorse Congresswoman Robin Kelly for Congress in 2018.
- Congressman Mike Quigley (IL-05) : First elected to the House of Representatives in 2009, Congressman Mike Quigley has worked hard to end gun violence by supporting stronger gun safety legislation. Congressman Quigley supports expanding background checks, allowing the temporary removal of firearms from people who are a danger to themselves or others, restricting assault weapons, preventing abusive dating partners and stalkers from possessing firearms, repealing legal immunity for firearms manufacturers, and preventing illegal trafficking of guns. Congressman Quigley introduced bipartisan legislation that would notify local law enforcement when a prohibited person attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Checks System (NICS). He also voted against concealed carry reciprocity legislation, which would force states with stronger concealed carry laws to honor concealed carry permits from states with weaker laws, calling the measure “dangerous and deplorable.” We are proud to endorse Congressman Mike Quigley for Congress in 2018.
- Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) supports many important gun safety proposals, including universal background checks, limiting the sale of high-capacity magazines, and allowing the temporary removal of firearms from people who pose a danger to themselves or others. He also supports restricting assault weapons and restarting federal research into gun violence. This Congress, he sponsored legislation to prevent gun thefts from licensed dealers. A member of the House Judiciary Committee, Congressman Schneider has called on his committee colleagues to hold hearings and take action to reduce gun violence. We are proud to endorse Congressman Brad Schneider for Congress in 2018.
Giffords’ #VoteCourage campaign aims to elect gun safety advocates to Congress and defeat 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. Learn More about Giffords’ 2018 political program here.
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