Giffords Endorses Madeleine Dean, Mary Gay Scanlon, and Susan Wild for Congress in Pennsylvania
The endorsement comes as part of Giffords’ #VoteCourage Campaign to elect gun reform candidates nationwide
July 25, 2018 — Giffords, the gun safety organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and Captain Mark Kelly, announced its endorsement of Madeleine Dean in Pennsylvania’s fourth congressional district, Mary Gay Scanlon in Pennsylvania’s fifth congressional district, and Susan Wild in Pennsylvania’s seventh congressional district.
“Politicians bought and paid for by the gun lobby to defend the firearms industry can no longer get away with saying thoughts and prayers and then staying silent. They can no longer say acts of violence are acts of nature, beyond our control. They are not, and the American people know it. They’re tired of politicians who claim to represent them failing to take action to keep them safe. This year, voters are demanding leaders with the courage to fight for a nation where gun violence is not a daily problem,” said former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, co-founder of Giffords. “Voters are ready to elect leaders, like Madeleine Dean, Mary Gay Scanlon, and Susan Wild, who will always put protecting the safety of our communities first, not themselves, and certainly not the gun lobby. These candidates have what it takes to take on the biggest challenges and fight for solutions that will keep our schools, streets, churches and communities safe. Giffords is proud to endorse them for Congress because they have the courage stand up to the corporate gun lobby and they’ll never stop working to make Pennsylvania’s communities safer.”
- State Representative Madeleine Dean is ready to take action on the gun violence epidemic. In the wake of Sandy Hook, Madeleine co-founded the PA SAFE Caucus to advocate for steps to reduce gun violence that don’t infringe on Second Amendment rights. In Congress, she will fight for extreme risk protection orders, background checks for all gun sales, and a ban on bump stocks.
- Mary Gay Scanlon has been a lifelong advocate for her community. An expert in education policy and an experienced pro bono attorney, Mary Gay is a passionate champion for children and families. Her involvement in the gun violence prevention movement stretches back to 2000 when she attended the Million Mom March in Washington. Mary Gay is running for Congress on a comprehensive gun violence prevention platform, which includes requiring background checks for all firearm sales, reinstating the federal ban on semi-automatic assault weapons, and restoring funding for Centers for Disease Control research on gun violence.
- As the first female solicitor of the city of Allentown, Susan Wild isn’t new to breaking down barriers or blazing trails. It’s why she wasn’t afraid to run for Congress in order to stand up to special interests and the corporate gun lobby. Susan knows that keeping our communities safe will require leaders who are ready to fight for stronger gun safety laws, such as requiring background checks on all firearm sales and closing loopholes that allow domestic abusers and stalkers to purchase and possess guns.
Giffords’ #VoteCourage campaign is 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.
###