RELEASE: Giffords Endorses Representatives Suzan Delbene, Pramila Jayapal, Derek Kilmer, and Rick Larsen for Reelection to Congress in Washington

August 17, 2018

The endorsement comes as part of the 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 Suzan Delbene in Washington’s first congressional district, Pramila Jayapal in Washington’s seventh congressional district, Derek Kilmer in Washington’s sixth congressional district, and Rick Larsen in Washington’s second congressional district.

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene knows that it is far past time for Congress to take action on America’s gun violence crisis. A leader with diverse experiences in the public and private sector, Congresswoman DelBene is dedicated to bringing our elected officials together to save lives. She supports expanding background checks, preventing abusive dating partners and stalkers from accessing guns, ending the prohibition on federal research into gun violence, and banning assault weapons and bump stocks. Congresswoman DelBene has also shown the courage to stand up to the gun lobby, voting against concealed carry reciprocity legislation which would make it easier for potentially untrained, unlicensed individuals to carry hidden, loaded guns in more places.

During her time in Congress, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal has shown her commitment to keeping her constituents safe. Time and time again, she has shown a willingness to challenge the gun lobby and fight for common-sense measures to keep our communities safe. Congresswoman Jayapal supports expanding background checks, preventing abusive dating partners and stalkers from accessing guns, enacting extreme risk protection orders, repealing legal immunity for the gun industry, banning assault weapons, and investing in federal gun violence research. Congresswoman Jayapal voted against dangerous concealed carry reciprocity legislation, the gun lobby’s top legislative priority.

Congressman Derek Kilmer knows that the American gun violence epidemic is not normal. A consensus builder and member of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, he supports requiring a background check on every gun sale, allowing the temporary removal of guns from individuals in crisis, preventing domestic abusers and stalkers from possessing guns, and preventing the sale of assault weapons and bump stocks. In December, Congressman Kilmer stood up for Washington communities by voting against concealed carry reciprocity, the gun lobby’s top legislative priority.

Congressman Rick Larsen is committed to putting the safety of his constituents before the interests of the gun lobby. Congressman Larsen has cosponsored legislation to require background checks on all commercial sales, fund federal research into gun violence, ban assault weapons, and ban bump stocks. In December, Congressman Larsen voted against concealed carry reciprocity, the gun lobby’s top legislative priority.

Statement from 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. Washington has not been immune to this deadly crisis: somebody is killed by a gun in Washington every 13 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 safer. “The Members of Congress we are endorsing today acknowledge the devastating toll of our nation’s gun violence crisis, and they are working to combat it. Their leadership will be critical for our next victories in Congress to save lives and prevent future tragedies. Giffords is proud to endorse Representatives Suzan DelBene, Pramila Jayapal, Derek Kilmer, and Rick Larsen, who have the courage to stand up to the corporate gun lobby and who will never stop working to make Washington communities safer.”

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 the Giffords 2018 political program here.

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