NEW AD: Giffords Ad Continues Campaign Highlighting Barbara Comstock’s Failures to Strengthen Gun Safety Laws and Keep Virginia Communities Safe
New Giffords PAC ad, part of $1 million investment, notes her failure to close background check loopholes that allow criminals to get their hands on guns
September 19, 2018 — Giffords PAC , part of the gun safety organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and Captain Mark Kelly, released their second ad of this election cycle calling out Congresswoman Barbara Comstock for her failure to close the federal background check loophole that allows criminals to buy firearms. Comstock has an A-rating from the NRA and has benefited from $135,000 in NRA spending. Her district is home to the NRA’s headquarters, and the ad notes Comstock’s willingness to support policies that put the interests of the NRA ahead of the safety of Virginia families.
Statement from Peter Ambler, Executive Director at Giffords
“Barbara Comstock has categorically failed to protect Virginia kids and communities from the threat of gun violence. Why? Because the NRA funds her campaigns. She opposes universal background checks. She voted to undermine Virginia law and allow untrained and irresponsible people to carry loaded guns in Northern Virginia communities. Virginians are fed up with worrying about whether their kids will be safe. We are making it clear that Comstock puts campaign cash from the NRA over her constituents concerns for their own safety.”
The advertisement began appearing today on televisions across Virginia’s 10th district as part of an ongoing $1 million campaign. It will be shown across cable and appear heavily in Loudoun and Fairfax. The ad makes clear that Comstock has taken hundreds of thousands from the NRA and supported their positions despite overwhelming public support for stronger background checks.
The first ad in this campaign featured Giffords speaking directly to Comstock’s failed record.
Comstock was part of Giffords initial #VoteThemOut list because of her A-rating from the NRA which led to the group making her one of their 10 biggest campaign beneficiaries. She has previously supported concealed carry reciprocity and allowing guns in restaurants while opposing a firearm registry, background checks, a semi-automatic ban, and a one-gun-per-month sales limit.
Background on the Giffords 2018 Political Program
The initial step to the political program this year began in the hours after the Parkland shooting, when Giffords used #VoteCourage to get people to pledge to support candidates in November who will stand up to the gun lobby and fight for safer communities. In less than a week more than 450,000 Americans took the pledge.
Following the #VoteCourage pledge, Giffords began this ongoing, robust political program to shine a light on incumbents’ record of prioritizing the interests of the gun industry over public safety. It is encouraging voters to support candidates with the courage to stand up to the gun lobby. Along with the digital advertisements going out today and the website database, the program will include TV advertising, on-the-ground organizing and events, and a voter registration push.
Giffords launched a partnership with NextGen America and Everytown for Gun safety on a voter registration effort that is committing an initial $1.5 million to seek to get up to 50,000 Americans aged 18-19 registered for the midterm elections. In 2017, Giffords launched its candidate training program to help educate candidates who want to run on a gun safety platform and plans to expand the program in 2018.
The mass shooting at Parkland, in Florida, crystallized the country’s frustration with the lack of any action to pass gun safety laws. Gun death rates have climbed to levels not seen in decades. 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.
Last November saw gun safety champions win commandingly across the country – from statewide races in Virginia and New Jersey to a key state senate seat in Washington state. The elections sparked what has become known as the suburban rebellion in the districts that will matter to who will have control of Congress next year.
A recent public opinion survey released by Giffords also shows that gun safety is a winning issue in districts key to determining control of the House of Representatives. The poll looked into 38 battleground districts that are largely Republican-held. The results proved that embracing gun safety could be the difference-maker for Democrats in key swing districts, particularly because support for stronger gun laws remains high and the National Rifle Association’s favorability is on a downward trend.
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