Gun Safety Wins in Arizona; Gabrielle Giffords Congratulates Ann Kirkpatrick
November 6, 2018 – Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords released the following statement congratulating Ann Kirkpatrick for winning election to the US House of Representatives in Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District:
“This year, Ann Kirkpatrick dared to imagine an America where gun violence wasn’t normal and people didn’t have to live in fear, wondering if today was the day they would have to duck under a desk or hide in a closet. Ann stood tall and boldly declared that the gun lobby is no longer welcome here, and their influence over our politicians is a thing of the past. Communities in Arizona responded to this message of courage and hope by electing Ann to office. Today marks the dawn of a new era for gun safety in America.
“Ann made it clear that once elected, she would fight for laws proven to keep guns out of dangerous hands and save lives. On the campaign trail, she listened to the concerns of voters who don’t understand how we can live in a country where nearly 100 lives are lost to gunfire each day. Amy promised to bring what she heard to the halls of power, and now she will.
“Ann’s election is a testament to the strength of people who stood up and marched, who spoke up and said enough. Ann harnessed this new energy and pointed out that politicians had failed in their basic moral responsibility to keep us safe. Her election is proof that we don’t have to tolerate inaction on gun safety in a country where guns cause daily heartbreak and horror. We congratulate Ann Kirkpatrick on her victory tonight and look forward to working with her in the months to come as we fight to make our schools, streets, and communities safer.”
Ann Kirkpatrick’s return to Congress in the House District Gabby Giffords formerly represented is a particularly poignant victory for Giffords. Giffords campaigned alongside Kirkpatrick in Tucson, rallying Arizonan communities in the fight for gun control legislation as part of the Vote Save Lives tour. Kirkpatrick made gun safety a central part of her campaign and ran an ad featuring her endorsement from Gabby Giffords. The NRA spent thousands of dollars in support of Kirkpatrick’s opponent, Lea Marquez Peterson.
News Coverage Highlights:
Related Resources from Giffords:
- Memo: Giffords Elevates Gun Safety Champions; Takes on NRA in Congressional Battlegrounds
- Press Release: Gun Safety & The 2018 Midterms
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