Gun Safety Wins in Connecticut; Gabrielle Giffords Congratulates Jahana Hayes
November 6, 2018 – Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords released the following statement congratulating Jahana Hayes for emerging victorious in Connecticut’s 5th Congressional District:
“This year, Jahana Hayes 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. Jahana 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 Connecticut responded to this message of courage and hope by electing Jahana to office. Today marks the dawn of a new era for gun safety in America.
“Jahana made it clear that once elected, she would fight for laws proven to keep guns out of dangerous hands and save lives. As an educator, Jahana has always sought to make sure her children in her community will have a better future, and she brought that energy to her run for office. 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. Jahana promised to bring what she heard to the halls of power, and now she will.
“Jahana’s election is a testament to the strength of people who stood up and marched, who spoke up and said enough. Jahana 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 Jahana Hayes 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.”
Growing up in a housing project in Waterbury, Connecticut, Jahana Hayes confronted poverty and gun violence at a young age. She went on to earn two advanced degrees and become an educator, earning the National Teacher of the Year award in 2016. She supports expanding background checks to cover all firearm sales and restarting federal research to understand the causes of gun violence. Connecticut’s 5th District contains Newtown, where 20 school children were shot and killed in 2012.
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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