Gun Safety Wins in Georgia; Gabrielle Giffords Congratulates Lucy McBath

November 6, 2018

November 6, 2018 – Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords released the following statement congratulating Lucy McBath for winning her election in Georgia’s 6th Congressional District:

“This year, Lucy McBath 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. Lucy 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 Georgia responded to this message of courage and hope by electing Lucy to office. Today marks the dawn of a new era for gun safety in America. “Lucy made it clear that once elected, she would fight for laws proven to keep guns out of dangerous hands and save lives. I can’t imagine the pain Lucy suffered when her son Jordan was killed by a gunman. She turned that pain into action to try and save others from gun violence. 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. Lucy promised to bring what she heard to the halls of power, and now she will. “Lucy’s election is a testament to the strength of people who stood up and marched, who spoke up and said enough. Lucy 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 Lucy McBath 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.”

Lucy McBath has become a vocal advocate for gun violence prevention since her son, Jordan Davis, was shot and killed in 2012. She supports policies such as universal background checks, raising the minimum age to purchase a gun to 21 years old, and keeping guns out of the hands of convicted domestic abusers. Her opponent, Karen Handel, received an endorsement and an A rating from the NRA and over $22,000 in contributions from the gun lobby.

News Coverage Highlights:

HuffPost: Can Gun Control Advocate Lucy McBath Win In Gun-Loving Georgia?
Roll Call: Democratic Ads Show Gun Violence Remains Salient Primary Issue
Roll Call: Democratic Women Continue Winning Streak in Georgia Runoffs
MyAJC: The Jolt: In May, two-thirds of new voters chose Democratic ballots
Mother Jones: Last Night Was Huge for Black Women in Georgia—and Not Just Because of Stacey Abrams

Related Resources from Giffords:

Memo: Giffords Elevates Gun Safety Champions; Takes on NRA in Congressional Battlegrounds
Press Release: Gun Safety & The 2018 Midterms
Fact Sheet: The State of Gun Violence in Georgia

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