Gun Safety Wins in Oregon; Gabrielle Giffords Congratulates Governor Kate Brown
November 6, 2018 – Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords released the following statement congratulating Governor Kate Brown on her reelection to the Oregon governor’s office.
“This year, Governor Kate Brown 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. Governor Brown 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 Oregon responded to this message of courage and hope by reelecting Governor Brown to office. Today marks the dawn of a new era for gun safety in America.
“Governor Brown made it clear that if reelected, she would continue to fight for laws proven to keep guns out of dangerous hands and save lives. As governor, Kate Brown hasn’t just seen our nation’s gun violence crisis frishand, she’s worked tirelessly to combat it. 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. Governor Brown promised to bring what she heard to the halls of power, and now she will.
“Governor Brown’s reelection is a testament to the strength of people who stood up and marched, who spoke up and said enough. Governor Brown harnessed this new energy and pointed out that politicians had failed in their basic moral responsibility to keep us safe. Her reelection 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 Governor Brown 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.”
Oregon is one of only eight states to require background checks on all gun sales. In the aftermath of the Pulse Nightclub shooting in 2016, Kate Brown signed an executive action order to strengthen law enforcement efforts to help track down dangerous weapons. She also signed an extreme risk protection order into law, giving Oregon families and law enforcement a tool to help keep guns out of the hands of people who pose a heightened risk to themselves or others. After the Parkland shooting, she led the state to pass legislation to prohibit convicted stalkers and domestic abusers from buying and possessing guns. Last month, former Congresswoman Giffords campaigned in Oregon as part of the Vote Save Lives tour.
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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