Gun Safety Wins in New Jersey; Gabrielle Giffords Congratulates Andy Kim

November 6, 2018

November 6, 2018 – Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords released the following statement congratulating Andy Kim for emerging victorious in New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional District:

“This year, Andy Kim 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. Andy 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 New Jersey responded to this message of courage and hope by electing Andy to office. Today marks the dawn of a new era for gun safety in America. “Andy made it clear that once elected, he would fight for laws proven to keep guns out of dangerous hands and save lives. A national security expert who has served in Afghanistan and Iraq, Andy is committed to supporting gun safety. On the campaign trail, he 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. Andy promised to bring what he heard to the halls of power, and now he will. “Andy’s election is a testament to the strength of people who stood up and marched, who spoke up and said enough. Andy harnessed this new energy and pointed out that politicians had failed in their basic moral responsibility to keep us safe. His 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 Andy Kim on his victory tonight and look forward to working with him in the months to come as we fight to make our schools, streets, and communities safer.”

Since the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, Andy Kim has been a consistent and outspoken proponent of gun safety laws, urging Congress to take measures that will keep Americans at home from seeing the same gun violence that he experienced while serving abroad. Andy is a Rhodes Scholar, diplomat, and father of two. He served in Iraq as a director at the National Security Council, advising President Obama on Iraq and Syria counterterrorism efforts. Gabby and Mark campaigned for Andy in Moorestown, New Jersey. Andy’s opponent, incumbent Tom MacArthur, received over $9,000 from the gun lobby and an A rating from the NRA.

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 New Jersey

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