Gun Safety Wins in Virginia; Gabrielle Giffords Congratulates Abigail Spanberger
November 6, 2018 – Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords released the following statement congratulating Abigail Spanberger for winning election to the US House of Representatives in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District:
“This year, Abigail Spanberger 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. Abigail 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 Virginia responded to this message of courage and hope by electing Abigail to office. Today marks the dawn of a new era for gun safety in America.
“Abigail 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. Abigail promised to bring what she heard to the halls of power, and now she will.
“Abigail’s election is a testament to the strength of people who stood up and marched, who spoke up and said enough. Abigail 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 Abigail Spanberger 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.”
As a former federal law enforcement officer, Abigail Spanberger supports responsible gun ownership while at the same time advocating for strengthening gun laws. Because she believes that protecting lives should not be a political issue, but a matter of public safety, Spanberger supports background checks for all firearm purchases. Her opponent, Dave Brat, was endorsed by the NRA Political Victory Fund and received 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 Virginia
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