NEW ADS: 14 Newly Elected Gun Safety Champions Get Praise from Giffords for Standing Up to the Gun Lobby, Taking Action to Pass Bipartisan Background Checks Bill

February 27, 2019

New five-figure ad buy celebrates 14 gun safety champions for passing legislation to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals

February 27, 2019 — As part of a new five-figure digital ad campaign, Giffords , the gun safety organization led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, released an ad thanking 14 newly elected gun safety champions for supporting H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 , which passed the House of Representatives just minutes ago. Now that the background checks legislation has cleared the House, it could be taken up for a debate and vote at anytime by the Senate.

“On the campaign trail, these leaders promised to fight for laws that will protect our kids and communities from gun violence, and today they delivered by voting for the Bipartisan Background Checks Act,” said former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. “Today’s victory in the House marks the first time Congress has taken meaningful action to address America’s gun violence crisis in over a decade. For too long, Washington politicians took millions from the NRA and voted against safer gun laws. No more. Leaders are listening to the concerns and demands of their constituents. They’re responding to our gun violence crisis, not only with thoughts and prayers, but with leadership and action. We’re proud to have such strong and dependable lawmakers representing us in Congress.”

The 14 the leaders included in the five-figure ad buy announced today were all endorsed by Giffords in the run-up to the 2018 election for their promise to take action to address gun violence. Since campaigning and winning on the issue, the new congressional majority has followed through on its commitment to address gun violence by passing a bill to require background check for every gun sale a top priority.

The 14 leaders recognized in this ad campaign include:

In 2018, we saw gun safety move from third rail to top issue in some of the nation’s most contentious campaigns. Millions of voters—young and old, Democrat and Republican, urban and suburban—rallied for stronger gun laws and the candidates who support them. Campaign ads touting gun safety far outnumbered ones focused on gun rights. And gun safety groups like Giffords outspent the NRA by tens of millions of dollars, even in the deepest of red states, like Texas. 100 Giffords-endorsed gun safety champions were elected to the US House of Representatives, helping flip the House to a new “Gun Safety Majority.” 40 of the NRA’s top champions in the House were defeated, the majority of whom accepted gun lobby contributions and A-ratings and blocked progress on all action to strengthen gun laws.

Related Resources:

Press Release: Veteran Military Leaders Call on Congress to Strengthen Gun Laws, Pass Bipartisan Background Checks Bill
Press Statement: Giffords Applauds House Judiciary Committee Passage of Universal Background Check Bill
Press Release: Law Enforcement Leaders Call on Congress to Pass Bipartisan Background Checks Bill
Press Statement: Executive Director of Giffords Law Center Testifies in First House Gun Violence Prevention Hearing in Over a Decade, Urging Swift Action on Bipartisan Background Checks Bill to Save Lives
Press Statement: Gabrielle Giffords on the Introduction of the Bipartisan Background Checks Bill

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