Giffords Endorses Three House Champions for Achieving Landmark Gun Safety Victories
These representatives have proven their commitment to saving lives and will continue to build a gun safety majority in 2020
June 17, 2020 — Giffords, the gun violence prevention organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, endorsed three members of the US House of Representatives in their bids for reelection. These champions have been tireless advocates for gun safety, helping to achieve landmark victories such as the passage of the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 in the House. They bring unique experiences to Washington DC and represent districts from different parts of the country while sharing a commitment to building a safer, stronger America.
Statement from former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, co-founder of Giffords:
“These leaders had the courage and vision to achieve gun safety victories in Congress that many thought impossible. They are persistent in their bold fight on behalf of their constituents, and all Americans, who demand action. There’s more work to be done, and we need to send them back to Congress to finish the job. This November, they need our support to create lasting change that will free our country from gun violence.”
Today’s Giffords Endorsements include:
- Seth Moulton (MA-06) Congressman Seth Moulton has represented Massachusetts’s Sixth District since 2014. Moulton joined the Marines in 2001 and served as a leader of an infantry platoon, completing four tours in Iraq between 2002 and 2008. After leaving the military, Moulton worked in the private sector, but found himself called to return to public service. In 2014, he successfully ran for Congress to represent his home district. Congressman Moulton has played an important role in passing gun safety legislation through the House. He has also supported various gun safety measures to close loopholes in federal law around the sale of firearms, provide resources for victims of gun violence, and combat gun trafficking. Rep. Moulton’s record demonstrates his consistent and tireless commitment to gun safety.
- Stephanie Murphy (FL-07) Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy is in her second term representing the Orlando area in Florida’s Seventh District. Rep. Murphy’s family fled Communist-led Vietnam six months after she was born and were rescued at sea by the United States Navy. She grew up to serve as a national security specialist in the Department of Defense and worked as an educator at Rollins College in Florida prior to being elected to Congress in 2016. Congresswoman Murphy launched her campaign for Congress in the wake of the Pulse nightclub shooting. She took on a longtime NRA-backed Republican incumbent and defeated him by running on a strong gun safety platform. Once elected, Congresswoman Murphy immediately made securing federal funding for gun violence research a priority, and in 2019, Congress provided such funding for the first time in more than two decades. A co-chair of the Blue Dog Coalition, Congresswoman Murphy has also supported bipartisan legislation to enact universal background checks and close the boyfriend and stalker loopholes. Her constituents can count on her to continue to prioritize commonsense gun safety legislation in Congress.
- Jackie Speier (CA-14) Congresswoman Jackie Speier was born and educated in California. She chose to enter politics to serve the communities she was raised in. From her time as a congressional staffer to 20 years in the state legislature and sixth terms representing California’s 14th District, Congresswoman Speier has spent her career serving the people of her home state. Congresswoman Speier knows all too well the toll that gun violence can take. In 1978, she was shot while accompanying her boss, the late Congressman Leo Ryan, to Jonestown to investigate claims that constituents were being held against their will. After her near-death experience, Congresswoman Speier dedicated her life to fighting gun violence. In the 116th Congress, she voted to require a background check on all gun sales and introduced legislation to advance gun safety technology. She is also a Vice-Chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, where she uses her voice to successfully push for action on gun safety.