Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and Senate Candidate Cal Cunningham Rally for Universal Background Checks

North Carolina stop of the ‘Road to Universal Background Checks Tour’ featured gun safety champion and Senate candidate Cal Cunningham as key member of the national movement to flip the Senate

August 10, 2020 — Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, co-founder of the gun violence prevention group Giffords, and North Carolina Senate candidate Cal Cunningham joined Giffords Executive Director Peter Ambler and Johnny Shaw, a retired educator and gun owner, in a virtual rally to elect a gun safety Senate. Part of the larger Road to Universal Background Checks Tour, the group spoke with North Carolina voters about the importance of electing a new Senate majority ready to take action on universal background checks.

“North Carolina voters are ready for change,” said Giffords Executive Director Peter Ambler. “Today Cal Cunningham showed us that he is ready to lead and listen to communities across the state. The overwhelming majority of North Carolinians support commonsense gun safety reforms like universal background checks—it’s time that they have a senator who does too. We’re excited to support Cal and look forward to working with him to build a stronger, safer America.”

Speaking to thousands of viewers in North Carolina and nationwide, the panel of gun safety champions stressed the importance of protecting the gun safety majority in the House and electing a gun safety majority to the Senate so that universal background checks can finally become law.

“As a veteran who has been trained on firearms, and a father of two kids I want to keep safe as they go to school, background checks are a commonsense step we can take right now,” said Cal Cunningham. “With such broad bipartisan support, we shouldn’t have to wait when it comes to keeping our families and communities safer.”

Cal Cunningham’s lifetime of service to his community has prepared him to fight for North Carolina in the US Senate. He was first elected to the North Carolina State Senate at the age of 27, making him one of the state’s youngest-ever elected senators. Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, he immediately signed up to serve his country in the US Army Reserves. He has since served three active duty tours and was honored with the Bronze Star and the prestigious General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award. His training in the military taught him the responsibility that comes with using a firearm, and he understands the importance of uniting our communities around commonsense reforms.

“As a gun owner, I know the importance of gun safety and commonsense solutions. I stand with the majority of gun owners who support universal background checks, and I am proud to support Cal Cunningham in his senate race,” said retired educator and gun owner Johnny Shaw.

Giffords also released new Public Policy Polling that shows 8 in 10 North Carolina voters support universal background checks. The poll shows that 58% of voters were more likely to support a senate candidate who supported universal background checks. Only 8% of those polled said a senate candidate’s support of universal background checks would make them less likely to vote for the candidate.