Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and Senate Candidate Jaime Harrison Rally for Universal Background Checks

Washington, DC — Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, co-founder of the gun violence prevention group Giffords, and South Carolina Senate candidate Jaime Harrison joined Giffords Executive Director Peter Ambler and Sydney Clinton, a student activist and Giffords Courage Fellow alumnae, in a virtual rally to elect a gun safety Senate. Part of the larger Road to Universal Background Checks Tour, the group spoke with South Carolina voters about the importance of electing a new Senate majority ready to take action on universal background checks.

“Jaime Harrison represents the best of South Carolina,” said Giffords Executive Director Peter Ambler. “He will listen to South Carolinians and ensure their overwhelming support for universal background checks is met with action in the Senate. Tonight, we saw how dedicated he is to fighting to save lives across the state. We are proud to support his bid for the US Senate.”

Speaking to thousands of viewers in South 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.

“Young people are demanding action on gun safety, and we plan to turn out across the state to support and vote for the candidate who actually listens,” said Sydney Clinton, a student activist and Giffords Courage Fellow alumnae. “A vote for Jaime Harrison is a vote for action on the most important issues of our time. We need his leadership in the Senate to fight for safer communities and lead the way to a brighter future for all of us.”

Jaime Harrison understands the challenges and hopes of South Carolinians because he has lived them himself growing up in a working class household in a small town. His determination to serve his community propelled him to achieve at Yale and Georgetown Law before returning home to teach and mentor students at his old high school. Serving as a congressional aide to Congressman James Clyburn and the first African American chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party has prepared him to advocate compassionately and effectively for communities across the state. After losing a family member to gun violence, Jaime personally knows the stakes of his opponent’s callous refusal to address gun violence. He is ready to take action and fight for life saving gun safety legislation in the Senate.

Giffords also released new Public Policy Polling that shows nearly 8 in 10 South Carolina voters support universal background checks. A candidate’s support for universal background checks laws made it 56% more likely for someone to vote for the candidate. Only 9% of those polled said a candidate’s support of universal background checks would make them less likely to vote for the candidate.

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