Giffords Endorses Congressman Peter Welch for the US Senate
Washington DC — Today, Giffords PAC, the gun safety organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords announced its endorsement of Congressman Peter Welch for the US Senate.
Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords:
“Representative Welch has been a leader in the fight to end gun violence. I know that he will continue to protect Vermont’s children and families as a member of the United States Senate. Peter has demonstrated the courage needed to save lives. In 2016, he joined his colleagues in a sit-in on the House floor to demand legislative action on commonsense gun reform when House leadership was silent in the face of tragedies like the mass shooting at Pulse Nightclub. At a time when our country continues to endure spiking rates of violence from coast to coast, we must elect leaders committed to ending America’s epidemic of gun violence. Peter will be that leader.”
Representative Peter Welch:
“I am honored to receive the endorsement of Giffords PAC, as they lead the way on common-sense gun violence prevention to keep our communities safe. We live in a democracy – that means when the vast majority of Americans are calling on their elected officials to enact meaningful, lifesaving gun safety laws, it’s incumbent on all of us to stand up and take action. In the Senate, I am committed to working alongside them to help end gun violence.”
In 2018, Giffords worked alongside state and national groups to pass critical legislation in Vermont that established extreme risk protective orders, required background checks on most gun sales, raised the minimum age for purchasing long guns, limited ammunition magazine capacity, banned certain devices which would allow firearms to fire at the same rate as automatic weapons, and protected women and families by giving law enforcement the authority to remove firearms from domestic abusers. This year, Giffords also worked to pass legislation that addressed the Charleston Loophole, banned guns in hospitals, and expanded protections for victims of domestic violence across the state.
Now more than ever, Vermonters deserve a champion at the federal level who can achieve similar results in Washington. We know Representative Welch will be that champion, as he has led on these issues since he was elected to the Vermont Senate in 1980. Welch eventually led that chamber, becoming the first Democrat in the state’s history to hold the position of Vermont Senate President Pro Tempore, and since 2007, he has served the people of Vermont diligently in Congress. In this capacity, Representative Welch has been widely recognized as a progressive leader and a skillful legislator who prioritizes governing over gridlock. Representative Welch knows it is well past time for Congress to enact commonsense gun safety reforms to keep our communities safe, and will make addressing the root causes of gun violence a top priority in the Senate. In the House, Representative Welch has consistently advocated for the passage of legislation that would require universal background checks, prohibit the sale of high-capacity magazines, and close the Charleston Loophole. He knows that lifesaving measures can be enacted without undermining the Second Amendment rights of Americans, and if elected to the Senate, we know he will continue to advocate for these long-overdue reforms. Giffords PAC is proud to endorse Peter Welch for US Senate.
MEDIA REQUESTS
Our experts can speak to the full spectrum of gun violence prevention issues. Have a question? Email us at media@giffords.org.
Contact