Giffords PAC Airs New Gun Safety TV Ad in Colorado Senate Race
Giffords PAC is Spending $2.5 Million on Ad Criticizing Republican Nominee Joe O’Dea for Opposing Gun Safety Reforms, Choosing the Gun Lobby over Coloradans
Denver, CO — Today, Giffords PAC, the gun violence prevention organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, released a new TV ad criticizing Joe O’Dea, the Republican nominee for US Senate in Colorado, for his opposition to commonsense gun safety legislation. Giffords PAC is spending $2.5 million to air the ad on broadcast, cable, and digital platforms in Colorado to educate voters about O’Dea’s refusal to stand up to the gun lobby. The ad mentions several mass shootings that have taken the lives of Coloradans, including Columbine, Aurora, and Highland Park.
Recent polling from the Pew Research Center and the Associated Press continue to show gun safety is a top issue for voters—second only to the economy. According to the Associated Press poll, an overwhelming majority of Americans (71%) say that gun laws should be stricter, and a staggering 85% of all Americans support federal background checks on both private sales and gun shows.
Peter Ambler, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Giffords:
“Gun safety is one of the most important issues at stake in this election. Voters in Colorado have a clear choice between a candidate who supports commonsense gun safety reform and another who would rather stand with the gun lobby. Joe O’Dea’s support of the gun lobby’s ‘guns everywhere’ agenda is wrong for Colorado. Coloradans know the consequences of gun violence all too well, and we are confident they will oppose Joe O’Dea in large part because of his refusal to keep communities safe from this public health crisis.”
Early in 2022, Giffords PAC endorsed Senator Michael Bennet for reelection. Senator Bennet has called for comprehensive, bipartisan solutions to stop gun violence and he proudly supported the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Senator Bennet has also championed legislation to bar perpetrators of domestic violence from being able to access firearms and has repeatedly urged his colleagues to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act.
Giffords has been highly active in the Centennial state as Colorado is home to one of the most active chapters within Gun Owners for Safety, holding multiple roundtable events featuring Senator Michael Bennet and other prominent elected state officials. Colorado Gun Owners for Safety members have also been active on the state level, including testifying in front of the Colorado House Judiciary Committee to urge the passage of responsible gun laws.
In 2020, Giffords PAC helped elect Senator John Hickenlooper in Colorado by hosting joint campaign events and launching a $1.25 million ad campaign targeting then-Senator Cory Gardner for his cozy relationship with the NRA. In 2018, Giffords PAC helped elect Congressman Jason Crow by launching a $2 million ad campaign targeting then-Congressman Mike Coffman for refusing to stand up to the NRA.
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