New Giffords PAC Ad Airs in Pennsylvania, Spotlights GOP Senate Candidate Mehmet Oz’s Opposition to Background Checks
Giffords PAC Spending $2.5 Million on New TV and Digital Ad in the Keystone State’s Competitive US Senate Race
Harrisburg, PA – Today, Giffords PAC, the gun violence prevention organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, released a new ad attacking Pennsylvania GOP Senate Nominee Mehmet Oz for his opposition to background checks. Giffords PAC is spending $2.5 million over two weeks on the ad, which will air on TV in Philadelphia and on digital in Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, and Delaware counties. The ad reflects on mass shootings across the nation, including at the Tree of Life Center in Pittsburgh, and uses audio from Oz in which he states “categorically no background checks.”
Recent polling from the Pew Research Center and the Associated Press continues to show gun safety is a top issue for voters—second only to the economy. Polling conducted by Giffords and Public Policy Polling earlier this year found that 83 percent of Pennsylvania voters support background checks on all gun sales. The same poll found that 64 percent of Pennsylvania voters were more likely to support a US Senate candidate who supported background checks.
Peter Ambler, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Giffords:
“Mehmet Oz is out of step with the vast majority of Pennsylvania voters who are concerned about gun violence and support background checks. Gun safety is on the ballot in midterm elections across the country, and Pennsylvania is certainly no exception. Pennsylvania voters have made it clear they want to elect someone who has the courage to keep their families safe from gun violence and who will address the rising crime that is fueled by gun violence. If we want to stop future tragedies, we need to elect John Fetterman, who will be on the side of voters and support background checks.”
Pennsylvania has been a priority for Giffords PAC this election cycle. In April, Giffords hosted a Senate forum where Democrat candidates running for the US Senate had an opportunity to directly engage with voters on the issue and present their plans to address the state’s gun violence epidemic. Giffords PAC has endorsed Democrat John Fetterman, Oz’s opponent in the US Senate race, as well as Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro and congressional candidates running in the state for their commitment to lifesaving gun safety laws.
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