Gun safety champion Josh Stein elected as governor of North Carolina

WASHINGTON –GIFFORDS, the national gun violence prevention organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, congratulated Gov.-elect Josh Stein on his election as the next governor of North Carolina. GIFFORDS endorsed Stein as part of its commitment to electing and supporting gun safety champions in 2024.

“Congratulations to Josh Stein on this crucial victory in North Carolina,” said former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. “His win is proof that we are ready to turn the page and reject the hateful ideologies that came to define his opponent over the course of the campaign. Now more than ever, we need leaders like Josh Stein who are willing to focus on the safety of our kids and our communities. I look forward to working with him in his new role as governor of the Tar Heel State.”

As attorney general, Stein has fought tirelessly to defend and expand the lifesaving gun safety measures already on the books in North Carolina. In doing so, he’s kept countless residents of the Tar Heel State safe from senseless violence. 

Over the course of his two terms as attorney general, Stein has worked to educate gun owners about the importance of safe firearm storage in an effort to combat rising suicide rates and has promoted necessary violence interruption programs. He’s also been a strong opponent of the North Carolina General Assembly’s repeal of pistol purchase permits and filed amicus briefs supporting federal rulemaking efforts to regulate dangerous untraceable ghost guns. In addition, Stein is determined to pass a public safety package in North Carolina that would guarantee universal background checks on all gun sales; implement a statewide extreme risk law that would allow families and law enforcement to temporarily remove firearms from those who pose a threat to themselves or others; raise the age requirement for buying semiautomatic rifles to 21; and better equip schools with on-site nurses, social workers, counselors and psychologists who can help kids and lower the risk of violence.