2016 Will Be the Year of Gun Safety: Country’s Largest Gun Safety Group’s Endorsement a Key Part of Electoral Agenda Including Ballot Initiatives for Stronger Gun Laws in Nevada, Maine and Washington
***Moms, Survivors Ready to GOTV for Hillary, Available for Interviews in Final Six Primary Voting States: California, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota and South Dakota***
NEW YORK – On the day after National Gun Violence Awareness Day when Americans across the country participated in Wear Orange and joined the movement to end gun violence and just days before the final states hold primary elections, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund, the country’s largest gun violence prevention organization that includes Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, today announced its endorsement of Hillary Clinton for president.
“Gun Sense Voters have a champion in Hillary Clinton,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “Our litmus test is simple: does a candidate side with the public or with the gun lobby? Hillary Clinton passes that test with flying colors – pushing back against the NRA’s extreme ‘guns for everyone, everywhere’ agenda, and ushering in a new political calculus that saving lives from gun violence is a winning issue.”
“Moms and survivors across the country have been on the campaign trail for months, pushing gun safety to the top of the 2016 agenda by asking all of the candidates how they’ll address our nation’s gun violence crisis,” said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety. “Moms and survivors will elect Secretary Clinton as the first gun sense president. We’re proving that gun safety is a winning issue because Americans demand it. And we’re putting politicians on notice: Women are the majority of the voting electorate and we will use our voices and votes this year to change our country’s culture of gun violence. We will not stand by while our children, families and communities are put in the line of fire by a greedy gun lobby.”
“On Tuesday, I will vote for Hillary Clinton for president because she is the only candidate who fights for gun violence survivors and stands up against the extremist gun lobby,” said Richard Martinez, an Outreach Associate with Everytown for Gun Safety whose son Christopher Ross Michaels-Martinez was killed in the May 2014 shooting in Isla Vista near UC Santa Barbara. “After Chris was killed, I vowed to do everything in my power to keep others from experiencing the pain of having a loved one’s life cut short by senseless gun violence – not one more should die this way. Next week I will exercise my power in the voting booth to elect a president who will work to reduce gun violence in America.”
In addition to electing Hillary Clinton the next president of the United States, Everytown’s 2016 Gun Sense Agenda also endeavors to:
- Pass ballot initiatives to require criminal background checks on all gun sales in Maine and Nevada.
Repeat the success of the background check ballot initiative victory in 2014, passing a new ballot initiative in Washington - State that empowers family members and law enforcement to help prevent tragedies and save lives.
- Stand up for candidates in federal and local races who support gun safety and hold elected officials accountable for refusing to support common-sense policies that will save American lives.
With the final primaries in six states (CA, MT, NJ, NM, ND and SD) approaching on Tuesday, the following national and state-based spokespeople and volunteers are available for interviews to discuss the endorsement announcement and gun politics in the 2016 election:
National
- John Feinblatt, President of Everytown for Gun Safety
- Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety
California
- Caitlin King, volunteer leader of the California chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
- Richard Martinez, father of Christopher Ross Michaels-Martinez, killed in the Isla Vista shooting on May 23, 2014 and Senior Associate with Everytown for Gun Safety
- Tina Meins, a gun violence survivor whose father Damian was killed by one of his co-workers with an AR-15 during the terrorist attack in San Bernardino on December 2, 2015
- Clare Senchyna, a gun violence survivor whose 26-year old son Camillo was shot and killed outside a club in San Francisco on December 7, 2014
Montana
- Pamela Owen, volunteer leader of the Montana chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
New Jersey
- Meghan Adamoli, volunteer leader of the New Jersey chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
- Charlene Hoverter, a gun violence survivor whose sister, Diane, was shot and killed in an attempted robbery in July 1986.
New Mexico
- Maggie Byers, volunteer leader of the New Mexico chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
North Dakota
- Kathy Lee, volunteer with the North Dakota chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
South Dakota
- Julie Parker, volunteer leader of the South Dakota chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America