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Everytown, North Carolina Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action Slam North Carolina Lawmakers for Inaction on Gun Safety, Vow to Elect Gun Sense Majority in General Assembly

June 26, 2020

North Carolina Voters Support Strengthening Gun Laws by a 6:1 Margin

On Wednesday, Everytown for Gun Safety Victory Fund and Action Fund Launched Gun Sense Majority: North Carolina, a $5 Million Initiative to Elect Gun Sense Candidates Up and Down the Ballot

RALEIGH, N.C. – The North Carolina chapter of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots networks, released the following statements criticizing North Carolina lawmakers for their inaction on gun safety as the North Carolina legislature adjourned last night.

“Our lawmakers have had every opportunity to pass common-sense gun safety laws that are broadly popular and will save lives,” said Claire Kempner, volunteer leader with the North Carolina chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Instead, they rammed through a gun lobby giveaway bill and ignored the gun violence epidemic that kills more than 1,300 North Carolinians each year. That’s why we’re going all out to flip the General Assembly to a gun sense majority.”

“We’re sick and tired of hearing nothing but thoughts and prayers from our lawmakers,” said Alanna Miller, a volunteer with Students Demand Action at Duke University and member of the Students Demand Action national advisory board. “Their complete failure to address gun violence this session proves how out of touch they are with North Carolinians and is why we’ll elect gun sense champions come November.”   

North Carolina lawmakers could have passed legislation this session to require background checks on all gun sales and enable loved ones to petition a court to temporarily remove guns from people in crisis. Instead, they focused on legislation that weakens training requirements for people who do not renew their permits before they expire.

On Wednesday, Everytown launched Gun Sense Majority: North Carolina, an investment of at least $5 million in electing gun sense champions up and down the ballot in the state. The initiative will bring to bear substantial resources and will harness the power of tens of thousands of Everytown, Moms Demand Action, and Students Demand Action supporters in North Carolina. 

Polling of North Carolina voters affirms that gun safety is a winning issue for voters across the state. North Carolinians overwhelmingly support stronger gun violence prevention laws and rate gun safety as a top priority for the 2020 elections. In fact, opposing background checks on all gun sales is the most toxic position a candidate can take among independent voters.

  • Voters support stronger gun laws by a 6:1 margin;
  • Voters broadly agree that it is possible to keep guns out of the hands of people who should not have them while also protecting the rights of gun owners by a near 2:1 margin (64% possible/36% not possible).
  • 91% of voters support background checks on all gun sales, including 95% of suburban women, while 84% overall support red flags laws, including 91% of suburban women.
  • 64% of voters say they would never vote for a candidate who doesn’t support background checks on all gun sales, and it was the TOP issue among independents by a two-point margin.

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