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Gun Safety to be Featured During the Democratic National Convention

August 17, 2020

Former Vice President Biden and Senator Harris Represent the Strongest Gun Safety Ticket in History

Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and Moms Demand Action Participating in Convention Activities; Organizational Leaders, Volunteers and Survivors of Gun Violence Available for Interviews 

New York — As the 2020 Democratic National Convention kicks off today, gun safety and its role in the 2020 elections will be highlighted throughout the week. At the top of the ticket, Former Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) represent the strongest gun safety ticket in history and both have records of standing up to the NRA. 

Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and its grassroots network, Moms Demand Action, will be participating in events throughout the week to highlight the importance of gun safety in the election, including press briefings, panel discussions and roundtables with partners and allies about ending gun violence in America. Gun violence survivors and Moms Demand Action volunteers will take part in the week’s activities, with more details forthcoming. 

As the Democratic National Convention Committee previously announcedDeAndra Dycus, a gun violence survivor and volunteer with the Indiana chapter of Moms Demand Action, will speak at the convention as part of a group of inspiring Americans. In 2014, DeAndra’s 13-year-old son, Dre, an honor student and star athlete, was shot and sustained major injuries at a birthday party he was attending.

Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and Everytown for Gun Safety Victory Fund have committed to spending a record $60 million to elect gun sense champions up and down the ballot in November. This includes major spending and aggressive grassroots mobilization in states like Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Minnesota, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Texas.

The focus on gun safety during this year’s convention signifies how the politics on gun safety have changed. Gun violence survivors will be featured throughout the course of the week. Ending the epidemic of gun violence is also part of the 2020 Democratic Party Platform

Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and Moms Demand Action today outlined the following activities: 

  • Press Briefing on how the Gun Violence Prevention Movement will Impact the 2020 Election: Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action, will participate in a press briefing and discussion with partners Giffords and Brady, moderated by Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT). Leaders from the three organizations will discuss how their supporters are mobilizing this election season, and how gun safety will be one of the defining issues of 2020. 
    • When: Wednesday, August 19 at 8:30 am CT/9:30 am ET 
    • Where: Press can register here
  • DNC Host Committee Virtual Policy Roundtable on Ending Gun Violence in America: Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action, will moderate a conversation between Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06)Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT)Symone Sanders, Senior Advisor to Joe Biden 2020Alejandro Bedoya, soccer player with the Philadelphia Union and a member of the Everytown Athletic Council, and Reggie Moore, Director of the Office of Violence Prevention for the Milwaukee Health Department. 
    • When: Wednesday, August 19 at 1:30 pm CT/2:30 pm ET
    • Where: Watch live here
  • Gun Violence Prevention Movement Panel on Uniting for a Safer Future: Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06) will moderate a conversation with representatives from Brady, The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV), Community Justice Action Fund (CJAF), Everytown for Gun Safety, Giffords and March for Our LivesKhary Penebaker, a DNC Delegate from Wisconsin, who is also a member of the Everytown Survivor Network, will speak about organizing around gun violence prevention.
    • When: Wednesday, August 19 at 4:00 pm CT/5:00 pm ET
    • Where: Watch live here

Gun violence survivors DeAndra Dycus and Khary Penebaker, as well as John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety and Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action, are available for interviews about the convention and the role of the gun violence prevention movement in the 2020 election. 

For all the ways to watch the convention this week, please read more here from the Democratic National Convention Committee. 

Media should reach out to [email protected] for more information.

If you're a member of the media, please send inquiries to [email protected]