Following the Shooting at Santa Fe High School that Killed 10 and Wounded 13, Dozens of Candidates in Texas Who Have Received the Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate Distinction Released a Joint Statement Outlining Support for Common-Sense Gun Safety Measures
AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today responded to a joint statement by dozens of candidates for elected office in the Lone Star State calling for action on common-sense gun safety legislation. Following the mass shooting at Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas, dozens of candidates who had received the Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate distinction began to work together as part of “Texas Candidates for Gun Sense.”
The group released the statement on Sunday, calling for common sense solutions to Texas’ gun violence crisis, including passing legislation to require a background check on every gun sale, promoting responsible gun storage and disarming domestic abusers.
STATEMENT FROM LISA EPSTEIN, VOLUNTEER WITH THE TEXAS CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:
“Make no mistake: The vast majority of Texans are alarmed at what’s happening here. Texans – including the majority of gun owners – support common-sense gun laws. It’s long past time for lawmakers to listen to their constituents. It’s a sign of how far we’ve come that now, candidates are proudly touting our Gun Sense Candidate distinction and making gun safety such a big part of their campaigns. We owe it to the students of Santa Fe and every other gun violence victim and survivor here in Texas to finally make this state safer.”
In the last three months alone, hundreds of candidates for state and federal office have sought and received a Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate distinction after filling out a questionnaire about gun safety laws. This distinction – which is being featured on social media, on mailers and even in television advertisements – lets voters know these candidates pledge to stand up for gun safety if elected into office.
Research by Everytown for Gun Safety shows that the Santa Fe High School shooting is at least the 184th mass shooting since January 2009, and at least the eighth mass shooting this year. Since January 2009, Texas has experienced at least 20 mass shootings – more than any other state in the country. Everytown defines mass shootings as those in which four or more people are shot and killed, excluding the shooter.
