2014 Election Marks Evolution in Minnesota Gun Politics: Five of Six Endorsed State Legislature Candidates Run on Support for Gun Sense and Win; Guns No Longer “Third Rail” of Politics in Minnesota
In races across Minnesota yesterday, voters re-elected all but one of Everytown for Gun Safety’s endorsed Gun Sense Champions, including U.S. Senator Al Franken, U.S. Representative Keith Ellison, Governor Mark Dayton, and five state representatives. This year, the state legislature passed common-sense legislation supported by 80 percent of Minnesotans that keeps guns out of the hands of convicted stalkers and domestic abusers. All endorsed state representatives voted for the bill, which was signed into law by Governor Mark Dayton in May.
“This Election Day, Moms turned out to support Minnesota’s Gun Sense Champions, whose leadership helped protect victims of domestic violence from the terror of an abusive partner with a deadly weapon,” said Leah Auckenthaler, a volunteer with the Minnesota chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Minnesotans know that support for the Second Amendment goes hand-in-hand with keeping guns out of the hands of domestic abusers, stalkers, and other dangerous people. Our families and communities are safer because of their leadership, and we invested to make sure they were re-elected.”
“Minnesota’s Gun Sense Champions didn’t wait until the next tragedy to take action to protect their constituents from gun violence,” said Sami Rahamim, son of Reuven Rahamim, who was killed in the 2012 Accent Signage shooting in Minneapolis. “This election, survivors stood behind our elected leaders who voted to protect Minnesota families from the pain of having a loved one’s life cut short by a gun in the wrong hands.”
Everytown strategically invested in direct mail and paid advertising to identify Gun Sense Voters and turn them out to vote. Moms Demand Action, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, launched an unprecedented effort to educate and mobilize gun sense voters in Minnesota to support Everytown’s endorsed candidates. In total, Everytown and Moms Demand Action made more than 48,500 contacts to Minnesota voters.
About Everytown for Gun Safety
Everytown is the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country with more than 2.5 million supporters and more than 40,000 donors including moms, mayors, survivors, and everyday Americans who are fighting for public safety measures that respect the Second Amendment and help save lives. At the core of Everytown are Mayors Against Illegal Guns and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a grassroots movement of American mothers founded the day after the Sandy Hook tragedy. Learn more at www.everytown.org and follow us @Everytown
About Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is a grassroots movement of American mothers fighting for public safety measures that respect the Second Amendment and protect people from gun violence. Moms Demand Action campaigns for new and stronger solutions to lax gun laws and loopholes that jeopardize the safety of our children and families. Since its inception after the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Moms Demand Action has established a chapter in every state of the country and along with Mayors Against Illegal Guns is part of Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country with more than 2.5 million members and more than 40,000 donors. For more information or to get involved visit www.momsdemandaction.org. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MomsDemandAction or on Twitter at @MomsDemand
