Ad Criticizes Ayotte for Putting Politics Before Public Safety by Voting Against an Expansion of Background Checks Just Eight Days after Orlando Mass Shooting
MANCHESTER, N.H. – Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and the New Hampshire chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today ran a full-page ad in the New Hampshire Union Leader blasting Sen. Kelly Ayotte for voting against criminal background checks on all gun sales just eight days after the mass shooting in Orlando that killed 49 people and injured more than 50 others. The Orlando shooting was the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, and in its wake Everytown and Moms launched the #DisarmHate campaign, which has driven more than 250,000 calls to Congress urging lawmakers to do more to keep Americans safe from gun violence.
In addition to the full-page ad in the Union Leader, Everytown and New Hampshire Moms Demand Action also launched a home-page takeover of the Union Leader and digital ads, and Senator Ayotte’s constituents have been passing out fliers in front of Ayotte’s office and at a recent Pride event.
“As one of Senator Ayotte’s constituents and a New Hampshire mother, I expect my senator to stand with her constituents, not be in the pocket of the gun lobby,” said Deidre Reynolds of Nashua, a volunteer with the New Hampshire chapter of Moms Demand Action. “But Senator Ayotte bowed to the gun lobby and voted against an expansion of background checks last week. Eighty percent of Granite Staters support criminal background checks for all gun sales because background checks help save lives. We are livid that Senator Ayotte cast a dangerous vote against public safety just days after the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history. Senator Ayotte is on notice: We are watching and we will remember her dangerous vote in November.”
Since the Senate voted last week, New Hampshire moms have gathered outside Senator Ayotte’s office in Nashua to hold her accountable for her vote against requiring criminal background checks for all gun sales. Additionally, New Hampshire moms attended the Pride event in Portsmouth and passed out fliers about Ayotte’s vote.
Some 80 percent of Granite Staters, including 78 percent of gun owners, support requiring criminal background checks for all gun sales.