Everytown Announces Ad Spend and Grassroots Event to Hold Senators Tillis and Burr Accountable for One Year of Inaction on H.R. 8

In the Year Since the U.S. House Passed H.R. 8––A Bipartisan Bill to Require Background Checks on All Gun Sales––an Estimated 1,300+ North Carolinians Have Been Killed by Guns. But Senators Tillis and Burr Have Failed to Act. 

This Week, Everytown and Moms Demand Action Are Holding Senators Accountable for their Inaction and Demanding They Pass Lifesaving Background Checks Legislation

WASHINGTON — Today, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and its grassroots network, Moms Demand Action, announced a $32,000 ad campaign to hold Senators Tillis and Burr accountable for one year of inaction on H.R. 8––a bipartisan and immensely popular bill to require background checks on all gun sales. The campaign is built around February 27, the one year anniversary of the day the U.S. House passed H.R. 8, and will run throughout next week. It will feature digital and print advertising demanding that Senators Tillis and Burr pass this life-saving law, and a press conference in Durham featuring Durham Mayor Steve Schewel. 

“Every day, more North Carolinians are shot and killed or forever injured by gun violence,” said Claire Kempner, volunteer leader with the North Carolina chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Meanwhile, life-saving legislation is collecting dust in the U.S. Senate. It’s time for our Senators to do the right thing for North Carolina and support H.R.8.” 

Senators Tillis and Burr have stood in the way of this life-saving legislation, which is designed to close loopholes in our background check system that enable individuals like domestic abusers and convicted felons to buy guns with no background check and no questions asked. Neither senator has done anything to support H.R. 8, and their position on the bill mirrors that of the NRA, which has given both A ratings and has donated more money to them than nearly any other member of Congress. 

The print ad will run in the Charlotte Observer, and the digital ads will run on Facebook. 

VIEW THE SAMPLE AD HERE. 

Sample ad text reads:

“Dear Senators Tillis and Burr: 

Over 1,300 North Carolinians have died in the year since the U.S. House passed H.R. 8, a bill to require background checks on all gun sales. 

But you’ve refused to act. 

Meanwhile, Moms Demand Action volunteers have been busy…”

Background checks on all gun sales are proven to save lives and associated with decreased rates of homicide, suicide, and gun trafficking. They are also immensely popular, supported by 93% of American voters, 89% of Republicans, and 87% of gun owners. 

These print and digital ads are a part of a nationwide campaign by Everytown targeted at lawmakers in key states who have failed to support H.R. 8, including U.S. senators and representatives in AZ, GA, IA, KY, CO, PA, and TX. The campaign will also feature grassroots events in several of those states, including one on the steps of Sen. McConnell’s Kentucky office, and voter registration drives led by Students Demand Action across the country.