Everytown For Gun Safety Action Fund Endorses Tina Smith For U.S. Senate in Minnesota

Tina Smith has been a Strong Advocate for Gun Safety during her Tenure in the U.S. Senate; She’ll Continue to Fight for Common-Sense Gun Safety Laws to Protect Minnesotans

NEW YORK – Today, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund endorsed Senator Tina Smith for U.S. Senate in Minnesota, lauding her commitment to gun safety and record of taking on the NRA. Earlier this year, Smith received the Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate Distinction, a prerequisite for being considered for endorsement. 

As Minnesota Senator, Tina Smith is a staunch advocate for common-sense gun safety measures. Smith is a co-sponsor of the Background Check Expansion Act, which would expand background checks on the sale of all firearms, has worked closely on legislation to ban people convicted of stalking from having firearms, and supports the implementation of red flag laws. 

Smith’s likely opponent, Former Rep. Jason Lewis, opposes common-sense gun safety legislation like background checks on all gun sales. During his time in the U.S. House of Representatives, Lewis also supported dangerous legislation that would gut concealed carry permit standards and allow people to carry hidden, loaded guns in public in Minnesota and across the country.

“Senator Tina Smith has been an unwavering champion for the clear majority of Minnesotans who are looking for lawmakers with the courage to stand up to the gun lobby,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “Everytown is proud to support Senator Smith’s campaign to win reelection and continue fighting for common-sense gun safety laws.”

“From the moment Senator Smith took office, she has been by our side, fighting to pass gun safety laws through the Senate,” said Molly Luetz, a volunteer with the Minnesota chapter of Moms Demand Action. “We need her leadership in the Senate now more than ever and will work every day through November to send her back to Washington.”

Voter research shows that voters in Minnesota support stronger gun safety laws by a 5:1 margin. Polling released last month demonstrates the surging intensity of Americans’ support for common-sense gun safety measures during the coronavirus pandemic, with a significant majority of Americans viewing background checks on all gun sales and disarming domestic abusers “more important” now than before the pandemic began.  

Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and Victory Fund plan to spend at least $60 million on the 2020 elections — double what they spent during the 2018 elections, and more than any gun safety opponent, including the NRA, reported spending on the 2016 elections.