Ads Hold Lawmakers Accountable for One Year of Inaction Since Six Students Were Shot and Two Were Killed by a Gunman at UNC Charlotte
Everytown Voter Research Indicates Voters in N.C. Support Stronger Gun Laws by a 6:1 Margin and 79% Consider a Candidate’s Position on Guns “Very Important” to Their Vote in 2020
RALEIGH — Today, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund unveiled a new digital ad, “A Year of Inaction,” to hold the Republican-controlled legislature accountable for failing to act on gun safety in the year since the shooting at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The ad is the second phase in a $250,000 digital campaign announced in January to pressure the North Carolina General Assembly to pass gun safety measures, including extreme risk legislation — also known as red flag legislation.
“More than 1,300 North Carolinians have been shot and killed, and twice that wounded, in the year since gun violence shook UNC Charlotte to its core,” said Grace McClain, volunteer leader with the North Carolina chapter of Moms Demand Action, a part of Everytown for Gun Safety. “The response from our lawmakers? Crickets. So with these new ads, we’re letting them know that their failure to act not only costs lives – it’ll cost them their seats, too.”
More than 1,300 people are shot and killed in North Carolina every year. Everytown, Moms Demand Action, and Students Demand Action volunteers have called on the legislature to act by passing gun safety measures, including extreme risk legislation. But the Republican-controlled legislature has failed to meaningfully address gun violence in the year since six students were shot and two were killed by a gunman at UNC Charlotte.
The digital campaign announcement is part of Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and Victory Fund’s investment of at least $60 million on the 2020 elections.
VIEW THE AD, “A YEAR OF INACTION,” HERE.
The ad text reads:
One year ago, six students were shot, and two were killed, by a gunman at UNC Charlotte
Since then, an estimated 1,350 more North Carolinians have been shot and killed.
Tell NC lawmakers we’re done waiting for action on gun violence.
A sample Facebook post headline accompanying the ad will read:
General Assembly Republicans Have Failed NC on Gun Safety
The ads will click through to a landing page, which asks North Carolinians to sign a pledge to vote with gun safety in mind.
Earlier this year, Everytown voter research found that voters in North Carolina support stronger gun safety laws by a 6:1 margin and 79% of voters, including 86% of voters who support stronger gun laws, consider a candidate’s position on guns “very important” to their vote in 2020.
Additional key findings include:
- 91% of suburban women voters support enacting red flag laws
- Voters support stronger gun laws by a 6:1 margin (54% stronger/9% less strong);
- Nearly 60% of voters are less likely to vote for a candidate who opposes a red flag law
- Voters broadly agree that it is possible to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and other dangerous people while also protecting the rights of gun owners (64% possible/36% not possible).