Advocates for gun control are increasing their funding to support the election of presumed Democratic nominee Kamala Harris as president, as well as to help Democrats win control of the House of Representatives this November.
GIFFORDS, a group established to prevent gun violence and co-founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, publicly unveiled a $15 million initiative aimed at voters in key battleground states on Friday. This funding will cover television and digital ads, direct mail campaigns, and will also enable Giffords and her representatives to campaign for Harris and other candidates who are in favor of stricter gun regulations.
“With just over 100 days remaining until election day, GIFFORDS is intensifying its efforts to advocate for leaders committed to saving lives, including ensuring that Vice President Kamala Harris is elected as the next president of the United States,” stated Emma Brown, the executive director of GIFFORDS.
The extensive campaign will be directed at competitive states such as Michigan and Arizona for the presidential election, as well as key congressional districts in California and New York, which may determine control of the House next year, as reported by NBC News.
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Giffords speaks during a campaign event for Vice President Kamala Harris, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Joe Lamberti)
“Americans clearly want elected representatives who prioritize public safety and stand up to the gun lobby,” Brown noted.
GIFFORDS referenced internal polling from June that indicated 70% of voters in crucial districts are “extremely” or “very” concerned about gun violence. They argue that specific demographics, including women, and Latino and Black Americans, are significant supporters of stringent gun legislation and can sway close elections if encouraged to vote.
“This election is pivotal, and we are eager to back allies dedicated to preventing gun violence across all levels of government — from state legislatures to Congress, providing Vice President Harris with effective partners when she wins in November,” Brown expressed.
A Fox News survey from June revealed that 45% of Americans considered guns to be an “extremely important” issue, placing it as the 7th most crucial factor out of ten. The top three concerns were the “Future of American democracy” (68%), “Economy” (66%), and “Stability and normalcy” (58%).
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Giffords exits following a campaign event for Vice President Kamala Harris, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Joe Lamberti)
Erich Pratt, the senior vice president for Gun Owners of America, a group advocating for Second Amendment rights, expressed skepticism about the idea that gun control is a significant concern for many voters.
“It’s clear that Kamala Harris’s policies and this administration’s approach are contributing factors to the crime wave we are experiencing in our nation. The threat of confiscating common self-defense firearms, combined with lenient crime policies at state and local levels in major urban areas, has not made Americans feel secure,” Pratt noted in a statement to Fox News Digital.
“If organizations like GIFFORDS genuinely wanted to reduce violence, they would be encouraging Harris, who has experience as a prosecutor, to take action against violent offenders via U.S. attorney offices. Instead, they opt for promoting unconstitutional disarmament that leaves ordinary citizens vulnerable. This approach is unlikely to resonate with voters in swing states.”
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Harris prepares to swear in Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) with his wife Gabrielle Giffords in the old senate chamber for the Ceremonial Swearing on Jan. 3, 2023, in Washington, D.C. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
Gabrielle Giffords, who previously served as a Democratic representative from Arizona, suffered severe injuries in a 2011 assassination attempt when a gunman shot her in the head during an event in her district. Ten years ago, she co-founded her organization with the aim of “ending the gun lobby’s tight grip on our political system,” according to the GIFFORDS website.
Her spouse is Senator Mark Kelly from Arizona, who is reportedly among the leading candidates for Harris’ vice presidential running mate.
Giffords attended a Harris event on Thursday at the Salt & Light church in Pennsylvania, where she engaged with community activists in Philadelphia. The local area, predominantly Black, has been affected by gun violence, including a recent incident claiming three lives and injuring at least six others.
During her brief remarks, Giffords reflected on her long recovery from the 2011 shooting that resulted in six deaths during a constituent meeting in a Tucson grocery store. Meanwhile, Harris’s other backers, including Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton, framed the upcoming presidential election as a choice between Harris, who supports an assault weapons ban, and the potential for increased gun violence with Republican Donald Trump, who has backing from gun rights organizations.
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“Our nation is grappling with violence from rural Pennsylvania to urban neighborhoods like this one,” McClinton articulated. “As voters, we have the power to choose between a more violent America versus safer communities across the nation.”
Both Giffords and McClinton, who is aligned with Governor Josh Shapiro—also speculated as a vice presidential nominee—deflected inquiries about the vice presidential stakes. Giffords’ aides informed the Associated Press that the event was scheduled well prior to President Biden’s withdrawal and endorsement of Harris to succeed him, and certainly before her husband was suggested as a potential 2024 candidate.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
