In the wake of Pittsburgh shooting, Pride Fund to End Gun Violence asks Congressman Scott Taylor whether he will stand up for gun safety or will he accept another campaign contribution from the NRA following this tragedy?
October 29, 2018 -- Virginia Beach, VA -- Pride Fund to End Gun Violence – America’s only LGBTQ political organization solely focused on gun violence prevention – today in the aftermath of the Pittsburgh shooting massacre, is calling on Congressman Scott Taylor (VA-02) to publicly and permanently disavow the NRA. Our country needs leaders who will stand up to the NRA’s dangerous agenda and will fight for the safety of our communities, not vote in lockstep with their priorities and take campaign checks in return.
On Saturday, America experienced yet another high profile mass shooting, this time in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where 11 people were killed and 6 others were injured at the Tree of Life Synagogue. This is another reminder of the constant carnage we face as a nation due to gun violence and why gun reform is so important. In just three years, we’ve seen five of our nation’s top ten deadliest mass shootings. A mass shooting happens in our country eight out of every nine days. This uniquely American epidemic costs us 38,000 lives per year. The public has spoken. 67% of Americans want stronger gun safety laws. 97% support expanding background checks to cover all gun sales, a policy that Taylor still refuses to support.
Statement from Jason Lindsay, Founder & Executive Director, Pride Fund
“Sadly, our country is at another crossroads following a serious mass shooting. In the past, Congressman Scott Taylor has done the wrong thing. He has stood shoulder to shoulder with the gun lobby and not the constituents in his district calling for change. Today is another opportunity for Taylor to disavow his allegiance to the gun lobby and do the right thing for his district and our country by uniting in the call for gun reform. I call on Congressman Taylor to stand up and disavow the hateful rhetoric and dangerous agenda of the NRA,” said Lindsay.
In the past Congressman Taylor has had a cozy relationship with the NRA and has ignored his constituents calls for common-sense gun safety. Just one day after the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, which left 14 students and 3 staff members dead, Taylor accepted a campaign contribution from the NRA, signing a blood oath with the gun lobby and their agenda. While our nation mourned yet another mass shooting, Congressman Taylor was busy cashing his NRA check. Hopefully, this tragedy will mark a turning point in Taylor’s positions.