LGBTQ PAC focused on gun safety reform endorses candidate in one of the most competitive Congressional races in the country
July 19, 2018 -- Washington, DC -- Pride Fund to End Gun Violence – America’s only national LGBTQ political organization focused solely on gun violence prevention – announced its endorsement of Democrat Jennifer Wexton for Virginia’s 10th Congressional District. Pride Fund endorsed Wexton for her commitment to fighting for LGBTQ equality and her support of commonsense gun safety measures.
“Jennifer Wexton is an excellent candidate to run against Republican Barbara Comstock. If anyone can beat Comstock, it will be Jennifer,” said Jason Lindsay, Pride Fund Executive Director. “She has taken her passion for protecting others to the State Senate and has supported legislation to make Virginians safer, such as commonsense gun measures. Jennifer has also worked hard to promote fairness and equal opportunity for all Virginians, including our lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. We are proud to endorse Jennifer Wexton for Virginia’s 10th Congressional District.” said Lindsay.
“I am honored to have earned the Pride Fund’s endorsement. Whether it’s Columbine, Orlando, or Parkland, too many cities in America have been devastated by gun violence. It’s time we finally say enough is enough and follow up with real policy to tackle this issue. I look forward to working with the Pride Fund over the coming months to retire Barbara Comstock and bring real action on gun violence prevention to Washington,” said Wexton.
Wexton has demonstrated her loyalty to the LGBTQ community by supporting legislation to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in housing, and cosponsored legislation that would prohibit discrimination in public employment; opposed harmful Republican legislation that would have allowed government officials to refuse to marry same-sex couples; as well as supported bills that would expand Virginia’s hate crimes statute to include the LGBTQ community and end conversion therapy. Not only is she a champion for LGBTQ equality but she also fights for commonsense gun laws.
Wexton is a strong advocate for gun violence prevention and has consistently fought for commonsense legislation to keep our communities safe while also respecting the rights of responsible gun owners. In the State Senate, she has championed and voted for bills that would establish universal background checks and close the gun show loophole, ban bumpstocks, mandate the reporting of lost and stolen firearms, and keep firearms out of the hands of domestic abusers and those convicted of stalking. She has also fought against legislation that would loosen restrictions on who can obtain concealed carry permits.
Wexton’s Republican opponent, Barbara Comstock, was named one of the most vulnerable Republican incumbents by the prestigious Cook Political Report, which sees her district as a prime pickup opportunity for the Democrats.
“Rep. Barbara Comstock is one of the top examples of a Republican politician accepting large amounts of campaign cash from the NRA and then voting in lock step with their dangerous, arm everyone, no restrictions, no rules agenda on guns. She is part of the problem in Washington, a politician who doesn’t care about the continually growing problem that 38,000 Americans die each year by guns. She is in the pocket of the gun lobby and it is going to cost Comstock her job,” said Lindsay.
Comstock is probably hoping no one will notice her appearance on the notorious list — US House members receiving the most cash from the National Rifle Association. Comstock lands at number 10 on the list of House members collecting the most cash from the NRA during their careers — more than $137,000. That should have Comstock worried, because she’s out of step with the voters in her district. Last year in the state elections, exit polls showed that gun reform was the second most important issue for voters.
Comstock’s legislative record on guns reflects exactly how she is bought and paid for by the NRA. Late last year, Comstock enthusiastically voted for one of the Republicans’ top legislative priorities, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017, which would allow dangerous and untrained people to carry loaded, hidden guns in more public places. But Comstock’s record of loosening gun laws doesn’t stop there: she voted to allow people on the terrorist watch list to purchase firearms, voted to give severely mentally ill veterans and social security disability beneficiaries easier access to firearms.
“Comstock’s history of taking significant amounts of NRA cash might earn her a spot on another list this year — in addition to being number 10 in NRA blood money — this year, she could be on the list of Republican incumbents who are defeated with the help of Pride Fund to End Gun Violence,” said Lindsay.