WASHINGTON, DC, SEPTEMBER 27, 2016 -- Pride Fund to End Gun Violence PAC – America’s only LGBTQ organization solely focused on gun violence prevention – today announced four new endorsements in U.S. House races across the country: Morgan Carroll in Colorado’s 6th congressional district, Val Demings in Florida’s 10th, Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty in Connecticut’s 5th, and Dr. Matt Heinz in Arizona’s 2nd. All four congressional districts represent communities affected by senseless mass shootings in the last five years: Aurora, Newtown, Orlando, and Tucson.
“We support Carroll, Demings, Esty, and Heinz as candidates because they represent the best attributes of leadership that a community requires after a crisis: integrity, caring, and the willingness to do everything possible to prevent other communities from experiencing the same kind of devastating loss,” said Jason Lindsay, founder and Executive Director of Pride Fund. “When a gunman stormed an Aurora, Colorado movie theater in 2012, killing 12 and injuring more than 70 people, Morgan Carroll took action as a state senator leading the charge for universal background checks with all gun purchases made in the state of Colorado.”
“When Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot while meeting with constituents at a supermarket in Tucson in 2011, 18 others were injured, and 6 people were killed. Dr. Matt Heinz, an openly gay physician and then a state representative, worked to heal his Tucson community in a time of crisis,” added Lindsay. “He later was appointed by President Obama to work with LGBTQ organizations across the country to educate their members about the Affordable Care Act.”
Congresswoman Esty has already proven to be an ally to LGBTQ Americans and all citizens who support common sense gun reforms. Esty is the author of H.R. 752 the “Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device Act” that will prohibit the transfer, possession, or importation of a large capacity ammunition feeding devices, is an original cosponsor of legislation to close the gun show and online sale loophole. The Congresswoman has also signed onto including federal and state convictions of hate, bias-motivated, or domestic violence-related crimes, whether a felony or misdemeanor, in the list of convictions that would bar an individual from purchasing or owning a firearm, and cosponsors many other common sense gun reforms.
“In her four years as Chief of Police in Orlando, Demings reduced violent crime by forty percent,” said Pride Fund Board of Advisors member and Orlando Councilmember Patty Sheehan. “She understands the nuts and bolts of common sense gun reforms that can make all Americans safer. Carroll, Demings, and Heinz will join Esty in bringing courageous leadership to the U.S. House of Representatives.”
Pride Fund has carefully reviewed the platforms and records of these four candidates and their opponents. When it comes to holding up the ideals of Americans who believe in protecting the LGBTQ community and creating safer communities, there is no contest.
With this election, we have an opportunity to start reducing the more than 33,000 gun deaths that take place in our communities every year. Pride Fund is turning anger into action by working to elect candidates who will work to make America safer for everyone.
About the Pride Fund to End Gun Violence
Pride Fund to End Gun Violence (Pride Fund) is a Political Action Committee (PAC), organized for the purpose of raising and spending money to elect pro-LGBT candidates at the national level who support sensible gun reforms.
To learn more, visit www.pridefund.org. Like on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/pridefund and follow on Twitter: @Pride_Fund
PO Box 32377
Washington, DC 20007
For more information, contact Michael Appel or Catherine McCarthy at (202) 930-0981
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