GPAC Announces Endorsements of State/County Candidates for November Elections
Top Tier Races to Receive Financial & Political Support
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 16, 2014 – The Gun Violence Prevention Political Action Committee (G-PAC) announced the organization’s endorsement of 42 candidates for the November general election today, adding that key state races will soon be targeted for funding and political support in critical districts where a voice for reasonable gun safety legislation is needed in Springfield.
Created by gun safety advocates and shooting victims outraged by the questionable influence of the gun lobby in Springfield, G-PAC is the only organization in Illinois working to elect and protect candidates that support common sense gun safety – and to defeat those that don’t.
“Children, families and communities across our state have paid a tragically high price for our state’s failure to pass reasonable gun safety measures for far too long. G-PAC seeks to save lives by supporting the election of leaders who are committed to passing reasonable gun safety measures and working with us to combat the influence of the gun lobby,” said G-PAC Executive Director Kathleen Sances.
G-PAC’s largest endorsement since launching in 2013 demonstrates how quickly the organization is gaining momentum and the financial backing needed to bolster the elections of candidates that support common sense gun safety legislation. It comes on the heels of successfully backing four successful primary races earlier this year, and a fundraiser that garnered national attention with the personal support of former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and Captain Mark Kelly in August.
“Despite the fact that the majority of Illinois voters support common sense gun safety legislation, this lifesaving position is not often reflected in the voting records of the public officials representing them. All too often, those we have elected to look out for our communities have been looking the other way – putting politics above public safety, said G-PAC Founder Tom VandenBerk.
“We urge Illinois voters of this state to make their voices heard loud and clear this November by sending a strong message to the gun industry, their lobbyists, and the elected officials who do their bidding in Springfield: Enough is enough,” he added. “Lives depend on it.”
Endorsements were determined by candidates’ responses to GPAC’s 2014 General Election Campaign Questionnaire with 15 questions regarding their positions on critical gun safety legislation, including, but not limited to:
- Banning military-style semi-automatic assault weapons and high capacity ammunition magazines;
- Banning loaded, concealed handguns in places of worship or that serve alcohol; and
- Establishing reasonable licensing measures to crack down on gun dealers that supply illegal traffickers with crime guns.
Ultimately, all of the candidates that were endorsed by G-PAC had responded “yes” to 100% of the questions.
With the general election less than eight weeks away, G-PAC will soon begin to focus resources, political support and a direct mail campaign on select state races where the gun safety issue is critical.
See full endorsement list here.
