Gun Politics at the DNC: Gun Violence Prevention Leaders, Survivors and Hundreds of Advocates in Philadelphia as 2016 Proves to be The Year of Gun Safety

PHILADELPHIA – In an election cycle that has experienced a complete sea change in gun politics, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund, the country’s largest gun violence prevention organization that includes Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, will continue the momentum to elect leaders and create political change that will save lives from gun violence at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

Last month, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and Moms Demand Action endorsed Hillary Clinton for president because she is the only candidate willing to stand up to the gun lobby. The endorsement was a key part of Everytown’s 2016 electoral agenda that also includes ballot initiatives for stronger gun laws in Maine, Nevada and Washington state.

In the midst of a summer of gun violence tragedies that have gripped headlines – along with the 91 Americans who are killed and hundreds more injured everyday – national gun safety leaders, policy experts and gun violence survivors will gather in Philadelphia for a range of activities before Hillary Clinton, who has placed saving lives from gun violence at the top of her agenda, formally accepts the Democratic Party’s nomination to be the country’s first-ever gun sense presidential candidate.

Everytown will also co-host a ‘United Against Hate’ party with the Human Rights Campaign on Wednesday evening and will host a panel discussion, entitled 2016: The Year of Gun Safety – The Changing Political Lens, on Thursday with Everytown Creative Council chair Julianne Moore, the National Urban League and the National LGBTQ Task Force.

NATIONAL GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION LEADERS, GUN VIOLENCE SURVIVORS AND POLICY EXPERTS AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS:

• John Feinblatt, President of Everytown for Gun Safety

• Shannon Watts, Founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety

• Erica Lafferty Smegielski, whose mother, Dawn Hochsprung, was the principal of Sandy Hook School. She was shot and killed along with five other educators and 20 first grade students during the Newtown mass shooting on December 14, 2012. Erica is currently a Partnerships Manager for Everytown for Gun Safety and a member of the Everytown Survivor Network.

• Lucy McBath, whose son Jordan Davis was shot and killed at a gas station in Jacksonville, Florida on November 23, 2012 during an argument over loud music. Lucy is currently the Faith and Outreach Leader for Everytown for Gun Safety and a member of the Everytown Survivor Network.

• Brina Milikowsky, Chief Strategy Officer for Everytown for Gun Safety

• Additional Members of the Everytown Survivor Network

• Volunteer leaders with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America