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Gun Violence Prevention Once Again Top-tier Issue During Third Democratic Debate

9.13.2019

New Morning Consult/Politico Poll This Week Found That Gun Safety is Democratic Voters’ Top Issue Heading In To 2020 Election

NEW YORK — Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown, released the below statements after the third Democratic presidential debate again featured gun violence prevention as a top tier issue.

“Gun safety once again took center stage at the presidential debate — and that’s how it should be, because gun safety is the central concern of so many voters,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “Republican and Democratic voters alike are demanding common-sense solutions to America’s gun violence crisis, and lawmakers and candidates on both sides of the aisle would be wise to listen.”

“The Democratic presidential candidates recognize you can’t win the Democratic nomination, much less the White House, without being strong on gun safety,” said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “Moms Demand Action volunteers will keep showing up to make sure gun safety dominates the conversation on the campaign trail. The next 13 months aren’t just a race to the White House, it’s a race to save lives from senseless gun violence.”

See the full debate transcript from ABC News here.

The 2020 presidential cycle has been notable for the number of candidates proudly embracing gun safety as an issue to run and win on. All candidates on last night’s debate stage recently received Moms Demand Action Presidential Gun Sense Candidate Distinctions. There were two requirements in order to qualify for the Gun Sense Candidate distinction: first, completing an eighteen-part questionnaire focused on their positions on gun safety issues, and second, addressing Moms Demand Action members in-person. Questionnaires asked about where the candidates stand on the issues, how candidates are making gun safety a central part of their campaigns and how candidates will lead on gun safety if they win.

On Wednesday, a new Morning Consult/Politico poll revealed that gun safety is Democratic voters’ top issue heading into the 2020 election, with 73 percent of Democratic voters saying it is “very important” for the candidates to discuss the issue in the debate last night.

To help track the latest news on gun policy, Everytown for Gun Safety has launched an interactive tracker: In Their Own Words, Where the 2020 Candidates Stand on Gun Safety.