New Brunswick, NJ — Just days after a mass shooting in a Pittsburgh synagogue that took 11 lives, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence today strongly endorsed Bob Menendez for reelection to the U.S. Senate. The Brady Campaign has been working to reform our gun laws for nearly 40 years, and only endorses candidates with a clear track record of supporting progressive legislation to prevent gun violence. Sen. Bob Menendez, who has been an unwavering champion of commonsense gun safety, including universal background checks and an assault weapons ban, has proudly received an “F” from the National Rifle Association (NRA) every year while serving in Congress.
“This endorsement means even more after yet another senseless mass shooting. I am proud to have the support of the Brady Campaign, a long-standing institution with a laser-focused dedication on making our country safer,” said Sen. Menendez. “They know I have worked to renew the assault weapons ban, institute universal background checks, ban high-capacity magazines, and ban 3D printed guns. The Brady Campaign doesn’t make these decisions lightly; it is clear to them and it is clear to me that Bob Hugin would be a foot-soldier for Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell in their dangerous effort to allow those suffering from mental illness to purchase guns, let people buy unlimited rounds of ammunition, and leave our children vulnerable to a growing epidemic of gun deaths. We can’t let Bob Hugin enable the gun lobby.”
“The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence is proud to have endorsed Senator Bob Menendez because of his long history as a gun violence prevention champion. He took the fight to the gun lobby well before most others were willing to engage. We are excited to continue to work with Senator Menendez as a leading champion in the gun violence prevention movement,” said Ky Hunter, Vice President of Programs of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.
“Bob Hugin’s support of Kavanaugh and his gun record should alarm New Jersey voters, though it shouldn’t come as a surprise when Hugin has donated hundreds of thousands to NRA-backed candidates and failed during a recent press conference to take a clear stance on banning assault weapons and weapons of mass murder,” wrote Zachary Dougherty, a student at Toms River North High School, in an op-ed posted to theOcean County Politics website.
Dougherty cited Kavanaugh’s record on guns and support from the NRA, which called Kavanaugh an “outstanding choice.”
“Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court puts at stake the future of common sense gun safety regulation that the overwhelming majority of Americans support,” Dougherty continued. “Make no mistake, his ascension to the court would hinder our efforts to curb the proliferation of guns across the country, and protect our schools, churches and other public places.”
Bob Menendez is one of the leading advocates in Congress for sensible gun safety reform. He supports reinstating the 1994 assault weapons ban, a measure he voted for while serving in the House of Representatives. He is the author of legislation banning high capacity magazines and has cosponsored bills to enhance universal background checks, ban bump stocks and other devices that turn semi-automatic weapons into machine guns, and prevent those on the terrorist No Fly list from buying a firearm. The Senator has recently led the charge to block the online dissemination of specs to create 3D printable guns that are undetectable and untraceable.
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