Received this e-mail today from former Congresswoman, Rep. Gabby Giffords (D. AZ), in support of Lt. Governor Ralph Northam’s (D. VA) gubernatorial campaign:
Dear Team Ralph,
On January 8, 2011, a disturbed young man shot me and 18 other people while I was holding a constituent meeting in Tucson, Arizona. Six people died, including a nine-year-old girl.
On April 16, 2007, at Virginia Tech, 32 people were killed and another 17 were wounded when a gunman opened fire. The shooter was able to purchase his guns, despite the fact that a Virginia judge had ordered him to seek outpatient care for making suicidal remarks.
Two weeks ago, a deranged gunman killed 58 people and wounded more than 500 at a concert in Las Vegas.
Across our country the horror of gun violence has cut short lives, leaving the heartbroken survivors to try and make sense of the inexplicable. It is a terrible, complicated problem that requires thoughtful, compassionate, and courageous leaders.
Here in Virginia, you have the chance to elect such a leader, and his name is Ralph Northam, and he needs your support to make sure he can fight the gun lobby’s huge investments in his opponent. Can you spare $5 to help power Ralph’s campaign?
As a physician, Ralph is all too familiar with the destruction that a bullet causes to the human body. As an Army doctor, he treated soldiers wounded during Desert Storm. As your governor, he will stand up to the gun lobby and work with the legislature to pass commonsense laws that make our schools, our churches, and our streets safer.
The gun lobby is spending $1.5 million to elect Ed Gillespie. They know that he will block any efforts to pass even the most commonsense gun safety measures, like universal background checks that could help keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people, including felons, suspected terrorists, domestic abusers, and the dangerously mentally ill.
This choice could not be more clear: Ed Gillespie is funded by the gun lobby and supports their radical agenda. Ralph Northam knows the devastating impact of gun violence and will stand up to the gun lobby for lifesaving legislation that keeps Virginians safe.
Make sure Ralph can counter the gun lobby’s deep pockets and fight for commonsense gun legislation as your next governor by chipping in $5 right now.
The past few weeks have shown us that the stakes could not be higher. Please, on November 7th vote for Ralph Northam for Governor. Do it for yourself, and for all those whose lives have ever been touched by gun violence.
Thank you,
Gabby Giffords