2020 AZ Senatorial race: on Gun Control
Martha McSally:
Ban bump stocks; against closing gun show loophole
Q: Enact more restrictive legislation on firearms?Martha McSally: Mixed. Opposed closing loophole at gun show sales but has also supported banning bump stocks and denying guns to the mentally ill.
Mark Kelly: Yes. Gun owner co-launched "Giffords," urging universal background checks to limit mass shootings and "keep guns out of the hands of stalkers and domestic abusers."
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Oct 10, 2020
Mark Kelly:
The issue of gun violence is personal for Gabby and me
McSally sought to cast Kelly as operating an organization that supported liberal Democrats such as [Ilhan] Omar, which generated blowback from Kelly. "The organization that Sen. McSally is referring to is named after my wife, Gabby, [former Rep.] Gabby
Giffords, it's named "Giffords." Gabby was injured, shot in the head, in 2011. The issue of gun violence is personal for Gabby and me," Kelly said.
Source: Arizona Republic on 2020 Arizona Senate debate
Oct 6, 2020
Martha McSally:
I'm your Second Amendment senator
McSally, a consistent supporter of gun rights, hasn't made her record on Second Amendment issues a major theme of her campaign. "I'm your Second Amendment senator," she said.
McSally said Kelly supports an agenda that will lead to restrictions on gun rights and that the Supreme Court vacancy is a critical check against stripping away gun rights. "Our freedoms are at stake," she said.
Source: Arizona Republic on 2020 Arizona Senate debate
Oct 6, 2020
Mark Kelly:
Owns guns but favors commonsense legislation
He believes in gun ownership and is well armed himself. "I'm a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment, and I'm a gun owner," he said. "I own more firearms than most Arizonans. I'm pretty sure about that." However, he said many in the state agree with
him that the right to bear arms should be regulated more than it is. "I also think we need commonsense legislation that most Arizonans support to keep communities and families safer from gun violence," he said.
Source: KTAR News 92.3-FM on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Feb 21, 2020
Mark Kelly:
Gun rights & safety from gun violence not incompatible
Mark is a gun owner and a combat veteran, the husband of Gabby Giffords who was nearly killed in a shooting, and an advocate for commonsense, effective gun laws.
Mark understands that a commitment to our rights and traditions is in no way incompatible with working to keep us safe from gun violence.
Mark will stand up to the gun lobby and fight to protect Arizona kids and communities from gun violence. He will keep kids and communities safer by working to pass universal background checks, to keep guns out of the hands of stalkers and
domestic abusers, and reduce mass shootings and suicides by allowing families and law enforcement to ensure dangerous individuals and people in crisis don't have access to firearms.
Source: 2020 Arizona Senate campaign website MarkKelly.com
Jan 15, 2020
Mark Kelly:
A gun is designed for one thing--to kill
If you're an elected official speaking out on a topic, it boosts your credibility when you can do so intelligently. Sometimes, you can tell when lawmakers aren't as familiar with firearms. But a gun is a pretty simple thing. It's not a fighter jet.
It's not a spaceship. It's a basic instrument designed for one thing--to kill. I don't think we need 80-year-old legislators to go out to the shooting range in order to participate in this debate. They understand the consequences already.
Source: Gentleman's Quarterly on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Nov 2, 2018
Mark Kelly:
Gun control is a political issue and we need to have a vote
"These kids [Parkland High School students] are incredibly articulate. And some members of Congress are good at not listening. To have high school kids calling for change, it should matter. And I hope in society this will make a difference,"
Kelly told "Fox News Sunday" minutes after five students from Florida's Stoneman Douglas High School said on the show that they are trying to organize nationwide demonstrations for March 24. "This is a political issue," he said. "We need to have a vote."
Source: Fox News Sunday 2019 interview on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Feb 18, 2018
Mark Kelly:
Congress has done absolutely nothing to stop gun violence
"All we're hearing is thoughts and prayers. Thoughts and prayers are important," said Kelly said but added that they fell short. "They are not enough.
Your thoughts and prayers aren't going to stop the next shooting." The former astronaut charged that Congress has done "absolutely nothing" to stop further acts of gun violence and instead is working to craft legislation to "weaken our gun laws."
Source: CBS News on 2020 Arizona Senate race
Oct 2, 2017
Page last updated: Dec 07, 2020