FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 1, 2022
Contact: Will Pregman, wpregman@battlebornprogress.org, 702.752.0656
Survivors and Advocates Agree, Joe Lombardo is Bad on Guns and Bad for Nevadans
1 October Survivor, Geena Marano details her story and warns against supporting candidates who will dismantle Nevada’s gun safety legislation
LAS VEGAS, NV – Saturday, October 1st marks the 5th anniversary of the horrific Route 91 Harvest Festival Mass shooting. As a County Commissioner Steve Sisolak worked to set up a victims fund for 1 October survivors and he has continued advocating for commonsense gun safety legislation as Governor. In contrast, Joe Lombard wants to move Nevada backward by dismantling existing policies that help reduce mass shootings. . He signed multiple pieces of gun safety legislation meanwhile Sheriff Lombardo has been talking about reversing these measures while on the campaign trail despite being the head of the department that responded to the 1 October mass shooting.
Patricia Farley, Executive Director of Nevada Values PAC, said:
“Today, we are mourning the 60 lives lost on October 1st, 2017, and the families who were forever changed after a gunman opened fire on concertgoers at the Route 91 Harvest Festival. We know that healing is a process that will continue for many of the survivors impacted by these mass violence events and our hearts go out to all of the people impacted. One of the survivors, Geena Marano recently did an ad for us, in which, she spoke her truth. Meanwhile, the gun lobby is running ads this week with sirens and 911 operators as a lead-in to use rhetoric that divides, inflames, and paints our elected officials as extreme because they support laws that will keep communities safe. 1 October is typically a time for mourning. Usually, even the most terrible characters in Nevada offer some condolences and “thoughts & prayers.” This year sees a different tone from those who seek power in our state. In the week leading up to this anniversary, radio ads paid for by the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund have been running in Nevada. Then the rhetoric decrying gun safety laws is front and center. Joe Lombardo is the focus because he has pandered to the gun lobby since he began seeking the Republican nomination for Governor. A Sheriff who used to fully support background checks now he pledges to reverse existing gun laws despite continued gun violence across the country.”
“5 years later, we have seen improvements in Nevada law concerning gun violence and it is clear our state is choosing to move in the right direction on this issue. Yet, candidates like Joe Lombardo want to take us off this track by upending existing gun safety legislation. The Sheriff who oversaw the devastation unleashed on a group of concert-goers five years ago wants to repeal existing gun laws that work to protect our communities from gun violence. Let that sink in a minute. A video from the nonpartisan group Battle Born Progress shows Lombardo answering a question about his opinion on guns changing after 1 October, Lombardo admitted on the record that he learned nothing from 1 October and he scapegoats mental illness rather than standing up to the gun lobby for public safety.”
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About Nevada Values PAC: Nevada Values PAC exists for the sole purpose of holding our elected officials accountable and educating the public about candidates and issues that they have on the record. Learn more: https://nevadavaluespac.com/