Brady Campaign endorses Pascrell

The Brady Campaign to End Gun Violence has endorsed Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-Paterson) for re-election in New Jersey’s 9th district.

“We know that it will take fortitude, a strong moral compass, and sincere compassion for the millions of people affected by gun violence in our nation. We believe that Congressman Pascrell has proven himself a true GVP champion in Congress, and know his willingness to make gun violence prevention a top priority for the campaign,” said Sean Kirkeldall, the Policy Director of the Brady Campaign. “The people of NJ-9 will be able to count on his vocal, passionate leadership in solving the gun violence epidemic gripping our country, and we look forward to working with him and the campaign to help win the race and usher in a pro-GVP House in the next Congress.”

Pascrell, a former Assemblyman and Mayor of Paterson, was first elected to Congress in 1996.

“I am honored to accept the Brady Campaign’s endorsement. James Brady was a man who inspired me with his courage to take on incredibly difficult fights in the name of reform that would save countless lives,” said Pascrell. “Americans cry out for commonsense measures to curb gun violence. Simple background checks, an assault weapons ban, restricting men who violently abuse women from firearms — all of these are supported by a supermajority of Americans. None of them should be controversial in a civilized society, but they have been because of the NRA’s stranglehold on the Republican Party. But today I am more optimistic about our chances for real reform than I have ever been. The energy shown by the March For Our Lives movement and students around America demanding change has been incredible. They’ve shown more leadership in months than the GOP has demonstrated in a generation. Change is coming, and the Brady Campaign will be leading the way to that change.”