Richmond, VA – Today, DPVA Chairwoman Susan Swecker, Senate and House Democrats, and a local high school a student held a virtual press conference on Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, being the Keynote speaker at an NRA event today after the mass school shooting at Robb Elementary School, leaving 21 dead, including 19 children.
Chairwoman Susan Swecker, local high school student Sophie Christianson, Delegate Guzman, Delegate Murphy, and Senator McPike all gave remarks on the recent tragedy at Robb Elementary School and called out the despicable behavior from Lt. Governor Sears and Republicans for embracing the gun lobby.
“The day after the shooting, we find out that our Lt. Governor Winsome Sears will be the Keynote Speaker at the NRA convention today,” said DPVA Chairwoman Susan Swecker. “It is an abomination to the victims of this shooting and an embarrassment to Virginia. Today I ask Governor Glenn Youngkin - “Do you support your ticket mate and Lt. Gov. in this? Did you ask her not go to? If you didn’t you should. Why not?”
“I was only 6 when Sandy Hook happened, and I am now 16 years old when Robb Elementary School happened,” said local High School student Sophie Christianson. “I just want to be a teenager. I don’t want to have to fear for my life every day I go to school. This isn’t normal and it should not be happening.”
“Virginians deserve to know where our Governor stands on his own Lt. Governor speaking at the NRA convention,” said Senator Jeremy McPike. “After the three recent shootings in Buffalo, Laguna Springs and in Texas, the Governor has failed to address the underlying issue and refuses to have any discussion about the root of the problem – the incredibly easy access to guns.”
“My community, my Latino community, has been attacked once again,” Delegate Elizabeth Guzman. “My people are hurting, our wounds have been reopened and the grief cuts deeper…Instead of solving the problem, they are embracing the gun lobby and the gun manufacturers who are complacent in these acts of gun violence. Look no further than Lt. Governor Sears who will be speaking at the NRA event today in Texas. This is a slap in the face to the victims and the Latino community.”
“Let me be clear, Governor Youngkin has also remained silent on this. He has said nothing about his second in command, his Lt. Governor speaking at the NRA convention, “said Delegate Kathleen Murphy. “The NRA is actively working to kill any legislation to find a solution to the gun epidemic and no one should be supporting them, nonetheless speaking at their rally. Our children are dying, our kids are afraid to go back to school, and this is happening too much. We need to act, We need to prevent the next tragedy.”
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