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
Endorsed by Everytown for Gun Safety for gun-sense majority
Everytown for Gun Safety threw its support behind 11 Democratic Senate candidates including Mark Kelly in Arizona.
"Everytown is going all-in to flip the Senate and elect leaders who will treat America's gun violence epidemic
like the crisis it is," the Everytown President said. The group has targeted a number of key races in the House and Senate, emphasizing the need to protect what it calls a "gun sense majority," which is mostly comprised of Democratic candidates.
Source: The Hill e-zine on 2020 Arizona Senate endorsements
, Jun 9, 2020
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
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.
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
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
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
Kelly supports the Christian Coalition survey question on gun rights
The Christian Coalition inferred whether candidates agree or disagree with the statement, 'Further Restrictions on the Right to Keep and Bear Arms ?'
Self-description by Christian Coalition of America: "These guides help give voters a clear understanding of where candidates stand on important pro-family issues" for all Senate and Presidential candidates.
Sponsored bill for background checks for private transfers.
Kelly co-sponsored Background Check Expansion Act
H.R.8 - Bipartisan Background Checks Act: This bill establishes new background check requirements for firearm transfers between private parties (i.e., unlicensed individuals). Specifically, it prohibits a firearm transfer between private parties unless a licensed gun dealer, manufacturer, or importer first takes possession of the firearm to conduct a background check. The prohibition does not apply to gifts between spouses in good faith.
Heritage Action opinion to vote NO (Feb. 26, 2019): This legislation would require universal background checks for all firearm sales (even private). Unfortunately, universal background checks would do little to prevent firearm violence and would instead make it more difficult for law-abiding citizens to purchase, own, carry, and use a firearm. Studies show that universal background checks are largely ineffective when it comes to preventing mass shootings.
In 19 of the most recent high-profile cases, the shooters bought their firearms legally and passed all the required background checks.
White House Statement (Biden`s opinion to vote YES): Gun violence is a public health crisis. Every day, gun violence--community violence, domestic violence, suicides, and mass shootings--takes American lives and forever alters many more. Last year, we saw record levels of homicides in cities throughout our country. The Federal gun background check system is a proven tool to reduce gun violence and save lives. This system, called the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, has kept millions of guns out of potentially dangerous hands. The Administration encourages closing existing loopholes in this system [such as private transfers in H.R. 8].
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 227-203-1 on 03/11/2021 (rollcall #75); introduced in Senate with 36 co-sponsors; no further Senate action during 2021.