Martha McSally, a Republican congressional candidate in Arizona, on Tuesday reversed her position on gun restrictions for convicted stalkers after she denounced an ad that attacked her position on the issue.
McSally, who is challenging Democratic Rep. Ron Barber, said that she supports a bill that would keep individuals convicted of misdemeanor stalking offenses from purchasing guns.
“Martha supports the full enforcement of federal laws that are in place to keep guns out of the hands of prohibited persons, including convicted felons (including stalkers), domestic abusers, the mentally ill, and people in the country illegally,” Patrick Ptak, McSally’s campaign spokesman, said according to the Huffington Post. “On the issue of stalking, as a victim of stalking herself, Martha firmly believes convicted stalkers should be prohibited from obtaining firearms in all cases, and claims to the contrary are 100 percent false.”
“Martha supports adding misdemeanor stalking to the list of criminal offenses that would keep dangerous individuals from obtaining guns in other states where stalking can also be a misdemeanor,” he continued.
Americans for Responsible Solutions, a pro-gun control group started by former Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-AZ) and her husband, released an ad accusing McSally of opposing gun limits for convicted stalkers.
McSally called for the ad to be taken down last week because she herself was a victim of stalking.
“As someone who’s experienced being stalked, I know what it feels like to worry constantly about when and where your stalker will appear next and what he’ll do,” she said in a statement.
Americans for Responsible Solutions told reporters on Tuesday that they will take the ad down now that McSally has announced her new position. Pia Carusone, a spokesman for the group, said that McSally’s statement is “great news,” according to the Huffington Post.
