Mark Kelly, former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ husband, has recorded a robocall in which he thanks Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Pat Toomey (R-PA) for coming together to reach a deal on background checks for gun sales. NBC News’ Kelly O’Donnell reported on the robocall Friday on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
“I’m calling to thank your senator, Pat Toomey, for working across party lines to sponsor critical legislation to keep guns out of the the hands of criminals and the mentally ill by expanding background checks,” Kelly said in one version of the call, broadcast on MSNBC. “If Sen. Toomey’s bill becomes law, it will be more difficult for dangerous people to get guns, and our communities will be safer as a result. All while protecting our Second Amendment rights.”
O’Donnell reported that the call is set to go out on Friday and will run in the suburbs of Philadelphia and is also supposed to reach veterans and male gun owners in West Virginia. O’Donnell reported that Giffords will be on Capitol Hill next week to lobby lawmakers on gun control. Americans for Responsible Solutions, the pro-gun control group founded by Giffords and Kelly, on Thursday called the Senate’s vote to begin debate on gun control legislation “an important first step toward reducing gun violence.”
