National Gun Debate takes Center Stage in LA Mayor´s Race
Los Angeles – Los Angeles Mayoral Candidate Wendy Greuel, who hopes to become LA's first woman mayor, announced that she will hit the airwaves with an emotional ad on gun violence, making school safety one of the centerpieces of her campaign.
Greuel today called on Congress to act quickly and decisively to pass gun control legislation and protect Americans from gun violence.
“We cannot wait a month longer, a day longer, a moment longer, because for every awful tragedy like Sandy Hook that grabs headlines, gun violence is tearing apart families every single day. No more excuses. No more delays. Let’s demand action now,” said Greuel. “Sadly, too many of us have personal stories we can talk about with gun violence. As mayor I will work so this never touches your life.”
The ad, which will begin airing today, is available for viewing here. A copy of the script is attached. For background information on the events discussed in the ad, click here and here.
Greuel called for stricter gun control and more mental health services. This upcoming week, the U.S. Senate will consider legislation to expand background checks and increase penalties for illegal gun sales.
Greuel has signaled that public safety will be a top priority in her administration. She has been endorsed by LA’s police and firefighters, and has pledged to make expanding LA´s police force a priority of her administration, as well as expanding gang prevention programs, and increasing access to mental health services.
Greuel has also received endorsed from the Los Angeles School Police Officers Association (LASPOA), the Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs (ALADS), the Law Enforcement Association of Asian Pacifics (LEAAP), the Los Angeles Fire Chief Officers' Association, and the Professional Peace Officers Association (PPOA).
“Our Own”
We could all have our own Sandy Hook.
For me, it was a gunman with an assault weapon firing on children at a Jewish community center and a murder-suicide with a semi-automatic at our family business.
I’m Wendy Greuel and, as mayor, I’ll work so this never touches your life. With more mental health services and a partnership with parents and police to keep guns and gangs out of schools.
We need a mayor for all of LA, who believes all of LA should be safe.