Julianne Moore Instagram – “At my first @MomsDemand meeting in 2020, when they announced they needed a local elections leader, I thought ‘My only electoral experience is voting.’ But I decided to raise my hand and figure out the rest later.” – @laurendhay of Rancho Santa Fe, California, this week’s #WomenCrushWednesday.
Lauren is a volunteer with the California chapter of @MomDemand and is now in her fourth year leading the group’s state elections work. In her role, Lauren helps identify Gun Sense Candidates, or candidates who demonstrate that they will support stronger gun laws and advocate for safer communities if elected into office. The distinction signals to voters that these candidates will govern with gun safety top of mind.
In the 2022 election cycle, Lauren helped secure over 500 Gun Sense Candidates in California. “I have seen how rapidly our movement has raised awareness surrounding the urgency of gun safety legislation among individuals running for office,” Lauren shares. “I have watched gun safety become a winning issue among voters in California, often transcending party lines.”
That November, 285 of those candidates won their races. As a result, Lauren watched thirteen life-saving gun safety bills pass in the California House and Senate and signed into law by the governor—including the historic AB 28 Gun Violence Prevention and School Safety Act in 2023.
When it comes to this year’s elections, Lauren’s message is no different: “I believe that the single most effective thing we can do to end the epidemic of gun violence in America is to strengthen gun laws, but in order to do that we first need to elect candidates who are committed to common sense gun safety.”
Thank you Lauren, and to all the #WCWs who raise their hands to join this movement. To find your 2024 local, state, and federal Gun Sense Candidates, click the link in my bio. | Posted on 24/Jul/2024 21:42:51
