Giffords Proves They're About Progressive Politics, Not Safety

Giffords likes to present itself as being just another in a long line of “gun safety” groups, that they really only care about making communities safer from the scourge of gun violence.

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Of course, the term “gun safety” is always a euphemism for gun control. It’s so much the case that absolutely no one buys the claims that it’s anything but gun control.

However, Giffords isn’t really all about gun control. Oh no.

You see, they just made it clear that what they’re really about is progressive politics–particularly identity politics–rather than making anyone safer.

A gun reform advocacy group founded by former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) is backing reelection bids for eight freshmen congresswomen as part of the organization’s first round of 2020 endorsements.

Giffords Courage to Fight Gun Violence championed the women, several of whom flipped Republican-held seats in 2018, as key players to fight for gun reform proposals, according to the endorsement exclusively shared with The Hill on Tuesday.

Giffords endorsed Reps. Katie Porter (Calif.), Lucy McBath (Ga.), Lauren Underwood (Ill.), Angie Craig (Minn.), Susie Lee (Nev.), Susan Wild (Penn.), Jennifer Wexton (Va.) and Kim Schrier (Wash.)

“Strong women get things done and these leaders were essential to the successful effort to get gun safety legislation through Congress,” former Rep. Giffords, founder of the organization and gun violence survivor, said in a statement. “Each has made clear that where others might waver, they will push ahead.”

These champions did not back down in the face of a gun lobby that tried to use their power and influence to block progress,” she continued. “Their arrival in Washington signaled the NRA’s ironclad grip on the House of Representatives was over.”

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Of course, I’m also quite sure there were men who also remained in lockstep with their fellow Democrats on gun control. Why aren’t they being mentioned?

Probably because it’s not really about guns or gun control. That’s just an excuse. Instead, they’re pushing identity politics by arguing that “strong women get things done.”

Which, of course, is a lie.

After all, what did these women actually accomplish? Sure, they voted for gun control measures, but just what actually got passed? Nothing. Nothing at all. If that’s “getting things done,” then Giffords has a much different definition of the term than I do.

Getting it done means you showed up and made a positive difference. That would require sitting down with Republicans and finding measures they could at least tolerate and maybe giving them a little something in return. None of these women did that.

No, they showed up with fire and brimstone and in the end accomplishing nothing.

So they went to Congress, voted on some bills that aren’t getting passed, and they’re celebrated by a national gun-control organization for that. In and of itself, that would be fine, but that’s not the only reason they’re celebrated. They’re celebrated because they hold the right opinions while also having a uterus. That’s it.

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That’s why Giffords is applauding them.

Giffords and groups like it often pretend they’re really non-partisan, that they back a position and not a party, but this should illustrate perfectly how much male bovine excrement that claim really is. They’re pushing identity politics because they know it’ll sell to their donors.

That’s all they’re about, and don’t let them say any differently.

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