giffords brady covid PPP money

By Larry Keane

Gun control activists are lining their pockets with taxpayer-funded coronavirus economic relief while at the same time paying millions to antigun candidates who would crush the Second Amendment rights of American citizens.

The difficulty is deciding which is more infuriating, the wanton abuse of taxpayer-funded support for small businesses or the audacity of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence and Giffords: Courage to Fight Gun Violence co-founders former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and her husband and Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate from Arizona, Mark Kelly.

Brady netted between $350,000 and $1 million, while Giffords grabbed between $150,000-$350,000. At the same time, Brady pledged $4 million for gun control in the 2020 election, and Giffords just announced a plan to spend $1.25 million in Colorado alone to support former Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper in his race against Republican U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner.

Since the coronavirus shutdowns began, background checks for gun sales skyrocketed to 5.4 million in the second quarter. NSSF estimated nearly 2.5 million are first-time buyers. At the same time, Brady solicitations for donations have been nonstop and Giffords spokesperson David Chipman has made multiple media appearances denigrating gun buyers. 

Tax Dollars

American small businesses have done their best to navigate the unprecedented hardships caused by the coronavirus pandemic. A near economic stall-out means millions have been temporarily laid off as businesses large and small shuttered.

The firearm industry was hit as well, but most states followed Department of Homeland Security guidance deeming firearm-related businesses “essential” and, therefore, open. This was significant, as gun manufacturers, distributors and retailers employ more than 330,000 Americans and every employee has been critical during these uncertain times.

To help bridge the troubled waters for businesses, Congress passed the CARES Act, which provided Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for employers to keep workers on their payroll. Watchdogs have zeroed in on companies that received loans but could’ve gone without them.

Brady and Giffords are using taxpayer dollars to keep their operations afloat, while spending millions to buy the gun control candidates they want, including Mark Kelly. Because money is fungible, American taxpayers are underwriting gun control organizations and their efforts to infringe on the Second Amendment rights of those taxpayers.

When asked about receiving PPP loans, Brady’s spokesman told the Washington Free Beacon, “We just applied and were approved, obviously, under the same sort of criteria as others with concerns for payroll.”

Industry Real Solutions

Through the difficult early months of 2020, the firearm industry has endured. Americans of all backgrounds and across party lines decided to take their safety and the protection of their families and property into their own hands. Local law enforcement has been stretched thin already throughout the coronavirus pandemic and now faces calls to defund police departments. Riots and looting broke out in cities across the country. Criminals were released from jails – and many quickly committed horrific crimes, including murdering children.

Firearm manufactures and retailers have kept Americans safe by providing important information and resources to gun buyers. Shooting ranges give gun owners opportunities to safely learn how to use their firearms and practice marksmanship. Industry employees supported each other and their communities.

The firearm industry will continue emphasizing efforts that have real impact on communities across the country. From Real Solutions and the problems of criminal and negligent misuse of firearms to #GUNVOTE voter-education resources, the industry’s focus will remain on being responsible and safe stewards of firearm ownership and use, while also protecting taxpayer dollars in the process.

 

Larry Keane is SVP for Government and Public Affairs, Assistant Secretary and General Counsel of the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

 

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13 COMMENTS

    • It’s no different because Jim Brady was used as a prop by his wife in the same manner. Gabbi Giffords is disabled but her husband is the real turnip of the two. This is the same idiot who spent his own money to prove how easy it was to buy an AR, then turned it in to the police because he didn’t want it.
      Mark Kelly has a smarter twin brother who doesn’t get involved with drama. Wondering why the big difference as it’s obviously not genetic.

      • “This is the same idiot who spent his own money to prove how easy it was to buy an AR, then turned it in to the police because he didn’t want it.”

        That wasn’t stupidity, in was a confession of a felony crime by lying on the 4473 as to who the gun was for…

  2. It would also speak better of the NSSF, if they didn’t join in with the civilian disarmament groups in aiding them in infringement of Americans second amendment rights.

  3. Dear Mark and Gabby,

    I know you think you are doing something honorable being Gun Control Zealots and all. However Gun Control is clearly rooted in racism and genocide. That makes your beloved gun control a rock solid Racist and Nazi based agenda. There is no way for you to justify your demonic agenda. Your time would be better spent leaving the rights of law abiding citizens alone and focusing on the criminal misuse of firearms.

    Sincerely,
    Debbie W.

    • +100
      do not forget Marks straw buy of an AR15 to give to the local police dept.

  4. Well, they’ve been grabbing so much Bloombag and George Sor@ss money that grabbing some taxpayer money was a refreshing change of pace.

    • Yeah, fine, but as gun grabbers they are certainly entitled to their share of gun grabber free money. However, how the hell do they qualify as a “small business”? Isn’t this supposed to be a nonprofit? Who authorized *MY* money to be given to these charlatans?

  5. Although I loathe these people so much that actual flames come out of my head when I see their names in print, I have to give them a pass–simply because what they are doing is legal, because idiots in Government in their zeal to give away trillions say that they are somehow entitled to the funds. If a homeless drug-addicted syphilitic child-molester can get put up for free in a nice hotel in California at taxpayer expense, and provided alcohol, tobacco, and drugs along with free food also at taxpayer expense, why in the world is it not OK for the Giffords and their ilk (who, to my knowledge, are NOT in fact homeless) to take in free taxpayer money that your (and my) Government says that they can have?

    /sarc,

  6. The list of atheists, jews, and christians that got federal money is also very interesting. /sarc

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