To: Sen. Catherine Cortez Mast (NV-1)
Senator Reid: Remove Jon Tester as DSCC Chair
On June 20, 2016, eight days after the worst mass shooting in U.S. history, the Senate voted on a bill that would have required universal background checks on all gun sales.
Montana Senator Jon Tester (D-MT), the chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), voted against the legislation despite the fact that 74% of his constituents support universal background checks (March 2015 poll, Survey USA).
As Democrats head into a campaign season where gun violence prevention will be a prominent plank in their party platform, it is essential that their leadership send the right message to Democratic candidates and voters alike. The vote taken on June 20 by Senator Tester proves that he is not capable of doing so. His vote has damaged his party’s credibility as a champion of common-sense gun reform and he must go.
Montana Senator Jon Tester (D-MT), the chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), voted against the legislation despite the fact that 74% of his constituents support universal background checks (March 2015 poll, Survey USA).
As Democrats head into a campaign season where gun violence prevention will be a prominent plank in their party platform, it is essential that their leadership send the right message to Democratic candidates and voters alike. The vote taken on June 20 by Senator Tester proves that he is not capable of doing so. His vote has damaged his party’s credibility as a champion of common-sense gun reform and he must go.
Why is this important?
The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence has been advocating to reduce gun death and injury since 1974. In this historic moment, when we see the Democratic Party making an inspirational stand for gun reform in the House and Senate, it is critical that their leadership be out in front on this issue. Senator Tester has failed that test completely.