Drazan and Johnson Called Out for Siding with the NRA over Oregonians’ Safety
[Portland, OR] – Today at a gun violence prevention forum in Portland, Moms Demand Action founder Shannon Watts and local advocates made the case for electing Tina Kotek as Oregon’s next governor, and called out Republican Christine Drazan and conservative Betsy Johnson for repeatedly siding with the NRA over Oregonians’ safety.
In the wake of the Uvalde massacre, where 19 children and two adults were killed, Tina Kotek called for an issue-specific forum on gun violence prevention. Since then, there have been many more national traumas from gun violence, including the recent shooting at a Safeway in Bend. Despite numerous requests, neither Christine Drazan nor Betsy Johnson agreed to participate.
“Their silence is deafening, and this conversation is too important to put on hold,” said Shannon Watts.
Highlights from today’s forum include:
Jennifer Langston, a two-time survivor of gun violence, said: “It’s unconscionable that there are politicians who read the headlines, who hear our stories, and they still choose to pick politics over our lives. Christine Drazan and Betsy Johnson understand all too well the realities of gun violence but they have decided over and over again that an A rating from the NRA is more important than our safety…. Shockingly, both Christine Drazan and Betsy Johnson actually voted against the bill to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers and stalkers.”
Ella Dreke, an Oregon Students Demand Action leader, said: “This November, I’m voting like my life depends on it, and like my classmates lives depend on it, because they do. Both Christine Drazan and Betsy Johnson have A ratings from the NRA, and they have made it clear that politics means a whole lot more to them than the lives of me and my friends.”
Hilary Uhlig, a Moms Demand Action Oregon volunteer leader, said: “As a mother, Sandy Hook changed everything. To hear that after this tragedy rocked our nation, Betsy Johnson bragged to children about owning a machine gun, the same weapon that killed 20 children – quite frankly, I’m horrified…. And Christine Drazan is doubling down on her extreme position on guns: she proudly boasts her A rating from the NRA, even after the shooting in Bend.”
Tina Kotek, Democratic nominee for Governor, said: “It shouldn’t be dangerous to go to, or work at, your local grocery store. Enough is enough. When it comes to gun violence, I am the only candidate in this race who always puts people’s safety over politics.”