Video: Pride Fund Ad Exposes Scott Taylor Cashing NRA Check 1 Day After Parkland Shooting

October 11,  2018 — Washington, DC — Pride Fund to End Gun Violence PAC – America’s only LGBTQ political organization solely focused on gun violence prevention – today announced the release of their most recent ad titled “1 Day After” which highlights how Congressman Scott Taylor (VA-02) accepted a campaign contribution from the NRA just 1 day after the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, which left 14 students and 3 staff members dead. His acceptance of this campaign donation from the gun lobby only 1 day after such a horrific, yet preventable, tragedy symbolizes his promise to continue to do nothing to solve America’s gun violence epidemic. While our nation mourned yet another mass shooting, Congressman Taylor was busy cashing his NRA check.

Statement from Jason Lindsay, Founder & Executive Director, Pride Fund

“It is despicable that 1 day after one of our nation’s worst mass shootings, Congressman Scott Taylor (VA-02) would blatantly disrespect the grieving families and friends of the Parkland shooting and accept a blood money campaign check from the NRA. Instead of standing up as a leader and addressing the gun violence epidemic in America, he chose to prioritize the NRA, the gun lobby, and their dangerous agenda,” said Lindsay.

“That’s not the type of leader we need in Washington. We need the leadership of Elaine Luria. Elaine will use her background as a Naval Surface Warfare officer to guide her decisions about gun safety and, unlike Congressman Scott Taylor, will prioritize the safety of her constituents over the gun lobby’s blood money,” said Lindsay.

“Pride Fund is determined to see a leader in VA-02 who will stand up to the gun lobby instead of bow down to it. We are proud to release our ad, ‘1 Day After’ and encourage voters in the district to vote for Elaine Luria instead of Scott Taylor on Tuesday, November 6.”

Jason Lindsay, Founder and Executive Director, is available for interview throughout the day. Please email inquiries to press@pridefund.org.

Scott Taylor’s action was disappointing, but not surprising. Because he is beholden to the NRA and takes their campaign contributions, he stands with their dangerous, extreme agenda and refuses to support any commonsense gun reform efforts. He proudly touts his A-rating from the NRA, and even opposes such efforts as implementing universal background checks – despite the fact that 97% of Americans support this measure. Apart from his record on gun reform, Taylor has voted with Trump’s policies 98% of the time, putting him extremely out of touch with the majority of his district and Americans in general.

Scott Taylor’s opponent in the race, Elaine Luria, proves there is a better alternative. Luria has a background serving as a Naval Warfare Officer, and thus understands the destruction weapons such as the AR-15 – the gun used in the Parkland shooting – can cause. She is committed to implementing commonsense gun reforms as a way of improving public safety, which include universal background checks, funding for government research on gun violence, and an assault weapons ban. She will work tirelessly to make her district, as well as her country a safer place. She is the leader that Virginia’s second district deserves.

Video Script:

On February 14, 2018, the deadliest high school shooting
In U.S. history took place in Parkland, Florida.
The very next day,
While loved ones still were grieving and our country was mourning yet another mass shooting,
Congressman Scott Taylor cashed a blood money campaign check from the NRA, promising to push their dangerous, extreme agenda.
Scott Taylor put the gun lobby ahead of public safety.
Virginia’s 2nd district deserves better.

Paid for by Pride Fund to End Gun Violence PAC,

Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

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Pride Fund to End Gun Violence (“Pride Fund”) is the only national LGBTQ political organization focused solely on gun violence prevention. Pride Fund was founded by Jason Lindsay, a gay Iraq War veteran, in the days following the June 2016 mass shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. When it occurred, the Pulse nightclub shooting was the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. Pride Fund supports sensible gun policy reforms while championing LGBTQ safety and equality by advocating for legislation and supporting candidates at the state and federal levels.