New York’s Preeminent Gun Control Leaders Endorse Aborn for DA
NEW YORK-Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy, The Million Mom March and New Yorkers Against Gun Violence today announced their endorsement of Richard Aborn for Manhattan District Attorney, praising his record of aggressive action to curtail illegal gun trafficking and pass the landmark Brady Bill.
The endorsement comes as Aborn has collected the support of the overwhelming majority of elected officials, activists, and clubs, as well as the Working Families Party and NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton.
“Richard has been with us in the trenches since day one when the fight to free our streets of guns and violence was an uphill battle and success was not obvious. An absolute champion with a proven track record, Richard will never give up because as recent events attest, we must be vigilant against gun violence. New York needs a DA who can not only keep us safe, but knows how to get things done, and I am proud to endorse Richard Aborn for Manhattan District Attorney,” said Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy.
A nationally recognized advocate for gun safety, Carolyn was elected to the US House of Representatives in 1996 and has become known as one of the most outspoken opponents of gun violence in Congress. In January of 2008, President Bush signed into law Carolyn’s bill, the National Instant Criminal Background Check Database (NICS) Improvement Amendments Act, which was the most significant gun legislation passed in over 14 years. the Attorney General for inclusion in NICS.
The Million Mom March-Manhattan is a grassroots organization united with the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. “Richard Aborn has the leadership, the vision, and the managerial talent to run the prosecutor’s office,” Marilyn Hoffman, MillionMomMarch-Manhattan coordinator, added. “As one of the most successful national advocates of gun violence prevention, Richard Aborn has a proven track record of how to lead others to reduce violent crime in our cities.”
“We need a DA who is tough on illegal guns and will fight to get guns off our streets by cutting them off at the source. Richard Aborn is a national gun control leader and a driving force behind key legislation like the Brady Bill and assault weapons ban. He has worked for years on these issues and we know he will deliver real results to keep New Yorkers safe,” added Jackie Hilly Executive Director for New Yorkers Against Gun Violence.
The support for Aborn comes as he has cleaned up in the race for endorsements. Despite being a political newcomer – and the current DA reportedly lobbying officials and clubs to support another candidate—Aborn has picked up 16 endorsements by currently elected officials, while no other candidate has more than two. The first-time candidate and national gun control leader has also been endorsed by the most political clubs, Commissioner Bill Bratton, several former candidates in the race, the Working Families Party, and others (more complete list below).
Aborn has devoted his career to innovative ways of fighting crime the right way. He started his law enforcement career prosecuting violent felonies under Robert Morgenthau. He masterminded the Brady gun control bill — and became the NRA’s worst enemy. He was a leader in the expansion of the use of DNA evidence to both convict criminals and exonerate the innocent. As the managing partner of a law firm, he has supervised scores of attorneys. And his independent investigation of the NYPD took on police misconduct and brutality.
In recent weeks, Aborn has been also endorsed by former Police Commissioner Bill Bratton; the Working Families Party; State Senators Bill Perkins, Eric Schneiderman, Jose Serrano, Daniel Squadron, and Eric Adams (also the co-founder of the city-wide group, 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care); Assembly Members Jonathan Bing, Deborah Glick, Richard Gottfried, Brian Kavanagh, Daniel O’Donnell, and Linda Rosenthal; Councilmembers Gale Brewer, Miguel Martinez, and Melissa Mark Viverito; former DA candidates Catherine Abate and Richard Davis; long-time progressive voice Katrina vanden Heuvel; and numerous political clubs.
For more information on Aborn and his surging campaign, please visit: www.abornforda.com.
