Top San Diego Gun Violence Prevention Leader Earns Early Endorsement from National Gun Violence Prevention Organization
Today, Brady PAC, the political arm of the Brady Campaign, endorsed Marni von Wilpert for election to California’s 40th State Senate District. Marni von Wilpert has emerged as a strong leader in the fight against ghost guns, untraceable, unserialized firearms that have flooded communities and fueled a rise in gun violence across the country,
As a San Diego City Councilmember, von Wilpert authored and passed one of California’s strongest local ordinances to stop the proliferation of these deadly weapons, known as the ENUF (Eliminate Non-Serialized Untraceable Firearm) ordinance. Her leadership quickly became a model for cities across the country.
In addition to her work on ghost guns, von Wilpert has urged the use of extreme risk protection orders, secured funding for community violence intervention (CVI) programs, and she has worked to make public safety more equitable across San Diego. Just recently, she led on the Ira Sharp Firearm Dealer Accountability Act, one of the first local ordinances to ensure that taxpayer funds are only used to purchase firearms and firearm accessories from responsible gun industry members.
Brady’s endorsement of von Wilpert was celebrated by local youth leaders on the front lines of gun violence prevention including San Diego native Stephan Abrams, a leader of Brady’s Team ENOUGH youth program. “Young people in San Diego have been forced to live with the trauma and threat of gun violence for far too long, especially from ghost guns showing up in our neighborhoods. Marni von Wilpert didn’t wait for someone else to act, she immediately stepped up. I was given the chance to see up close how she has coordinated with local leaders to deliver on behalf of San Diegans and she demonstrates what it truly means to be a public servant. She listened to us, fought for us, and most importantly, Marni delivered. We need her voice in the State Senate,” said Abrams.
“Marni von Wilpert has been a phenomenal leader in addressing the ghost gun crisis and gun violence as a whole. While many leaders talk about the epidemic of gun violence, Marni has consistently taken bold and decisive action that saved countless lives. That’s the level of courage that Californians need and deserve in Sacramento and that’s why Brady PAC and the Brady Campaign are proud to endorse Marni von Wilpert for Senate,” said Ashley Lantz, executive director of Brady PAC.
In response to the endorsement, Marni von Wilpert said: “I’m honored to be the choice of Brady PAC and the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. When it comes to public safety, I don’t wait for Sacramento or Washington to act – I teamed up with Brady, local police, and families fed up with senseless gun violence to pass California’s first law banning dangerous, untraceable ghost guns. In the State Senate, I’ll keep fighting for commonsense gun laws that save lives, help police reduce crime and keep our neighborhoods safe. “
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Brady PAC is dedicated to a singular goal: freeing America from gun violence by supporting and investing in candidates who are committed to enacting, improving, and defending Gun Violence Prevention (GVP) policies across the country. It upholds the policy ideals championed by its sister organization – one of the nation’s oldest GVP grassroots advocacy organizations.
