Everytown, Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action Applaud Confirmation of Judge Jackson to the Supreme Court

Today, Everytown for Gun Safety and its grassroots arms Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action applauded the bipartisan confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to fill the Supreme Court vacancy left by retiring Associate Justice Stephen Breyer. Justice Jackson becomes first Black woman confirmed to the Supreme Court, following through on President Joe Biden’s campaign promise. 

“Judge Jackson is eminently qualified, and we fully expect her to employ a mainstream, commonsense reading of the Second Amendment,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “We applaud President Biden for nominating the first Black woman to the Supreme Court, we commend Chairman Durbin for guiding her confirmation, and we congratulate Judge Jackson and her family on this historic occasion.”

“The confirmation of Judge Jackson to the Supreme Court is a historic moment shattering a glass ceiling that has existed for far too long in this country,” said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action. “At a time when gun violence is killing 110 people every day and wounding hundreds more, we’re confident Judge Jackson will determine that commonsense gun safety laws are constitutional and our grassroots army of volunteers was proud to support her confirmation.”

“Judge Jackson’s confirmation to the Supreme Court offers the movement for common sense gun laws an incredible opportunity,” said Jayla Hemphill, a first year student at Carnegie Mellon University and member of the  Students Demand Action National Advisory Board. “Black women in the United States are overrepresented in gun violence statistics and incredibly underrepresented in courts of law. ⁠Justice Jackson’s confirmation helps move us toward a Court that looks like America.”

The Biden-Harris Administration has been the strongest gun safety administration in American history. From President Biden’s historic executive actions to address gun violence, his long record of taking on the NRA and passing life-saving laws, Vice President Kamala Harris’ years of gun safety advocacy, and the unmatched gun sense cabinet they have built, they have demonstrated a deep commitment to gun safety. 

President Biden has prioritized gun safety since entering office, from combating deadly, untraceable ghost guns, to the Department of Justice’s development of a strategy on reducing violent crime and a new, annual comprehensive report on firearms trafficking, to the new comprehensive strategy to address gun violence that includes efforts to fight gun trafficking, investments in community violence intervention programs, and more. Last month, he signed the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which included NICS denial notification to strengthen the background check system. Also in March, the White House budget request included historic investments in community violence intervention and increased ATF’s budget to help them enforce the gun laws already on the books. His administration’s Build Back Better Act, which passed the House in November, included a historic $5 billion investment in community violence intervention programs focused on preventing gun violence. Also in November, the Biden White House announced a slate of executive actions aimed at promoting secure storage to reduce firearm suicides.