Everytown Victory Fund Unveils New Direct Mail Penned by Iowa Gun Owner and Essential Health Care Worker

The letter – the first of its kind in Iowa – is written by Erica Fletcher, an essential health care worker, gun owner, twice-deployed army veteran, and Moms Demand Action volunteer

The Direct Mail Piece is Part of Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and Victory Fund’s $400,000 Direct Mail Campaign Primarily Targeting Republicans in the Iowa State House for Their Inaction on Gun Violence 

Voter Research Shows Iowans support Stronger Gun Laws by a 3:1 Margin, and 75% of Voters Consider A Candidate’s Position On Guns “Very Important” To Their Vote In 2020

DES MOINES, Iowa – Today, as part of a $400,000 direct mail program in collaboration with Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund, Everytown for Gun Safety Victory Fund, unveiled a new direct mail piece in the form of a personal letter penned by Iowa gun owner and essential health care worker, Erica Fletcher, urging voters to oppose Republicans for Iowa State House who oppose common-sense gun safety measures, after yet another year of inaction on gun violence. Everytown is spending more than $800,000 in digital ads and direct mail to flip the Iowa state House to a gun sense majority. 

Read the full letter HERE.

In the letter, Fletcher – also a twice-deployed army veteran – talks about her time on the frontlines of the pandemic and shares her worries as a mother of small children living in a state where gun violence is getting worse and worse. Fletcher explains why voters can’t trust Republicans in the state legislature to protect them from gun violence after they passed a bill to weaken gun laws and allow guns in any public building in Iowa – instead of putting the focus on providing funding and PPE for health care workers. She writes, “I thought to myself, ‘Why are Republican legislators more worried about letting guns into my library than getting me a mask during a pandemic?’” 

“Between weakening gun laws and failing to provide health care workers with much-needed support, Iowa’s Republican leaders have made it crystal clear they don’t consider public safety or public health top priorities,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “Everytown is working all-out to mobilize the majority of Iowans looking for leaders who will buck the gun lobby and pass common-sense gun laws.”

“Iowa Republicans are not looking out for us — instead, they continue to side with the gun lobby and special interests over our safety, health, and security,” said Fletcher. “My hope is that this letter will help my fellow Iowan voters understand what is at stake for my family and theirs in this election – and how their vote can make a real difference in creating a safer Iowa for all of us.” 

January polling from Everytown found that the majority of voters in Iowa support stronger gun safety laws showing that:

• Voters in Iowa support stronger gun laws by a 3:1 margin 
• 75% of voters consider a candidate’s position on guns “very important” to their vote in 2020
• A majority of voters, including 70% of Republican women, say they would never vote for a candidate who doesn’t support background checks on all gun sales, and opposing background checks on all gun sales was the most disqualifying candidate position among suburban women by a six-point margin
• 75% of voters surveyed support enacting a red flag law, also known as an extreme risk law, including 93% of suburban women and 91% of undecided voters 

This year, Everytown for Gun Safety Victory Fund and Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund  will spend $60 million on the 2020 elections, doubling what they spent during the 2018 elections.