The high energy, “joy” heavy Democratic National Convention took a hard turn Thursday night into the stark testimony of victims of gun violence, tying Kamala Harris’ overarching campaign message into a plea for gun regulation.
A run of primetime speakers cast Harris as the only candidate who would take action against gun violence. Showing a clip of Harris responding to a mass shooting and using emotional first-hand accounts, Democrats highlighted an issue they believe is one of their strengths.
Rep. Lucy McBath, whose son was killed before her first run for Congress, joined victims of both mass and smaller-scale shootings. They were followed by Sen. Mark Kelly and his wife, former Rep. Gabby Giffords, who spoke about how she survived a shooting at a political event in 2011.