While the political landscape in Virginia is in earthquake mode following revelations that Democratic Attorney General candidate Jay Jones exchanged texts three years ago that then-Republican state House Speaker Todd Gilbert deserved “two bullets to the head,” Everytown for Gun Safety is lockjawed about having contributed $200,000 to Jones’ campaign in August.
According to the Washington Free Beacon, the big bucks contribution was made Aug. 26, when the billionaire-backed Everytown—the richest gun prohibition lobbying group in the nation—declared Jones to be among its “Gun Sense Candidates.” While the announcement is nowhere to be found at the Everytown website, the Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP) was smart enough to save the campaign finance report and posts it here.
The National Review reported that Jones exchanged the “disturbing” text messages on Aug. 8, 2022 shortly after resigning from the Virginia legislature. The text exchange was reportedly with Republican Delegate Carrie Coyner.
The revelation has resulted in calls for Jones to quit the campaign. Jones has issued a statement claiming to be “embarrassed, ashamed, and sorry” for his comments, but he hasn’t quit, and Everytown has yet to explain its world-class hypocrisy.
Everytown’s contribution to Jones falls within a greater context, with the announcement it is spending $1 million on advertising to support Virginia Democrat gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger in the upcoming election. Spanberger previously served in Congress as a Virginia representative. She is facing off against Virginia Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, a military veteran and pro-Second Amendment Republican who was the first woman of color elected to statewide office in the Old Dominion four years ago. She is hoping to succeed outgoing Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who cannot run for a second term under Virginia law.
The organization has a history of backing Democrats who support all manner of gun controls. Back in April, Spanberger vowed that if she is elected governor, she would sign gun control legislation, including a ban on so-called “assault weapons.”
The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported, “Spanberger stepped down from Congress in January after three terms representing the 7th Congressional District, including Spotsylvania County, where a shooting incident on Tuesday night left three people dead, several more injured and four teenagers charged in the shootings. She withheld comment until she learns more about what happened, but noted that a day earlier a gun had discharged in the backpack of an elementary school student in Spotsylvania.”
Fox News obtained the full text of Jones’ shocking message: “Three people, two bullets. Gilbert, Hitler and Pol Pot. Gilbert gets two bullets to the head.”
Back on June 26, Everytown endorsed Jones and Virginia State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, the latter for the office of lieutenant governor. In that announcement, Everytown described Jones as a “committed gun sense champion.”
Further inflaming the controversy, the Virginia Scope is now reporting that Delegate Coyner has made a new allegation about Jones regarding a “heated conversation” she had with the Democrat back in 2020 about “removing qualified immunity protections for law enforcement.” At that time, Coyner alleged, Jones suggested that if some police officers died, police would shoot fewer people.
Jones has denied this allegation. In a statement to the Virginia Scope, he reportedly said, “I did not say this. I have never believed and do not believe that any harm should come to law enforcement, period. Every single day, police officers put their lives on the line to protect our communities, and I am deeply grateful for their service and sacrifice. As Attorney General, I will work hand-in-hand with law enforcement to support their work.”
While the damage to Jones is unmistakable—Virginia Mercury columnist Bob Lewis described Jones’ remarks about Speaker Gilbert as “lurid”—Everytown has developed a serious case of lockjaw.
However, the Free Beacon is also reporting that the Brady PAC, another gun control group, issued a statement: “Violent rhetoric has no place in our political process,” but did not specifically mention Jones.
The Giffords PAC has also endorsed Jones, and that endorsement remains on the Giffords website.
Everytown was created by billionaire former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has used his wealth to support anti-gun candidates and legislation across the country. He has financially supported anti-gun-rights initiatives in Washington state.
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About Dave Workman
Dave Workman is a senior editor at TheGunMag.com and Liberty Park Press, author of multiple books on the Right to Keep & Bear Arms, and formerly an NRA-certified firearms instructor.
