Progressive PACs target NRA friendly politicians

The new billboard outside of Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan's office

The new billboard outside of Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan’s office

This is where advertising makes a positive impact on lives.

Inspired by the critically-acclaimed and award-winning film, Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing Missouri, Progressive Turnout Project, a Democratic political action committee, launched a OOH campaign demanding stricter gun control laws and specifically called out House Speaker Paul Ryan for not proposing legislation.

According to their website, “Progressive Turnout Project is a grassroots-funded Political Action Committee with a single mission: get Democrats to the polls.”

Today, the organization sent a message to Congressman Ryan on a digital billboard outside of his office in Janesville, WI, that reads, “17 killed in their classrooms. Still no gun reform? How come, Paul Ryan?”

Click image to view larger size
Click image to view larger size

Ryan is one of several GOP members of Congress facing backlash for pushing aside gun control legislation while accepting donations from the National Rifle Association, a revelation brought to light after last week’s mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., that left 17 people, including 14 students, dead.

According to a two-page ad taken out by Every town for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America in The New York Times today, Ryan has accepted $61,401 in funding from the NRA.

Progressive Turnout Project further points out that Ryan received an “A+ rating” and endorsement from the NRA in the 2016 election cycle.

Progressive Turnout Project founder Harry Pascal published the following analysis in a recent statement,

“Gun violence is an epidemic in this country, and as Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan has repeatedly done nothing to address it. Rather than addressing the millions of Americans who are demanding action on gun reform, Paul Ryan and Republicans in Congress continue to serve at the will of the NRA and put campaign contributions before the lives of Americans. It’s time we call attention to that and hold them accountable for their actions.”

This is not the first-time Ryan has seen his face on a billboard. In early 2017, a group called Stop the Speaker PAC, ran a similar ad that called him out for not scheduling a town hall meeting to address his constituents.

Also in Florida, Activist group Avaaz used a similar method to call out Florida Sen. Marco Rubio with three billboards that read, “Slaughtering in school and still no gun control? How come, Marco Rubio?” according to The Hill.

Will the protests of students, who staged a “lie-in” Monday at the White House, or new pleas work? Only time will tell. Yesterday, the Florida house rejected talks on weapons ban.

 
Contact Colin Costello at colin@reelchicago.com or follow him on Twitter @colincostello10.