Politics

Rep Calls For Action On Gun Control, Proceeds To Skip Gun Control Event For Fundraiser

REUTERS/Jason Reed.

Alex Pfeiffer White House Correspondent
Font Size:

Democratic Illinois Rep. Tammy Duckworth is one of the loudest voices in favor of gun control but was not present for a “National Day of Action” rally in Chicago Wednesday. She was instead at a fundraiser hosted at a Dallas mansion.

“My constituents deserve a vote on #gunviolence—on the #NationalDayofAction Congress should #DisarmHate,” Duckworth tweeted out Wednesday. Duckworth is currently the Democratic nominee in Illinois’ senate race and is running against Republican Sen. Mark Kirk.

The National Day of Action events were hosted by House Democrats across the nation Wednesday. “Tomorrow, listen to the stories of the families who have lost loved ones to gun violence,” House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said in a statement Tuesday. “Listen to the heartbreak that ripples through a community with each gun death.”

Chicago held a Wednesday rally attended by five Illinois Democratic representatives.

Duckworth’s district encompasses suburbs of Chicago but she was not present at the event. Instead, Duckworth was at a Wednesday afternoon reception held for her by the Dallas County Democratic Party at the Belo Mansion & Pavilion. The description of the event states that a donation was required to attend. Dallas County Democratic Party precinct chairs were able to pay just $50 and event sponsorship levels ranged from “copper” at $250 and “platinum” at $2700.

The Belo Mansion is a catering venue which describes itself as “perfect for upscale, seated events.” The event was hosted and sponsored by former state and federal lawmakers and local attorneys.

Screengrab Facebook

Screengrab Facebook

One attendee, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, tweeted out a photo of Rep. Duckworth and called her a “true hero.”

Screengrab Twitter

Screengrab Twitter

Duckworth has been criticized before for a lack of devotion to the gun control cause.

Former Chicago Urban League CEO Andrea Zopp, who ran against Duckworth in the primary for this Senate race, said at a Chicago Sun-Times editorial board endorsement session that, “the only time she got interested in gun violence was when she decided that she was running for the U.S. Senate.”

Duckworth’s House office did not respond to The Daily Caller about why she skipped the National Day of Action event. Fellow Illinois congressmen Robin Kelly, Jan Schakowsky, Danny Davis, Bill Foster and Mike Quigle were at the Chicago run control rally.

“Duckworth has been ranked as one of the nation’s least effective lawmakers.  It seems clear she is working hard to maintain that ranking.”Kevin Artl, Sen. Kirk’s campaign manager, told The Daily Caller.