Published 4:06 p.m. 09.25.2018 | Updated 9:55 a.m. 09.26.2018
The Giffords PAC, as reported by The Denver Post, intends change the ad, but not pull it off the air. "We are amending the ad, removing a name all together and making clear that it is not connected to any one incident," Giffords Executive Director Peter Ambler said in a statement. Our original story continues below.
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Congressman Mike Coffman is calling for an ad against him to be pulled, saying it uses a real-life tragedy to try to score political points.
The ad features fictional text messages between a girl and her mother, during a school shooting. It blasts Coffman for his A rating from the National Rifle Association, and the contributions the group has given him over the years.
Giffords PAC, a gun control advocacy group founded by former Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, is spending $1.5 million to air the ad in Colorado's sixth Congressional District.
"I respect Gabby Giffords, but exploiting the name and horrible death of one of our own to try to win an election is beneath basic human dignity," Coffman tweeted Tuesday.
Coffman's complaint is that the girl in the ad is identified as "Emily." He accuses the PAC of exploiting the death of 16-year-old Emily Keyes, who was killed during a hostage situation at Bailey's Platte Canyon High School in 2006. Keyes texted "I love u guys" to her family while she was being held. That specific wording does not appear in the ad.
I respect Gabby Giffords, but exploiting the name and horrible death of one of our own to try to win an election is beneath basic human dignity. I can take criticism, but this is gross. This ad should be pulled and someone should be fired.https://t.co/1VP8lVuKd6
In response to Coffman's complaint, Giffords PAC Executive Director Peter Ambler said. "While this ad was not modeled after any one individual's story, it feels all too familiar because it happens all too often. Unfortunately, there isn't any name we could have have used that wouldn't be similar to a victim somewhere given how many gun violence tragedies take place every day in our country."
