15 years after Giffords shooting, Democrats call for gun measures

House Democrats, joined by former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, marked 15 years since the deadly mass shooting near Tucson that ended her political career with a renewed call to end gun violence with legislative action.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, used the occasion on Jan. 8 to promise Democrats would pursue a ban on assault weapons and require background checks for gun sales that don’t currently receive them.

“House Democrats stand with Gabby and with all Americans who say enough is enough,” Jeffries said.

Giffords and her husband, U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Arizona, sat near him.

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“Enough with the gun violence epidemic being the leading cause of death for the children of this country. Enough with mass shootings being as frequent as the common cold.”

With few Republicans seated alongside the Democratic contingent, the message seemed to land more as a partisan wedge issue than a moment of unity with a former colleague.

Giffords did not speak during the congressional observance, but in an op-ed in The Arizona Republic she recounted being shot in the head at a constituent event at a Safeway near Tucson. In a matter of seconds, a mentally disturbed gunman killed six people and wounded 13 others, including his prime target, Giffords.

“Fifteen years later, this day remains painful,” Giffords wrote. “But I channel my grief into our ongoing fight to stop other people from being shot, to end this nation’s gun violence epidemic. On this January 8th, I urge us to honor the victims by focusing on their enduring legacies, and by recognizing the Arizonans who make our state such a special place to call home — often regular people who go the extra mile to help others.”

She also posted a video on social media that outlined her painstaking recovery and her hope that lawmakers could enact gun safety measures to avert similar tragedies.

Seated directly behind Giffords were the state’s three Democratic representatives — Adelita Grijalva, Greg Stanton and Yassamin Ansari — as well as Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-California, and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Florida.

Six people died in the Jan. 8, 2011, shooting: U.S. District Judge John Roll, who was 63; Gabe Zimmerman, 30, a community-outreach director for Giffords’ office; 9-year-old Christina-Taylor Green, who was visiting the event with a family friend; Dorwan Stoddard, 76, who died protecting his wife; Dorothy Morris, a 76-year-old retiree, mother and grandmother; and 79-year-old Phyllis Schneck, a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and Republican who loved Giffords.

Thirteen people, including Giffords and two of her staff members, were injured in the shooting. Giffords was the most seriously wounded. She was shot through the left side of her head.

The gunman, Jared Loughner, was later diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. He was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole for the massacre.

Giffords spent a year recovering from her injuries and resigned her seat in Congress in January 2012. After leaving Congress, Giffords and Kelly started the gun safety advocacy organization that bears her name, Giffords.

Jeffries said the issue of gun violence remains a priority among fellow Democrats.

“Breaking the devastating cycle of gun violence that has a chokehold on this country is one of our caucus’ highest priorities, and will be a high-priority issue when we take back control of the majority after the November election,” he said.

“Democrats are continuing to maintain our commitment to keep everyday Americans safe from the scourge of gun violence.”

He said the party would, for example, provide funding for intervention programs and research the subject of gun violence.

Reporting by Ronald J. Hansen, Arizona Republic