Gabby Giffords made a brief statement calling on senators to take on the issue of gun violence today at a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

TPM reports that Giffords told senators:

Thank you for inviting me here today. This is an important conversation for our children, for our communities, for Democrats and Republicans. Speaking is difficult, but I need to say something important. Violence is a big problem. Too many children are dying. Too many children. We must do something. It will be hard but the time is now. You must act. Be bold. Be courageous. Americans are counting on you. Thank you.

Giffords’ husband, retired astronaut Mark Kelly, had four suggestions for the committee:

First, fixed on background checks. Zero holes and hour laws making a mockery of the background checks in our system. Congress should close the private sales loophole and the dangers people entered into that system.

Second, remove the limitations on collecting data and conducting scientific research on gun violence.

Enact a tough federal gun trafficking statute, this is really important.

Finally, let’s have a careful and civil conversation about the lethality of firearms we permit to be legally bought and sold in this country.

This article appears in Jan 24-30, 2013.

Getting hassled by The Man Mild-mannered reporter

3 replies on “Gabby Giffords Makes Surprise Appearance at Senate Hearing on Gun Violence”

  1. Gabby is a very amazing person. The haters who have posted comments such as “it’s all for political gain” are the most short-sighted piles of guano that slither this planet. It’s not about politics with this woman anymore. It’s about an issue that was forced upon her and she’s taking action to keep others from going through the same situations. This is a woman that needs to be held in the highest regard. Inspiring!

  3. First, it was NO surprise Gabby was there, it had been touted for days…no surprise.

    Mark’s “Suggestions” are much of the same old lame talking points from the Anti’s.
    The background check “Loophole” could be fixed tomorrow, if the Feds would just allow private citizens to access the NICS System that Licensed Dealers have to now.
    It is illegal for the Government to collect some data for a good reason, registration of privately owned guns, ALWAYS leads to Confiscation, which results many times in Genocide. Done here it WOULD result in THOUSANDS of Ruby Ridge’s and Waco’s. Who wants that to happen again…?
    There is ALREADY “Tough” illegal gun Trafficking statutes on the books, how about we just ENFORCE THE LAW? The Feds go after less than 5 % of Illegal Buyer attempts.
    There is plenty of data on the “Lethality” of firearms sold in America. Police shooting data shows , (1) “Assault Weapons” are used in less than 3% of all weapon crimes and generally fire a low to medium power round, (2) the best “one-shot stopper” in a handgun is a 125grain .357 magnum JHP (3) the most “Lethal” weapon up close is a shotgun and outside, farther away is the Sniper Rifle…I mean the Dear hunting rifle.

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