Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and Captain Mark Kelly Applaud the President’s Latest Steps to Help Keep Guns Out of the Wrong Hands & Reduce Gun Tragedies
April 29, 2016 – Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and Navy combat veteran and retired NASA astronaut Capt. Mark Kelly, the Co-Founders of the national gun violence prevention organization Americans for Responsible Solutions, today applauded President Obama following the announcement that his Administration is taking additional continued steps to keep guns out of the wrong hands and reduce gun tragedies, including accelerating the development of smart gun technology and convening state and local elected officials, including governors, attorneys general, state legislators, and city and county officials, who have been leaders in the fight to save lives from gun violence and to address the lethal nexus of access to firearms and domestic abuse.
“We applaud the President for once again acting within his authority to keep guns out of the wrong hands. Roughly thirty-three thousand Americans are killed with a gun every year, and Congress has done something remarkable in response: nothing at all. Building on the badly-needed steps taken this January, the Administration continues to lead in the fight to keep guns out of the wrong hands and make our communities safer place to live,” said Congresswoman Giffords and Captain Kelly. “Advancements in firearms technology can help provide gun owners a better product and a safer user experience, but shockingly the gun lobby has actively opposed the development and introduction of new technology, denying responsible American gun owners valuable consumer choices. The Administration’s action will help speed innovation in firearms technology, which will ultimately benefit gun owners and reduce gun violence. Additionally, we are thrilled to see the White House convene leaders from all 50 states, so we can all work together – at every level of government – to keep guns out of the hands of people who shouldn’t have them and save lives.”
Congresswoman Giffords, Captain Kelly, and Americans for Responsible Solutions helped lead the charge for the Administration’s actions to reduce gun violence in January 2016, and met several times with President Obama and administration officials in 2014 and 2015 to advocate for these steps. Together with the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, Americans for Responsible Solutions and the Law Center are leading the way in a 50-state approach to helping enact stronger gun laws that keep guns out of the wrong hands and save lives.