Giffords Reacts to Failure of Arizona School Safety Plan
May 4, 2018 — Giffords, the gun safety organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and Captain Mark Kelly, released the following statement in response to the defeat of the NRA-backed bill, SB 1519, Governor Ducey’s plan to address gun violence and school safety in Arizona.
Peter Ambler, Giffords Executive Director:
“Arizonans made it clear they wanted to see movement on the issue of gun safety. Instead of responding to their calls, Governor Ducey chose to craft his proposal behind closed doors with the help of the gun lobby–refusing to take into account the priorities of the students, families and communities of Arizona committed to public safety.
“We hope Governor Ducey recognizes he must work with both Democrats and Republicans to pass legislation that will protect Arizona kids and communities from gun violence. Other states are making strides in implementing meaningful gun safety laws, and we hope Arizona will follow suit. We are ready to work with Governor Ducey to improve the safety of all Arizonans with strong bipartisan solutions.”
Important policies that could help prevent the next mass shooting in Arizona, include:
- Extreme Risk Protection Orders: Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) laws enable law enforcement and families to petition a court for an order temporarily prohibiting a person from purchasing or possessing firearms. These orders are sought when a person demonstrates behaviors that indicate pose a significant danger to themselves or others. ERPO laws are exactly the type of policy that could help people struggling in crisis, including the shooter in Parkland, Florida, as the shooter’s classmates, teachers, family members, and law enforcement officers appear to have been aware that he was exhibiting clear warning signs of dangerousness.
- Expanding Background Checks: There is no gap more glaring in our gun laws than the federal background checks law, which allows felons, domestic abusers, and the dangerously mentally ill to purchase firearms at gun shows and online without undergoing a background check. In states that require background checks for all handgun sales 47% fewer women are shot to death by their intimate partners, there are 47% fewer firearm suicides, and 53% fewer law enforcement officers are shot to death by handguns.
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