Gabrielle Giffords Statement on the Shooting in El Paso

August 3, 2019 — Multiple people have been killed and others wounded in a mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas. The mass shooting comes days after two people were shot and killed in a Southhaven, Mississippi, Walmart, three people were killed and 12 others wounded by an active shooter at the Gilroy Garlic Festival in northern California, and one man was killed and 11 others injured, when two gunmen opened fire at Brownsville, Brooklyn, block party attended by thousands last Saturday night.

Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords issued the following statement:

“Our families should not be afraid to run errands on a Saturday afternoon. We should not be afraid to attend festivals or block parties or concerts. We should not be afraid to worship or to go to school. But that’s not the America we’re living in today. We can change this, but first our lawmakers must take action to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people.

“My heart is with the victims, their families, and the entire El Paso community. No community should have to reckon with a tragedy of this scale. The reality that it keeps happening is horrifying. It’s heartbreaking, but we must remember it’s not inevitable. The fact that our nation’s leaders continue to fail to protect us should outrage us all. It’s time to bring this crisis to an end. The time for action is now.”