Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords Marks 13 Years Since Tucson Shooting
Tucson, AZ — Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords released the following statement 13 years after the Tucson shooting, where she and 18 others were shot during a “Congress on Your Corner” event. Two years after the shooting, former Congresswoman Giffords founded the gun violence prevention organization GIFFORDS, which is marking its 11th anniversary today. To remember those lost in Tucson that day, Congresswoman Giffords is attending a bell ringing at the January 8th Memorial in Tucson, and hiking the Gabe Zimmerman Trail later in the week.
Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords:
“Our lives can change so quickly. Mine did 13 years ago, when I was holding a meeting with constituents at a local Safeway in Tucson and a shooter opened fire.
“Today, I’m remembering the six people who we tragically lost that day: Christina-Taylor Green, Dorothy Morris, Judge John Roll, Phyllis Schneck, Dorwan Stoddard, and Gabe Zimmerman. My heart is also with all the survivors, whose lives, like mine, changed forever.
“In the aftermath of January 8, 2011, the Tucson community came together. I learned how to walk and talk again. I became a stronger Gabby. But two years after I was shot, another life-altering shooting occurred—this time at Sandy Hook Elementary, where 20 children and six adults were murdered. I knew there was no time to waste, and I founded GIFFORDS to save American lives from gun violence.
“Over the past 11 years, we’ve spurred the movement to save lives and take on the gun lobby. We’ve passed more than 620 gun safety laws in states across the country, but there’s still a lot of work to be done. Just like my recovery, progress happens step by step. I know that together, we can continue to save lives and end gun violence in our country.”
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