Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords Remembers Victims, Survivors One Year after Shooting at Covenant School in Nashville

Washington DC — Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, founder of gun violence prevention group GIFFORDS, released the following statement honoring the victims and survivors of the mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, last year. Three children, all nine years old, and three staff members were shot and killed.

“Today, my heart is heavy as I remember the three nine-year-olds and three staff members who were shot and killed at The Covenant School last year in Nashville. I’m thinking of the children who will never grow up, the families who’ve missed their loved ones in the 365 days since, and the students who are forever traumatized. We failed our children that day, and Tennessee Republicans failed them again when they ignored the pleas for change and instead undemocratically expelled two state legislators. I promise to always stand beside survivors and fight for the safer future our children deserve.”

After the shooting, advocates and survivors, including children, marched to the Tennessee state capitol demanding legislators pass gun safety laws. In a rare and extreme move, Tennessee House Republican leadership expelled two of the three Democrat legislators, both of whom are Black, for joining the calls for action. Both legislators were reappointed by their respective city or county councils.

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