At gun violence hearing, Giffords calls for action; NRA stands firm

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Giffords: "Too many children are dying"

Updated: 1:41 p.m. ET

In remarks kicking off today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on gun violence, former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., made a defiant call for Congress to "be bold" and "act" on gun violence.

"Too many children are dying," she said. "We must do something."

Giffords, who survived a gunshot to the head two years ago during an assassination attempt that left six people dead, read slowly but forcefully from prepared remarks, and acknowledged that "speaking is difficult."

"But I need to say something important. Violence is a big problem," she said. "It will be hard. But the time is now. You must act. Be bold. Be courageous. Americans are counting on you."

• Transcript: Gabrielle Giffords' statement at Senate gun hearing
• Obama calls for sweeping new gun laws
• NRA vs. Giffords' husband at Senate gun control hearing

The longstanding debate over the nation's gun laws has taken on renewed resonance in recent weeks, in the aftermath of a mass shooting last month that left 20 first-graders and six adult faculty members dead at a small-town elementary school in Newtown, Conn.

Since then, Mr. Obama and Vice President Joe Biden have vowed to enact meaningful change to reduce gun violence in America, and consulted stakeholders from all sides of the debate on how best to achieve that goal. In remarks unveiling his findings from that process earlier this month, Mr. Obama proposed a series of sweeping new laws, including the reinstatement of the assault weapons ban, universal background checks on gun buyers, and a ban on high-capacity magazine ammunition.

Today's congressional hearing marks the first on gun control since President Obama's proposals, and the Senate Judiciary Committee's first legislative hearing in the new Congress.

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Mark Kelly: With gun rights come responsibilities

Testifying before the committee this morning, former astronaut Mark Kelly, Giffords' husband, made an impassioned entreaty for bipartisan action to curb gun violence. Kelly, who with Giffords recently started a PAC with that same goal, said his first priority is fixing the nation's background check system.

"The holes and our laws make a mockery of the background check system. Congress should close the private sales loophole, and the dangers people entered into that system," he said.

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Kelly: Stronger background check would have stopped Tucson shooter

Kelly also called for tougher gun trafficking laws, the removal of limitations on collecting data and scientific research on gun violence, and "a careful and civil conversation about the lethality of fire arms we permit to be legally bought and sold in this country."

He stressed that both he and Giffords are gun owners, and that they support the "right to own a firearm for protection, collection and recreation."

"Gabby and I are pro-gun ownership. But we are also anti-gun violence," he said. "When dangerous people get dangerous guns, we are all the more vulnerable."

The implementation of universal background checks is thought to be among the White House's top priorities with regard to its gun control proposals, and James Johnson, chief of police for Baltimore County, Md., and chairman of the National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence, supported the notion of its efficacy in testimony before the committee today.

"The best way to stop a bad guy from getting a gun in the first place is a good background check," Johnson said.

Johnson also said he's seen an "explosion of fire power since the assault weapons ban expired," and argued that "the ban on assault weapons, and high-capacity ammunition must be reinstated."

"Victims are being riddled with multiple gunshots," he said. "The common-sense measures we call for will not infringe on the Second Amendment rights, but will keep guns out of the dangerous hands of -- of people who are out there to commit danger in our society, and excessive firepower out of our communities."

While gun control advocates and many Democrats have applauded the White House for recent calls for action on this issue, it's unclear which of these proposals -- if any -- can make it through the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. And the pro-gun lobby has already begun using its considerable resources to target the president's proposals.

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NRA CEO: "Be honest about what works" on gun violence

Wayne LaPierre, the CEO and Executive Vice President of the NRA, made the case this morning that efforts to curb gun violence should be focused on strengthening school security and mental health resources. He also stated his opposition to closing gun show loopholes, arguing that criminals won't submit to background checks anyway. 

"The problem with gun laws is, criminals don't cooperate with them. The mentally ill don't cooperate with them," he said. "Law-abiding gun owners will not accept blame for the acts of violent or deranged criminals, nor do we believe the government should dictate what we can lawfully own and use to protect our families... We need to be honest about what works and what does not work. Proposals that would only serve to burden the law-abiding have failed in the past and will fail in the future."

Gayle Trotter, an attorney and senior fellow at the Independent Women's Forum, argued that assault weapons provide a woman with "peace of mind" -- because "knowing she has a scary looking gun gives her more courage."

"An assault weapon in the hands of a young woman defending her babies at her home becomes a defense weapon," she said.

Throughout the lengthy hearing, advocates from both sides remained adamant in defense of their views, and Democrats objected strongly to assessments by LaPierre and Trotter that background checks and stricter regulations of gun sales would do nothing to solve the problem at hand.  

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., told LaPierre that his testimony missed the point "completely" on how a universal background check would deter criminals from purchasing firearms; Kelly, meanwhile, argued that stronger background checks could have prevented his wife's shooter from acquiring his weapon. 

Later today, Giffords and Kelly will meet with Mr. Obama in a meeting closed to the press, according to White House spokesman Jay Carney.  

[HistoryNote]

The best lake fish is without a doubt - walleye - grilled on the shore at noon after the morning catch.
The best eggs for the next day are brown, stolen just after noon from a duck.
The best potato is baked hard, busted open, served with butter and horseradish.
The best fishing, is when the pike don't eat the catch hanging off the boat.

[Type_Z]

HISTORYNOTE I've seen this behavior in my relations. Midwest attitude is unfathomable. Nothing scares the Midwest folk. They will endure everything.

*******
You are on to something. This statement comes as close to a proper description of the Midwest folk. They did endure, imagine settling anywhere in the Midwest in the 1800's.

[vaoldman2]

Founding Fathers wrote the Second Amendment, at least they were smart enough to protect the people. Too bad the White House wants to destroy every one of the amendments and the people are not smart enough to see what they are doing.

[parisdakar]

That's low. Parading Giffords out to limp and slur and sob about children. That's sympathy tactics at their worst. "Too many children are dying"? No kidding, but many more kids die from disease, accidents, and a laundry list of other things. Remember who shot Giffords? A mentally ill person, same as the school shooter in Sandy Hook. That's the problem, keep guns out of the hands of the mentally ill. Address THAT and stop wasting time arguing over a few meaningless yet inflammatory words like "assault rifle" and "high capacity magazines".

[JM68]

the sympathy card is all they have

[paulfh01]

women should definitely be banned from owning automatic weapons. how many times has a man been pepper sprayed by walking into the ladies restroom by mistake?

[Type_Z]

I grew up in the Midwest. This explains quite a bit. There is a huge disconnect and misunderstanding of these types of folks. I wasn't country as these brothers on you tube. It's a great life, go to college, work hard, play hard.

[HistoryNote]

LEGALBUTUNJUST replies: Huh???

Give me a few days and I'll submit a real account about a local hockey game that recounts the local feeling of the boys in a midwest town prior to WWII.

[HistoryNote]

LEGALBUTUNJUST does it have to be a few days?

I mean, why the wait?

And what are you really talking about now? Local boys, the Midwest, hockey game, feelings before WWII?

I must say, I am confused.
------------------
I have to find it - it's not in digital form. scan it and convert it.

[HistoryNote]

Have any of you actually worked a day on a farm? Do you have any concept of why you would need to hunt to feed your family - vs going to the nearest grocery mart?

[HistoryNote]

Legal: that's a great post.

[Type_Z]

Please. Coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions, snakes ( rattle and water moccasins ), it goes on, depending where you leave.

Also you are isolated. It leaves you vulnerable to break ins and worse. Call 911 and you could have somewhat of a wait. It is the risk you take.

Also, Canadian geese and the like, will destroy crops. I lived in the country. Farmers do not kill the geese that can descend, 1000's at a time. They do shoot up and away but it works to scare the geese.

[Type_Z]

The language has changed. It's not gun control, it's "gun safety".

[HistoryNote]

It needs to change further, from gun safety, to gun accountability.

Just saying.

[Lindag20]

History: you mean like parents are responsible for what their minor children do? Gun owners would be responsible for what their gun "does". Interesting idea.

[HistoryNote]

Is there a point when gun owners will admit they have enough guns and ammo, or is gun supply a river that just keeps on flowing?

THE_RANGER_STANDS_ALONE says: A person steals guns, ....to commit crimes.
That makes sense. Which holds all gun owners responsible to secure them from being stolen.

Odds are no gun owner will admit to having a gun stolen, so naturally, there is no source.

So where do all the criminals get guns?

[HistoryNote]

RAISE YOUR HAND if you've ever had a gun stolen.

[HistoryNote]

We all have vehicles that require a yearly physical inspection. It would seem prudent for gun owners to physically produce their weapons for inspection as well.

[TimeToEvolve]

Time for the NRA to go the way of the KKK and the John Birch Society? In fact don't we wonder where all those violent, racist wackos went after they outlawed those groups?

[erasmus111]

"In fact don't we wonder where all those violent, racist wackos went after they outlawed those groups?"


Hmmmm, now that you have mentioned it, I'm thinking we should all know where they went! : )

And if those groups were outlawed, surely this group can be too? That group is almost half your population!