Mark Kelly's purchase of rifle draws criticism

Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, left, shouts "fight, fight, fight" as she and husband, Mark Kelly, pump their fists together as they returned to the site of a shooting that left Giffords critically wounded on Wednesday, March 6, 2013, in Tucson, Ariz. Giffords urged senators to pass background checks for gun purchases. / AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

PHOENIX The husband of former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords generated nearly 4,000 comments on Facebook from people on both sides of the gun debate after he posted a photo of himself buying a military-style rifle — a purchase he made to demonstrate how easy it is to obtain the kind of firearms he's lobbying Congress to ban.

A background check took only a matter of minutes to complete, Mark Kelly said in the Facebook post, adding that it's scary to think people can buy similar guns without background checks at gun shows or on the Internet.

It didn't take long for gun-rights supporters to accuse Kelly of being a hypocrite for buying an AR-15-style rifle and a 45.-caliber handgun. Many of the Facebook comments focused on his motivations and the rules for purchasing such guns.

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Kelly and Giffords started a gun control advocacy group, Americans for Responsible Solutions, amid the wave of recent mass shootings. They have been touring the country in recent months in support of expanded background checks for gun purchases.

Kelly bought the guns at a Tucson shop the day before he appeared with his wife at the supermarket where she was wounded during a shooting rampage that left six dead and 12 others injured two years ago.

The public event last week was the first time the survivors had come together since the January 2011 shooting.

Giffords resigned from Congress last year as she continues to recover from her injuries.

The AR-15 is among 157 military-style weapons that would be banned under a bill pending before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. Kelly, a former astronaut, said he intends to eventually hand in the rifle to Tucson police.

Doug MacKinlay is the owner of Diamondback Police Supply, the shop where Kelly bought the guns. He said Kelly bought the rifle on March 5 but couldn't immediately take possession of it because the shop had bought it from a customer. As a result, the store is required by a Tucson ordinance to hold the gun for 20 days to give the city enough time to make sure the weapon wasn't used in a crime, MacKinlay said.

MacKinlay said Kelly never revealed to the store's staff why he was buying the guns and added that it would be wrong to refuse to sell a gun to someone because of their personal views.

"He is a U.S. citizen, an Arizona citizen and expressing his Second Amendment right to purchase and own a firearm," MacKinlay said.

Todd Rathner, a lobbyist for the National Rifle Association's affiliate in Arizona and a national NRA board member, questioned the point that Kelly was trying to make in buying the guns, saying a model citizen such as Kelly should be able to buy a gun relatively quickly. He also noted that such a purchase could have been a good investment as the value of those types of weapon soars amid heightened demand from gun owners.

"If you believe him, it's a cheap publicity stunt," Rathner said. "If you don't, then he was speculating on the value of the rifle because he knew the prices would be inflated."

The advocacy group started by Giffords and Kelly had no immediate comment Tuesday on Kelly's gun buys.

But the group released a statement from Kelly on the Senate Judiciary Committee's approval Tuesday of a proposal to expand federal firearms background checks to nearly all gun purchases. Kelly said the 10-8 vote was a huge step in keeping guns out of the hands of criminals and mentally ill people. Kelly's statement didn't address the controversy over his own gun buys.

Kelly, a former astronaut who plans to keep the handgun, told CNN on Monday that it was important for him to have firsthand information on the ease of buying guns such as the AR-15 and that he looks forward to buying a firearm at a gun show in the future. Kelly and Giffords have long been supporters of gun rights and owned handguns themselves.

[dsjones26]

You Gun Pro NRA types need to have a wake up call. If you folks really think it's ALL about the 2nd Amendment then consider this your wake up call. It has been since the beginning all about the MONEY. Money coming pouring in by people joining the NRA, money the NRA takes in for their lobbying efforts, the money that is lining their pockets as board members of these gun manufactures and the money that the GOP gets from these same people. Plus the money these gun manufactures rake in for their weapons. It was never about the right to bear arms - a shotgun or pistol works much better than an assault weapon with a 100 round drumroll clip could ever do. Ask yourself this question - if you can accept the fact that the FEDS already limit your right to bear arms - (can't have a machine gun/pistol, bazookas, land mines, RPG, etc.) then taking away assault weapons & the huge banana clips should be no big deal. The FED already limits free speech - can't yell fire in a crowed theater or tells lies about somebody or company - and you are okay with that. If so then get a grip and stop buying into the NRA Kool-Aid. Aren't you a bit astonished that a private organization has more power over Congress than voters and writes laws so their "sold out to the highest bidder" Senator/Congressman will do their bidding. Wake up and see what these folks had done to pull the wool over your eyes. Or have you drank the Kool-Air already?

[Lawico]

"a shotgun or pistol works much better than an assault weapon with a 100 round drumroll clip could ever do" this quote right here just shows how little you know about firearms. a shot gun only can hold any where from 1-9 shells, most holding only 3. and depending on the ammunition, could be very difficult for a smaller person or a less experienced person to use, and especially slow to reload. a pistol requires a certain amount of skill and training in order for it to be effective during high stress situations any one can stand and shoot a target from 10 yards away, most can't hit a moving target, especially with adrenaline pumping. Rifle is generally a best best, as it is very simple to use (like a pistol) very easy to aim (like a shot gun, and unlike a pistol) very little recoil (unlike both shotgun and pistol) and has a STANDARD magazine size of 30 rounds (unlike pistol or shotgun). and the NRA is no pulling the wool over anyone's eyes they make it very obvious what they do with membership money, they LOBBY! that's what we ask them to do. if the senator/congressman can be persuaded by a little bit of "fundraising" then its better that we be on the side that "fund-raises" more. plus for most people, its not about supporting the NRA, i personally do it for the free liability insurance that they give you in case of an accident, i am more than willing to pay the $25 a year for that!

[mark648]

This just illustrates just how blatantly stupid Liberals are. By AZ law, when (and I might add IF) Kelly turns his AR-15 into the police they are required to sell it to a licensed gun dealer, who will in turn sell it to some civilian. Kelly could accomplish the same thing by returning it to the store from which he got it and then he would be getting his money back. Another indication he was caught being, as Liberals are wont, a hypocrite.

[Larry1355]

Let me know where the police take it to, I'd like to get a better deal on the used gun than Kelly did. After he waits the 20 days and shows just how easy it was to buy? Buy the way Mr. Kelly do you buy it for you or someone else? If you bought it for the police you lied of a Federal Form and you might go to jail for that. If your wife gives you permission!

[F0X_PARR0TS_LIE]

He has publicy stated that he is giving up his guns

[mark648]

Only after he was exposed

[AOCGUY]

Nope, he publically stated he is giving up the AR-15

[pt100455]

My apologies EVERYTHING...---my comment was intended for:
TATER-SALAD!

[DowntownDB]

Kelly was caught buying a gun he intended to keep. If he was trying to expose the system he would have:
1. Announced the purchase at the event the next day.
2. Done this in conjunction with a reporter.
3. Used a hidden camera.
4. Bought a Bushmaster M4 as was used at Sandy Hook.
5. Bought a new rifle he could have taken out that day.
He's shown that he will lie to cover his A$$. Shameful.

[cpmp08]

I'm sure that Kelly and Gifford and very familiar with AZ gun laws, so what exactly was he testing??? It's very possible that the guns they previously owned were purchased in AZ, so again what was he testing??? I think he just wanted an AR to fit in with all the guys, lol

[sling438]

Umm, yeah. Why the need to "test" the system if he's already bought guns? Sounds like he just got caught by the press wanting something for himself that he doesn't think anyone else is qualified to own.

[Tater-salad]

This guy is so full of bologna. I just don't believe him; I think he was purchasing the rifle for his own use. Otherwise, he could see "what it takes to buy one" when he bought his 45 pistol and maybe asking the guy behind the counter one or two questions. I'm a reasonable man, and that's what I'd have done. Don't let this politically motivated weasel kid you.

[endpcnow]

Soooooo . . . . no laws were broken, and he exercised his second amendment rights????? ***?????? Why is this news?????? The liberal media is standing tall again, providing unthinking sheep all the info they need just the way they want it.

In other news . . . water is STILL wet.

[CopontheBeat]

He should have gone to a gun show, and bought the rifle from a private seller -- WITHOUT A BACKGROUND CHECK. THAT would have been a news story. This AIN'T a story!

[rocketjl]

Actually, I never knew it would be that hard to buy a rifle like that. If he was going to have to wait so long to get his purchase, he should have gone to another state, where buying may be easier.

[seabass6251]

An AZ resident can only legalling purchase firearms from other AZ residents or AZ dealers. Going out of state is pointless.