This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/30/gabrielle-giffords-gun-control-call-congress
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Gabrielle Giffords calls for gun control action: 'Too many children are dying' | Gabrielle Giffords calls for gun control action: 'Too many children are dying' |
| (30 days later) | |
| The former US congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot through the head at a public meeting with constituents in 2011, made a dramatic intervention in the gun control debate on Tuesday, calling for immediate action to stop "too many children dying". | The former US congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot through the head at a public meeting with constituents in 2011, made a dramatic intervention in the gun control debate on Tuesday, calling for immediate action to stop "too many children dying". |
| In an unannounced appearance before a Senate hearing in Washington, Giffords urged lawmakers to seize the momentum that has built up since the killing of 20 children and seven adults in the Newtown shootings in December. | In an unannounced appearance before a Senate hearing in Washington, Giffords urged lawmakers to seize the momentum that has built up since the killing of 20 children and seven adults in the Newtown shootings in December. |
| After walking gingerly into the chamber, led by her husband Mark Kelly, Giffords took her seat in front of the Senate judiciary committee to deliver a prepared statement. It was her longest and most impassioned speech since she was shot in during the Tucson shooting, which killed six and wounded 13. | After walking gingerly into the chamber, led by her husband Mark Kelly, Giffords took her seat in front of the Senate judiciary committee to deliver a prepared statement. It was her longest and most impassioned speech since she was shot in during the Tucson shooting, which killed six and wounded 13. |
| In front of a packed but hushed public gallery, Giffords told the committee in a halting voice: "Speaking is difficult. But I need to say something important. Violence is a big problem. Too many children are dying, too many children. We must do something. It will be hard, but the time is now - you must act. Be bold. Be courageous. Americans are counting on you." Giffords, who has been left partially blind, paralysed in her right arm and struggling to speak and walk, was supported by her husband who fleshed out her impassioned call for action. Kelly emphasised that both of them were gun owners: "We are simply two reasonable Americans who have said 'Enough!'" | In front of a packed but hushed public gallery, Giffords told the committee in a halting voice: "Speaking is difficult. But I need to say something important. Violence is a big problem. Too many children are dying, too many children. We must do something. It will be hard, but the time is now - you must act. Be bold. Be courageous. Americans are counting on you." Giffords, who has been left partially blind, paralysed in her right arm and struggling to speak and walk, was supported by her husband who fleshed out her impassioned call for action. Kelly emphasised that both of them were gun owners: "We are simply two reasonable Americans who have said 'Enough!'" |
| The retired astronaut pointed out that the Tucson shooter, Jared Lee Loughner, suffered from severe mental illness and yet when he was subjected to a background check at a sporting goods store no mention of his history cropped up. That was not suprising, Kelly said, as Arizona had failed to put some 121,000 records of disqualifying mental illness in Arizona into the background check database. | The retired astronaut pointed out that the Tucson shooter, Jared Lee Loughner, suffered from severe mental illness and yet when he was subjected to a background check at a sporting goods store no mention of his history cropped up. That was not suprising, Kelly said, as Arizona had failed to put some 121,000 records of disqualifying mental illness in Arizona into the background check database. |
| Kelly said that if such inadequacies and loopholes were closed, "we will prevent future gun violence. That is a fact. My wife would not have been sitting in that seat today if we had had stronger background checks." | Kelly said that if such inadequacies and loopholes were closed, "we will prevent future gun violence. That is a fact. My wife would not have been sitting in that seat today if we had had stronger background checks." |
| The senators also heard from Wayne LaPierre, the firebrand chief executive of the National Rifle Association, who came under intense questioning from Democratic members of the committee. He was forced to admit that the NRA's opposition to gun control has grown more extreme over the past 15 years. | The senators also heard from Wayne LaPierre, the firebrand chief executive of the National Rifle Association, who came under intense questioning from Democratic members of the committee. He was forced to admit that the NRA's opposition to gun control has grown more extreme over the past 15 years. |
| Under tough probing from the Democratic chairman of the committee, Patrick Leahy, LaPierre admitted that the NRA no longer supported the idea of extending federal background checks on private gun sales at gun shows. | Under tough probing from the Democratic chairman of the committee, Patrick Leahy, LaPierre admitted that the NRA no longer supported the idea of extending federal background checks on private gun sales at gun shows. |
| The NRA chief stuck to his by now familiar script. In prepared comments, he told the senators that "law-abiding gun owners will not accept blame for the acts of violent or deranged criminals". | The NRA chief stuck to his by now familiar script. In prepared comments, he told the senators that "law-abiding gun owners will not accept blame for the acts of violent or deranged criminals". |
| He also repeated his call for armed security guards to be placed in all schools as his main recommendation for preventing a repeat of the 14 December tragedy in which 20 young children and six carers were killed. "It's time to throw an immediate blanket of security around our children," he said. | He also repeated his call for armed security guards to be placed in all schools as his main recommendation for preventing a repeat of the 14 December tragedy in which 20 young children and six carers were killed. "It's time to throw an immediate blanket of security around our children," he said. |
| Later, LaPierre launched into a bizarre justification of the need to carry high-powered assault weapons. He painted a scenario following a natural disaster such as a tornado, hurricane or riot in which people feel abandoned by their government. "The only way they're going to protect themselves in the cold, in the dark, when they're vulnerable, is with a firearm," LaPierre said. | Later, LaPierre launched into a bizarre justification of the need to carry high-powered assault weapons. He painted a scenario following a natural disaster such as a tornado, hurricane or riot in which people feel abandoned by their government. "The only way they're going to protect themselves in the cold, in the dark, when they're vulnerable, is with a firearm," LaPierre said. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |