Former Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords today announced a new advocacy group that will focus on reducing gun violence in New Hampshire. The group will push for tighter restrictions on who can buy guns.
The group is called the Granite State Coalition for Common Sense and counts among its members familiar political faces like former House Speaker Terie Norelli, and former First Lady Susan Lynch, as well as a number of law enforcement officials.
Giffords and her husband, former astronaut Mark Kelly, headlined the announcement. They created the national lobbying group, Americans for Responsible Solutions, in the aftermath of the shooting that nearly killed Giffords in 2011.
Kelly says the group will push for New Hampshire lawmakers to pass what they see as common sense gun reforms, like expanded background checks for gun purchasers. He also stressed that the group's efforts would not be an attack on gun culture.
"You've probably seen that bumper sticker," said Kelly, "where it says, 'Guns don't kill people; people kill people'. And we believe that, that's absolutely true. And that's why we need our leaders to do everything they can to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people."
Giffords, who is still recovering from her injuries, says it will take courage to reduce gun violence.
"Now is the time to come together, to be responsible," said Giffords. "Democrats, Republicans, everyone. We must never stop fighting."
A bill that would restrict so-called straw purchasing of firearms is just one of several gun-related proposals that will be debated in the coming legislative session.
