ARIZONANS FOR GUN SAFETY DEVASTATED BY WEEKEND’S VIOLENCE PROMOTES COMMON SENSE APPROACHES TO REDUCING GUN VIOLENCE

January 11, 2011

Contacts: Hildy Saizow, President, 602-790-8581, hsaizow@cox.net Gerry Hills, Board Member, 480-221-5074, ghills62@cox.net

ARIZONANS FOR GUN SAFETY DEVASTATED BY WEEKEND’S VIOLENCE PROMOTES COMMON SENSE APPROACHES TO REDUCING GUN VIOLENCE

We at Arizonans for Gun Safety (AzGS) are devastated by the violence that occurred in Tucson on Saturday. While praying for the victims of this senseless tragedy and their families, we are also more determined than ever to create a society where the deranged, the disgruntled, and the dangerous can no longer have access to lethal firepower.

Initial news reports are that the man who shot Representative Gabrielle Giffords and the others used a Glock semiautomatic pistol equipped with a high capacity magazine holding up to 33 rounds of ammunition. It was this extended magazine clip, easily available throughout our community,that enabled so many people to be shot, killed or injured in less than a minute.

We believe, as most Arizonans do, that our state (and country) must do a better job of preventing people who should not own a gun from purchasing one. The fact that last Saturday’s shooter had a history of illegal drug use, was not allowed to enter the military, and was suspended from his community college until he saw a psychiatrist should have been enough information to fail a background check for the purchase of a firearm and extended magazine clip. “We must find common ground and pass sensible policies that prevent prohibited possessors from getting access to firearms,” said Geraldine Hills, Board Member, AzGS.

Almost 900 Arizonans die each year from gun violence, and many more are injured – some with lifelong health impacts. Arizona now carries the distinction of having the least restrictive gun laws in the nation. This state allows concealed weapons in bars and restaurants, and individuals to carry a concealed weapon without a permit, training or a background check. In recent days, legislators have introduced proposals to go even further, and allow concealed weapons on college campuses. We simply cannot continue down this path of more permissive gun laws.

“If we ask the citizens of Arizona what they want, and work together to find common ground, we can develop sensible policies and programs that will reduce, and even prevent the tragic consequences of gun violence,” said Hildy Saizow, President, AzGS.

To the families of the six people who died in the shooting rampage, we express our deepest sympathies -- and to those injured by the shooting we express our hope for a speedy recovery. We are heartened that Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords -- an outstanding community leader and devoted public servant -- is alive today. But perhaps most sadly of all, a little nine-year old girl and elementary school student leader, a young person with a whole life ahead of her, died in this horrific event.

ABOUT ARIZONANS FOR GUN SAFETY Arizonans for Gun Safety, a 501c3 non-profit organization, works to create safer Arizona communities by reducing gun deaths and injuries through prevention oriented solutions. AzGS manages the state’s community outreach programs for Project Safe Neighborhoods, and the public education component of TRUCE, a community-based initiative to reduce gun homicides in South Phoenix. Contact us at www.azfgs.com