PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Former Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords was in Portland Friday to to announce the formation of the Oregon Coalition for Common Sense.
The goal of the group is to reduce gun violence in Oregon, with specific plans to urge lawmakers to keep guns out of the hands of people suffering from mental crisis and ensuring guns are safely stored in homes with children.
“Stopping gun violence takes courage. The courage to do what’s right, the courage of new ideas. I’ve seen great courage when my life was on the line. Now is the time to come together, be responsible. Democrats, Republicans, everyone,” said Gifford. “We must never stop fighting. Fight, fight, fight!”
“Be bold, be courageous. The nation’s counting on you.” –Gabby Giffords
After the announcement, Giffords held a round table discussion with several local lawmakers, including Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury, Multnomah County District Attorney Rod Underhill and Mike Reese, Portland’s former police chief.
Giffords co-founded Americans for Responsible Solutions with her husband after she was shot in the head on January 8, 2011 by Jared Lee Loughner outside a Safeway grocery store in Tucson. She was critically wounded but recovered.
However, six people — including a district judge, a 9-year-old girl and one of Giffords aides — died in the shooting.
She resigned her seat in Congress about a year after she was shot.
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