by David Safier
Gabby Giffords and Mark Kelly launched Americans for Responsible Solutions today, on the second anniversary of the Safeway shooting. They also cowrote an op ed in USA Today that begins:
In response to a horrific series of shootings that has sown terror in our communities, victimized tens of thousands of Americans, and left one of its own bleeding and near death in a Tucson parking lot, Congress has done something quite extraordinary — nothing at all.
The purpose of this group, according to the op ed, is to provide an effective counter to the gun lobby.
We can't be naive about what it will take to achieve the most common-sense solutions. We can't just hope that the last shooting tragedy will prevent the next. Achieving reforms to reduce gun violence and prevent mass shootings will mean matching gun lobbyists in their reach and resources.
Americans for Responsible Solutions, which we are launching today, will invite people from around the country to join a national conversation about gun violence prevention, will raise the funds necessary to balance the influence of the gun lobby, and will line up squarely behind leaders who will stand up for what's right.
Jared Lee Loughner shot Gabby and others two years ago, but he was unable to extinguish her spirit or the spirit of others who survived the shooting. They have joined together with others to promote sane gun regulations. As a Tucsonan, I'm very proud of their efforts and hope we can soon say that Congress has done something truly extraordinary — stood up to the NRA and its corporate backers and passed legislation that will help lessen the chances that these kinds of tragedies will be repeated in communities across the country.
UPDATE: Watch an ad featuring Roxanna Green, mother of Christina-Taylor Green, asking our political leaders, "When will you find the courage to stand up to the gun lobby?" Video below the fold.