WNDC STATEMENT ON HORRIFIC EVENTS IN TUCSON, ARIZONA
Members of the Woman’s National Democratic Club are outraged and heartbroken
over yesterday’s horrific events in Arizona. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords remained unconscious and in
critical condition today from an assassin’s semi-automatic gun rampage, which claimed the lives of
six other innocent people and injured many more. The victims were attending one of her many
“Congress on the Corner” constituent events.
The WNDC PAC endorsed and supported Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in 2006, the first year she was elected to the
U.S. House of Representatives. We pray for her in these critical hours and hope for her speedy recovery
and return to the House of Representatives, where her leadership is needed on so many fronts.
Details are still emerging; however, this much seems clear: it is time for meaningful dialogue over sensible
gun laws to end violence which over and over continues to claim innocent lives and ravage communities.
In addition, the political vitriol must cease. This is the moment for our two polarized parties to come
together on a sustained basis. We owe nothing less to Gabe Zimmerman, the devoted staff aide to Rep.
Giffords, who was engaged to be married; or U.S. District Judge John Roll, who recently worked with Rep.
Giffords on court issues and was loved and admired across party lines; or to retired construction worker
Dorwin Stoddard, who tried to shield his wife during the shooting rampage; or retired citizens Dorothy
Morris and Phyllis Scheck, details of whose lives are not known at this time.
How will we honor the legacy of 9-year old little Christina Greene, who was recently elected to the student
council and attended the event so she could learn more about government because she aspired to help her
country in the future. She was born on September 11, 2001 – a life bookmarked by tragedy at the hands
of both foreign and domestic terrorists. Today we at WNDC mourn and pray. Tomorrow we vow to act to ensure
that speech to incite violence and lax gun laws do not claim any more innocent lives.
