Wasserman Schultz Statement on Tucson Shooting Anniversary

Washington, DC – U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) issued the following statement to mark the fifth anniversary of the Tucson shooting that left six people dead and injured more than a dozen more people.

“It was six years ago today that a disturbed gunman killed six people at a supermarket in Tucson Arizona, including wounding my close friend and former colleague, Gabrielle Giffords.

“Sadly since that horrifying day, America has witnessed a stunning number of mass shootings that are disturbingly all too similar to that one.

“This summer, we saw the largest mass shooting in American history in Orlando, where 49 people died and 53 others were injured. And on Friday, we added another mass murder, darkening further an already traumatic anniversary, when five more innocent people were brutally killed in cold blood after a gunman opened fire at the Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International airport in my own Congressional district. Six more were injured and countless travelers were traumatized.

“The people of Tucson’s resolve did not break that day, and now my friends and neighbors here in South Florida will draw on that same resiliency and strength to get through this latest gun tragedy.

“Today, my friend Gabby has made medical progress that few expected to see after what she went through that morning in Tucson. Like so many Americans, I’ve been fueled by her incredible strength, courage and determination ever since then, and even more so in just these last few days.

“Since that brutal attack, Gabby has pulled thousands of concerned Americans – parents, neighbors and friends together in the fight to end our nation’s gun violence epidemic. The events in my own community exposed even more vulnerabilities and significant challenges we still face in keeping people safe from gun violence. I will redouble my efforts to put an end to the senseless gun violence that plagues our country. It disturbs me deeply that we have done so little to address mental health and common sense gun reforms that could dramatically reduce many of these tragedies. With Gabby’s help, I’ll work with my colleagues in Congress to do everything I can to change that.”