Tucson shooting survivors push for gun control

Tucson shooting survivors push for gun control

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TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Members of anti-gun violence organizations in Arizona are urging U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake to support proposed legislation that would make criminal background checks mandatory for all gun sales.

The groups held news conferences Tuesday in front of Flake's offices in Tucson and Phoenix.

Flake, a Republican, is part of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. The committee will consider moving forward with proposed universal background check legislation Thursday in Washington, D.C.

At the Tucson news conference Tuesday morning, speakers included two survivors of a 2011 shooting rampage - Pam Simon and Bill Badger.

Six people were killed and 13 wounded outside a Tucson supermarket at a meet & greet event hosted by former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords on Jan. 8, 2011.

Giffords was among those wounded and she resigned from Congress last year.

Statement by States United to Prevent Gun Violence

Senator Flake,

We urge you to work with your colleagues to draft and pass enforceable legislation to strengthen our gun background check system. 

Improving gun background checks is supported by 9 in 10 Americans and will save countless lives, including many here in Arizona.

We can't undo the past for all those already affected by gun violence in Arizona — the victims, the families and the communities — but we can prevent future tragedies.

These families deserve a vote. We demand strong, enforceable legislation for background checks.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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