By — Joshua Barajas Joshua Barajas Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-former-rep-gabrielle-giffords-retired-astronaut-mark-kelly-address-las-vegas-shooting Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH: Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, retired astronaut Mark Kelly call for stronger gun laws Politics Oct 2, 2017 1:23 PM EDT Former Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords echoed other Democratic lawmakers’ calls on Monday for Congress to take action on gun control following a Sunday mass shooting in Las Vegas that left at least 58 people dead and more than 500 others wounded. Giffords, who is a survivor of a 2011 shooting in Arizona, spoke at a news conference with her husband and retired NASA astronaut Mark Kelly about concerns over gun violence. Both Giffords and Kelly are co-founders of Americans for Responsible Solutions, a gun control advocacy organization. “I know this feeling of heartbreak and horror too well,” Giffords said in a statement. “The massacre in Las Vegas is a grave tragedy for our nation. This must stop — we must stop this.” Gun violence is “not normal, it’s not inevitable, it’s an epidemic that needs to be cured,” Kelly said. Kelly said thoughts and prayers won’t stop the next shooting. “Only action and leadership will do that,” he said. Watch Kelly and Giffords’ comments in the player above. WATCH: Trump calls Las Vegas shooting an ‘act of pure evil’ By — Joshua Barajas Joshua Barajas Joshua Barajas is a senior editor for the PBS NewsHour's Communities Initiative. He also the senior editor and manager of newsletters. @Josh_Barrage
Former Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords echoed other Democratic lawmakers’ calls on Monday for Congress to take action on gun control following a Sunday mass shooting in Las Vegas that left at least 58 people dead and more than 500 others wounded. Giffords, who is a survivor of a 2011 shooting in Arizona, spoke at a news conference with her husband and retired NASA astronaut Mark Kelly about concerns over gun violence. Both Giffords and Kelly are co-founders of Americans for Responsible Solutions, a gun control advocacy organization. “I know this feeling of heartbreak and horror too well,” Giffords said in a statement. “The massacre in Las Vegas is a grave tragedy for our nation. This must stop — we must stop this.” Gun violence is “not normal, it’s not inevitable, it’s an epidemic that needs to be cured,” Kelly said. Kelly said thoughts and prayers won’t stop the next shooting. “Only action and leadership will do that,” he said. Watch Kelly and Giffords’ comments in the player above. WATCH: Trump calls Las Vegas shooting an ‘act of pure evil’