Updated at 12:06 a.m. on April 7
Retired Navy Captain and NASA astronaut Mark Kelly, the husband of former Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, condemned Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., after he said he wasn’t “going to be a Gabby Giffords” after pulling out a loaded gun in front of his constituents.
Giffords has been a vocal advocate for stricter gun laws since she survived getting shot in the head in 2011 at a meet-and-greet event.
“Congressman Norman is right — he’s no Gabby Giffords. And what this country needs are more leaders like Gabby Giffords. As a Congresswoman, Gabby worked with her neighbors and across party lines to solve problems,” Kelly said in a statement Friday evening. “Since the shooting, she’s dedicated her life to finding solutions to spot the epidemic of gun violence that leave over 100,000 American shot every year. Based on the overwhelming support Americans have for sensible solutions to reduce gun violence, it’s clear Americans share her determination.”
Kelly said Americans are faced with choosing leaders like Giffords who “find solutions to problems, or extremists like the NRA and Congressman Norman.” He also put the pressure on Congress to enact stricter gun laws.
“For our kids’ sake, let’s show our leaders we expect them to behave more like Gabby and less like Congressman Norman,” Kelly said.
Giffords cofounded Americans for Responsible Solutions, a nonprofit organization that supports gun control, along with Kelly.
Norman told the Post and Courier that he pulled out a .38-caliber Smith & Wesson and placed it on a table during a Friday meeting with constituents as he was talking about gun safety.
“I’m not going to be a Gabby Giffords,” Norman reportedly said. “I don’t mind dying, but whoever shoots me better shoot well or I’m shooting back.”
Norman said that he used the gun to demonstrate to those in his district that “gun don’t shoot people, people shoot guns.”
