PHILADELPHIA- Former congresswoman Gabby Giffords and Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton spoke Thursday about the impact of gun violence at a Southwest Philadelphia church and expressed support for Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign.
“Vice President Kamala Harris has been a fierce advocate and protector of our communities, standing up to gun violence in America for decades,” McClinton said at Salt & Light Church. “Kamala Harris has not only dedicated her entire career to public safety, but she has also been a vocal and effective advocate to ensure that gun violence is diminishing across America.”
In her speech, McClinton addressed assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a rally in western Pennsylvania on July 13 that ended with the death of attendee Corey Comperatore and left two other people hospitalized. The shooter also died at the scene.
McClinton said that “we continue to pray” for the victims of the tragedy and all those involved who were traumatized by it, but added that it should be recognized that “no one was more beholden to the NRA” than Trump.
“He has repeatedly stood with the NRA on behalf of our children,” McClinton said of Trump.
The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment made Thursday.
“Our lives can change so quickly,” Giffords said. “Mine changed when I got shot, but I never give up hope.”
Giffords survived assassination attempt in 2011 in Arizona, and in a speech on Thursday, she discussed her recovery.
Emma Brownexecutive director The Giffords organization dedicated to combating gun violence, highlighted the work the Biden-Harris administration has done to address gun violence. It cited the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act the bill was signed in 2022. and Establishment of the Office for the Prevention of Gun Violencewhich is supervised by Harris.
State Rep. Jordan Harris (D-Philadelphia) praised the vice president’s past work to address the issue and discussed the local challenges residents in every community face with gun violence.
“How can a kid learn math if you take his best friend out of his class?” Harris said during a news conference.
While discussing how the Pennsylvania General Assembly is addressing gun violence, McClinton pointed to the passage of three bills in the state House that she said would ban ghost guns, close gun show loopholes and a red flag law. Those bills have not passed the GOP-controlled state Senate.
Pennsylvania has been in the spotlight for much of the 2024 presidential campaign and was in the spotlight again this week after reports that Gov. Josh Shapiro is on Harris’ shortlist for vice president. McClinton, Harris and various Pennsylvania Democrats have endorsed Shapiro for vice president. Shapiro has not confirmed an interest in the position, but hasn’t denied it either.
Giffords’ husband, U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), is also reportedly one of the candidates on Harris’ shortlist as potential vice presidential candidates.
Giffords did not address speculation about Kelly potentially joining Harris on the list, but did respond to a question from reporters when asked to tell them about it.
“He’s my best friend,” Giffords said. “He’s my best friend. He’s so funny, funny, funny. I love him so much.”
McClinton said the “good news is it’s not up to me” to decide who Harris’ vice presidential pick will be, but added that she is focused on Harrisburg, getting Harris elected and “lettin’ people across the country know that our governor, Josh Shapiro, has always been a defender of the people,” and praised his record on public safety during his time as governor and before that as attorney general.
“But I also recognize, as I told the congresswoman when she came in, that Senator Kelly continues to be a champion, a former veteran, an astronaut, someone who won a seat in the United States Senate in Arizona with the support of the late Senator John McCain, someone we all have great respect for, but I don’t make those decisions,” McClinton said.
Giffords is reportedly the campaign organizer. for the Harris campaign in Michigan last weekend.
Shapiro will be in Cumberland County this weekend on Harris’ campaign trail and will be Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined for an event on Monday in the Philadelphia area.
Trump will hold a rally in Harrisburg on Wednesday. It was his first scheduled appearance in the state since the attempted assassination.
Some Emerson College Poll released on Thursday showed Trump leading Harris by 2 points in Pennsylvania.
