In Seattle, former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, a shooting victim, calls for more background checks

SEATTLE -- Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., who was shot in the head by a lone gunman in a 2011 assassination attempt, is pushing for new gun control measures, including additional background checks.

Giffords, who was critically injured in the shooting and had to learn how to walk and talk again, met with domestic violence victims and gun control advocates at an invite-only event in downtown Seattle Wednesday.

"We stand for common sense. We stand for responsibility," said Giffords.

Seattle is the final stop of her cross-country “Protect All Women” tour.  Giffords has made appearances in several cities to bring attention to women and domestic violence.

"Change our laws,” Giffords said. “Please join your voice with mine."



Giffords supports Washington state Initiative 594 to require additional background checks. Gun rights groups are against the measure and are pushing Initiative 591, which would prevent Washington from enacting background check laws stricter than current federal law.

"She's come to our state to tell us how we should have our laws and again I resent that," said Alan Gottlieb, chairman of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. "They are selling it (I-594) as background checks on gun sales, but it goes far beyond background checks on all gun sales. It's all gun transfers."

Giffords also visited Washington state in January to support  I-594.