Tucson’s rally was held today at Jacome Plaza (in front of Joel D. Valdez Main Library) to support the Fix Gun Checks Act of 2011, which will “help get the records of prohibited buyers into the national database, and close the loopholes that let dangerous people buy guns.”

Victims of the Tucson shooting and other tragedies, numerous politicians, and community leaders spoke today calling on U.S. Congress to fix the background check system. Hundreds of people were in attendance at Jacome Plaza, and t-shirts stating “34 Americans are murdered with guns every day” were given out to those who signed the petition.

Ward 3 City Councilmember Karin Uhlich was the MC of today’s rally, saying she spoke with the support of Councilmembers Regina Romero (present), Paul Cunningham and Steve Kozachik (both not present). Uhlich said that “Tucsonans were standing together so that the suffering of January 8, 2011 will not be in vain, and to promote reasonable measures to safeguard the public.”

List of those who spoke at the Tucson rally:

–Patricia Maisch, citizen heroine on January 8, 2011 who stopped shooting suspect Jared Loughner from reloading

–Dr. Peter Rhee, Chief of Trauma, University Medical Center, who helped the January 8, 2011 shooting victims in the emergency room and thereafter

–Randy Gardner, Jan 8, 2011 shooting survivor

–Ross Zimmerman, father of Jan. 8, 2011 murdered victim Congressional aide Gabe Zimmerman (who also spoke for Gabe’s fiancee Kelly O’Brien)

–Dr. Ann Nichols, widow of State Senator Andy Nichols, whose father was killed by a gunman (when Andy was 4 years old)

–Tony Baccerra, gun shooting survivor, accompanied by his mother & sister

–Carol Gaxiola, Homicide Survivors Executive Director, whose 14 year old daughter was killed by a gunman

–Omar Samaha, whose sister Reema Samaha was one of those students killed at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007

–Vicky Walker, mother Pat Yuhas and sister Kristy Johnson – Vicky’s husband and daughter were killed in their car by a gunman

–former U.S.Senator Dennis Deconcini

–former Assistant Attorney General Vince Rabago, a gun owner & hunter

–former Attorney General Terry Goddard (with the support of former Attorney General Grant Woods)

–former Mayor Tom Volgy (with the support of former Mayor George Miller)

–Tucson Police Dept. Assistant Chief Brett Klein (for Police Chief Robert Villasenor)

–Pima County Sheriff Captain Byron Gwaltney (for Sheriff Clarence Dupnik), who was on duty on January 8, 2011

–Santa Cruz Sheriff Tony Estrada

–Rev. Jan Flaaten, Arizona Ecumenical Council

–Rev. David Wilkinson, St. Francis in the Foothills United Methodist Church

Also in attendance was Registered Nurse Nancy Bowman, who rendered CPR and first aid to shooting victims Judge John Roll, Congressional aide Pam Simon, and Suzi Hileman on January 8, 2011 at the NW Safeway.

Most of the speakers agreed with Vince Rabago’s statement that “those who shouldn’t have guns shouldn’t have guns”. And most asked that there be background checks for those who are mentally ill, convicted felons, drug abusers, and at gun shows. Ross Zimmerman asked for “responsible behavior regarding gun ownership” stating that his son’s death “changed our community forever.”

Parked behind the speakers was the Fix Guns Checks national truck with a sign on the side stating “Americans murdered with guns since Tucson”. When the rally began the tally number on the truck was 2687, when the rally ended a hour/half later, the number had increased to 2689.

The National Drive to Fix Gun Checks kicked off in the wake of the Tucson shooting with one simple message: “We need to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people.”

Since then, more than a quarter million Americans have signed the petition to Fix Gun Checks, and President Barack Obama has made fixing background checks a national priority, calling for reforms that would make the system instant, accurate and comprehensive.

The Fix Gun Checks Act of 2011 has been introduced in the U.S. Senate and will soon be introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.

To sign the National Petition to Fix Gun Checks, go to www.fixgunchecks.org.

Blogger Hugh Holub has written extensively on this issue and announced this event about federal legislation for background checks on guns:

http://tucsoncitizen.com/view-from-baja-arizona/2011/03/27/national-drive-to-fix-gun-checks-comes-to-tucson-monday-at-1-pm-downtown/.

Photos of today’s rally to be posted by me (separately), courtesy of Curtis Dutiel:
http://tucsoncitizen.com/community/2011/03/28/photos-from-todays-mayors-against-illegal-guns-rally/

Panelists:

– former Arizona U.S. Senator Dennis DeConcini
–former Tucson City Mayor Tom Volgy (and Professor in Government & Public Policy at the U of A)
–UA Assistant Professor Kate Kenski, Dept. of Communication
–David Fitzsimmons, political cartoonist for Arizona Daily Star newspaper

The Student Union is at 1303 E. University Drive, and this ballroom is on the north side of the building, south of Mountain Avenue and E. 2nd Street. The event is open to the public, and students are encouraged to attend. Parking is available at the 2nd Street Garage just north of the Student Union, or on the street (metered), or take the Sun Tran Bus.

Bruce Skolnik, J.D.

This roundtable is part of a Week of Civility starting on February 14 on the UA campus, organized by UA Attorney Bruce Skolnik. He joined The University of Arizona in 2008 where he “represents the University in matters pertaining to intercollegiate athletics and student affairs.”

Other Week of Civility events (all events at 12 noon):

Monday, February 14: Sporting Civility: Promoting a More Civil Student Fan and Athlete Ethos. Greg Byrne, UA Athletic Director, will speak about fans, student athletes and civility. LOCATION: Modern Languages Bldg. 210

Wednesday, February 16: Civil Discourse in a Conflicted Community. “As part of the Civility in the 21st Century event, a panel of University of Arizona faculty members will discuss civility in academia. Pat Hoyer, professor of physiology; Miranda Joseph, associate professor of women’s studies; J.C. Mutchler, associate professor of history at UA South; and J. Jefferson Reid, professor of anthropology, will share their perspectives on academic culture and the importance of debate and sharing a broad variety of views while maintaining civility. LOCATION: Student Union, Tucson Room.

Thursday, February 17: Civility in the Digital Age. Dr. Sheri Bauman, Associate Professor, Disability and Psychoeducational Studies, will speak about Electronic Civility/cyber-bullying. LOCATION: Student Union, Tucson Room.

Friday, February 18: Steve Adamczyk, University Attorney, will speak about Civility and the First Amendment, with panelists Kevin Haywood (UAPD), Kathy Adams Riseter (Dean of Students Office), Sharon Overstreet (UA Residence Life), Josh Estavillo, J.D. (UA General Counsel office). LOCATION: Education Bldg. 318

For more updated information contact Cathy Nicholson at 520-626-4650 or    maryn@email.arizona.edu.

There has been a lot of talk of more civility since that tragic January 8, 2011 mass shooting here in Tucson. Skolnik told me that this particular roundtable was in the works since the General Election of 2010.

Attend this roundtable to find out what local Tucson leaders have to say about political discourse. Ironically the venue is the same north ballroom where the rowdy CD 8 U.S. House debate was held on October 18, 2010.

Log onto the Buckmaster show of 2/3/11 (click here) to hear Bill discuss this upcoming roundtable with organizer Bruce Skolnik.