Press Release from Republican Ward 6 Councilman Steve Kozachik, who organized this event:

Voluntary Firearm Buy-Back Event

On Tuesday, January 8th, beginning at 9am, Tucson Police will be accepting firearms, .22 caliber or larger where the weapon is designed to fire a projectile that is propelled using expanding gas, that are voluntarily turned in by members of the general public. In exchange, a $50 Safeway Food Store gift card will be provided. The event will take place at the Tucson Police Department Hardesty Sub-Station located on Alvernon Way, just north of 22nd. There is a limited number of Gift Cards, so the event will end when they’ve all been given out.

Tucson Police will ensure the disposal of all firearms that are voluntarily turned in during this event will be handled in compliance with all relevant Arizona Revised Statutes. Serial numbers will be tracked through appropriate databases to identify weapons reported as lost or stolen, or that may be implicated in any criminal activity.

This event is made possible by the generous donations from private individuals who join me in wanting to offer this opportunity to City residents to properly dispose of unwanted firearms. As has occurred in many other cities, we hope this will allow people who wish to participate, a greater sense of safety in their own homes for having taken part.

This event is coincidentally being held on the 2nd anniversary of the Tucson Tragedy shooting of January 8, 2011 when 19 people were shot at the NW Safeway at Ina/Oracle including then-CD 8 Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, three members of her staff (including now-CD 2 Congressman Ron Barber), Federal District Judge John Roll, and several others. Six people died that day and the shooter Jared Lee Loughner was thereafter sentenced to several life sentences (with no possibility of parole).

Further info about the buy-back event, contact the Council 6 Ward office at 520-791-4601 or email ward6@tucsonaz.gov.

And the AZ Daily Star reported on Saturday Jan. 5 that former LD 30 State Senator Frank Antenori has offered “cold cash” for guns starting at $100, for his own private collection at the same police station on 1/8/13. Click here for that article.

photo courtesy of Salpointe Catholic High School

Salpointe unites community in prayer to remember the anniversary of the Tucson shootings (press release)

Tucson, Ariz. – Salpointe Catholic High School will host a prayer service to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Tucson Tragedy.The service will take place at Salpointe Catholic High School, 1545 E. Copper Street, Monday, January 9 promptly at 8:20 a.m.

Students, faculty, staff and community will gather hand-in-hand around the school’s track to pray for those lost, the families left behind, and our Tucson community as it continues to heal. The public is welcome to attend.

“That day, January 8, 2011, was surreal. Something of that magnitude happens in other cities, bigger cities, but not in Tucson. I think this tragedy is still very fresh in so many minds. It is a harsh reminder that our world is not fixed. This remembrance is a reminder that despite uncertainty and loss, we are strong when we come together,” said Gail Urbanski, director of campus ministry at Salpointe.

The service will include prayer, a poem reading, and a reflection.
“This tragedy had a deep impact on our community. Several alumni and current students’ families were involved, and was it a very tragic and personal loss,” said Kay Sullivan, Salpointe president. “The prayer service provides a dedicated place and time for our community to continue healing together.”

Federal Judge John Roll, a Lancer alumnus from the class of 1965, was among those fatally wounded. He is survived by his wife, Maureen O’Connor Roll ‘67, and their children Patrick ‘92, Robert ‘88, and Christopher.

Other members of the Salpointe community were injured during the gunman’s rage: Mary Reed, the mother of Emma McMahon ’11, shot three times as she shielded her children from the flying bullets; Pam Simon, mother of Fritz ’93 and Summer ’96; Col. Bill Badger, father of Christian ’07; and Ron Barber, husband of Nancy Richardson Barber ’64, brother of Ethel ‘Marie’ Barber Fox ’77, brother-in-law of Judy Richardson Tully ’66, Peggy Richardson Sterner ’69, Alice Richardson Morkert ’77, uncle of Sara Tully Lev ’90, Laura Tully Zwickl ’93, Karen Tully ’95, Megan Sterner ’99, Lindsey Morkert ’03, Grace Morkert ’06 and Steven Morkert ’09.

Nancy Bowman, R.N., and David Bowman, M.D., parents of Troy ’08 and Brenna ’09 were shopping at Safeway and were first responders to those injured in the rampage.
Dr. Martin Weinand, neurosurgeon and father of Michael ’07, Lauren ’08 and Megan ’08, was on-call at University Medical Center on the day of the tragedy; he was on the team that performing brain surgery and saved the life of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

Contacts:

Kay Sullivan
President
Salpointe Catholic High School
520-547-5878
development@salpointe.org
www.salpointe.org

Gail Urbanski
Director of Campus Ministry
Salpointe Catholic High School
520-547-4448
gurbanski@salpointe.org

About Salpointe Catholic High School:
Since opening its doors in 1950, Salpointe Catholic has enjoyed a distinguished reputation for its strong curriculum, competitive athletics, highly-acclaimed fine arts, faith-strengthening religious program and spirited co-curricular activities. Salpointe is a Catholic, Carmelite college-preparatory high school enrolling 1,130 students. The school is certified by the Western Catholic Educational Association and accredited as a college-preparatory school by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

As most of you know by now, it’s been a year since that shooting rampage at the NW Safeway (Ina/Oracle). Chief U.S. District Judge John Roll died that day from the gunshot wounds. A very moving Special Court Session in memory of Judge Roll was held on Friday, January 6 at the TCC Music Hall. Particularly eloquent were the closing remarks by Honorable District Court Judge Raner Collins who knew Judge Roll for over 35 years and he spoke highly of Salpointe Catholic High’s influence on John Roll, who read the Bible daily and who “tried to walk humbly with his God.” Two other District Court judges (Robert Broomfield and Jennifer Zipps) and his last law clerk Michael Waits spoke of how humble and exemplary Judge Roll was, and his “unswerving sense of justice”.

Both Congresswoman Gifford’s aides Ron Barber (District Director) and Pam Simon (Community outreach coordinator) were shot twice that day. Congresswoman Giffords (shot once in the head) and Barber are still recovering from their gunshot wounds. Mary Reed was shot 3 times and has recovered, along with Pam Simon.

Dr. Bowman and his nurse wife Nancy are featured in the “Together We Heal” PBS documentary broadcasting tonight on KUAT Channel 6, at 6 p.m. Click here for blog. Ret. Army Col. Bill Badger was one of the two men who tackled shooter Jared Loughner down at that Safeway, and is one of 12 Americans featured in the December 2010/January 2011 issue of AARP magazine.

Our prayers for full recovery to those injured on January 8, 2011, and condolences again to Judge Roll’s family.

Federal District Judge John Roll was shot at that Tucson “massacre” on January 8, 2011 while standing in line to speak with Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (CD 8). He apparently died on the scene at the Safeway store at Oracle/Ina Road. He was the Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court of Arizona (click here).

Funeral services for Chief Judge John M. Roll will proceed as follows:

Thursday, January 13, 2011
Visitation from 5:00 to 7:00 pm, Rosary at 6:00 pm
St. Thomas The Apostle Catholic Church
5150 N. Valley View Road
Tucson, AZ 85718

Friday, January 14, 2011
Mass at 10:00 am
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church
8650 N. Shannon Road
Tucson, AZ 85742

Private Burial – Time to be determined
Holy Hope Cemetery
3555 N. Oracle Road
Tucson, AZ 85705

Bio info from Arizona Daily Star:

http://azstarnet.com/news/state-and-regional/article_9db91254-7663-5d64-97cc-801877868c4b.html:

JOHN ROLL, 63:
Named Arizona’s chief federal judge in 2006, U.S. District Judge John M. Roll won acclaim for a career as a respected jurist and leader who had pushed to beef up the court’s strained bench to handle a growing number of border crime-related cases. Roll was appointed to the federal bench in 1991 by President George H.W. Bush. He previously served as a state trial judge and as a judge on the midlevel Arizona Court of Appeals, and as a county and state prosecutor. Bishop Gerald Kicanas of the Roman Catholic Church’s Tucson Diocese said Roll was an active parishioner. “He lived his faith as a servant of our nation for the cause of justice,” Kicanas said. Roll was a Pennsylvania native who got his law degree from the University of Virginia. He is survived by his wife, Maureen, three sons, and five grandchildren.

The Friday mass service is at the same Catholic church where fellow shooting victim 9 year old Christina Taylor Green’s service will be held, the day before (click here).

Rest in peace Judge Roll.

1/12/11 Obituary in Arizona Daily Star (linked through Tucsoncitizen.com)
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tucson/obituary.aspx?n=john-mccarthy-roll&pid=147763103