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.

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

General News January 10, 2011
from UANews | “President Obama will speak at a memorial event at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 12 to support and remember victims of the mass shooting in Tucson, and to lift the spirits of those who have been personally affected by this tragedy.”

The event, “Together We Thrive: Tucson and America” starts at 6 p.m. at McKale Center (just west of Campbell Avenue, north of E. 6th Street) and is free and open to the public. Doors will open at 4 p.m.

University of Arizona President Robert Shelton, as well as state and federal officials will also speak at the event– Governor Jan Brewer, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, and Justice Anthony Kennedy, Circuit Justice for the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit are expected to attend.

“The event will include a Native American blessing, a moment of silence, a poetry reading, and a presentation of a chain featuring messages from the public.”

Attendees should arrive early because a capacity crowd is expected, and there will be increased security due to the President’s presence.

Six people were shot & killed and 13 others injured on Saturday January 8, 2011 at a Safeway store in NW Tucson, by 22 year old suspect Jared Lee Loughner. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords of CD 8 was apparently his target, and 3 of her Congressional district aides were also shot — one (Gabe Zimmerman) died at the scene. Federal district court Chief Judge John Roll was also killed, and 9 year old Christina Taylor Green.

UPDATE: video of event online (click here).

Photo of event tshirt from photographer Jon Scanlon (who attended the event);

Gabe Zimmerman

I knew Gabe Zimmerman (Director of community outreach) and I wept over reading about his senseless killing yesterday at the Safeway on Oracle/Ina, when his employer CD 8 Congresswoman Gabrielle “Gabby” Giffords was also shot in the head allegedly by Jared Lee Loughner (who is in custody). 19 people were injured in the shooting, 6 have died.

Apparently former Tucson Citizen Associate Editor Mark Kimble (who now works for Gabby as a speech writer) was there as well, helping with constituents, but he was not injured.

Also shot and injured were Gifford’s District Director Ron Barber and part-time outreach coordinator Pam Simon. I just met Pam at an Arizona Women’s Political Caucus holiday event in December, when she spoke on Gabby’s behalf (click here). Both are recovering at University Medical Center here in Tucson.

More here at AZ Central about Gifford’s aides:

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/01/09/20110109gabe-zimmerman-gabrielle-giffords-arizona-shooting.html

Gabe was with Congresswoman Giffords from the beginning as a field organizer during her first campaign back in 2006. I remember how thrilled he was to then become part of her local Tucson staff, and I’ve communicated off and on with him since then. And the news article says he was engaged to be married. He was only 30 years old when he was killed yesterday. He was a great guy, very dedicated and passionate about helping constituents, in representing the Congresswoman.

A private memorial service has been scheduled for January 15. I also serve on the Casitas of Broadway board with his mother Emily Nottingham, retired City of Tucson community services administrator. Heartfelt condolences to the Ross Zimmerman family.

And pray for Gabby, who’s still in critical condition in the ICU (intensive care unit) following brain surgery at University Medical Center, on Campbell Avenue. She is married to NASA astronaut Mark Kelly, and has two step daughters Claudia and Claire Kelly.

List of the other deceased victims, most of whom were Giffords’ constituents apparently waiting in line to speak with her at her “Congress on Your Corner” event:
(There are a few discrepancies in the names of these victims, with the news coming in so quickly since yesterday’s shooting).

-John Roll, 63, a federal district court judge (Chief Judge in U.S. District Court for AZ)

- Dorwan Stoddard, 76, a volunteer at Mountain Ave. Church of Christ (his wife Mavanell was also shot & injured, but is expected to recover)

-Christina-Taylor Green, 9, a student at Mesa Verde Elementary

-Dorothy Morris, 76 (not Murray as originally reported)

-Phyllis Schneck, 79, a retiree from the East Coast

Condolences to all the families of these innocent victims.

1/13/11 Update: Gabe’s obituary in the Arizona Daily Star (linked through Tucsoncitizen.com):

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tucson/obituary.aspx?n=gabriel-zimmerman-gabe&pid=147777756

1/14/11 update: names of the 13 additional persons injured at the shooting from Pima County Sheriff’s Dept, including Congresswoman Giffords:

Susan Hileman, 58 (neighbor of Christina-Taylor Green who took her to the event)
Mavanell Stoddard, 75 (wife of Dorwan)
Pamela Simon, 63 (aide to Giffords)
Ronald Barber, 65 (aide to Giffords)
Gabrielle Giffords, 40 (the Congresswoman)
James Tucker, 58
Kenneth Veeder, 75
George Morris, 76 (husband of Dorothy)
James Fuller, 63
Randy Gardner, 60
Mary Reed, 52
Kenneth Dorushka, 63
Bill Badger, 74