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.

The Arizona Secretary of State has posted the final & unofficial results of the 2012 General Election for CD 2, here in Southern Arizona (although ballots are still being counted statewide). Pima County Elections finalized their ballot count today Nov. 19. Congressman Ron Barber (incumbent in CD 8) has won by 2454 votes. Automatic recounts only occur if the margin of victory is less than 200 votes per state law. Barber declared victory on Nov. 17 and McSally conceded on that day as well.

Ron Barber (D) 147,338, 50.32%
Martha McSally (R) 144,884, 49.48 %

This was a very close race, with early and provisional ballots in the thousands being counted in Pima and Cochise Counties since Election Night November 6. The lead changed many times, but Barber ultimately began to take the lead on Saturday November 10. McSally was leading on the morning of November 7 by 1312 votes when I first reported the Arizona general election results.

Barber was first elected to Congress in CD 8 in June, 2012 by defeating Republican Jesse Kelly in a special election. Then Barber won the CD 2 primary in August, 2012 against LD 29 Rep. Dr. Matt Heinz. Barber was chosen by his former employer, former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords to run in CD 8 after she resigned in January, 2012, to spend more time in her physical recovery from the 1/8/11 Tucson Tragedy shooting. Giffords and her retired astronaut husband Mark Kelly have since moved back to Tucson, from Houston, Texas.

Congratulations Congressman Barber.

Congressman Ron Barber

AZPM “Az Illustrated” political reporters Christopher Conover and Andrea Kelley hosted a debate tonight between CD 8 Congressman Ron Barber and LD 29 House Rep. Dr. Matt Heinz, who are running in the Democratic primary for the new CD 2 House seat. You can view the video online by clicking here.

There have been no live debates between these two candidates for the AZ Primary coming up on August 28.

Congressman Barber was elected to his seat in June, 2012 in a special general election, facing off with Republican Jesse Kelly, who had challenged previous CD 8 Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in Nov. 2010. Barber had worked for 5 years as Giffords’ District Director in Tucson, and had been shot twice alongside her on January 8, 2011 at the Tucson Tragedy shooting. Jared Loughner recently plead guilty to the shootings which killed six and wounded 13 others. Campaign website: www.ronbarberforcongress.com.

LD 29 House Rep. Dr. Matt Heinz has served 2 terms in the Arizona House of Representatives, and is a doctor at Tucson Medical Center. He also ran unsuccessfully for LD 28 House in 2006. Campaign website: www.heinzforcongress.com.

Charlie Manolakis, who recently ran for the CD 8 House seat as a Green candidate, has now switched back to a Democrat, and is a write-in candidate for the CD 2 House seat, but was not part of this AZPM debate. He can be contacted at charlesomega@aol.com.

The winner of the Democratic primary will face off in the General election with either retired Colonel Martha McSally, who came in 2nd in the 4-way special CD 8 House Republican primary in April, 2012, or political newcomer Mark Koskiniemi. To view their earlier July 23 debate on AZPM Channel 6, click here.

Vote wisely on or before the Arizona primary on August 28.

Congressman Ron Barber

LD 29 Rep. Dr. Matt Heinz