Mark Kelly

Jared Loughner, the guy, the Tucson shooter, was an admitted drug user.

We are also anti-gun violence, and we believe that in this debate Congress should look not toward special interests and ideology, which push us apart, but toward compromise, which brings us together.

But rights demand responsibility. And this right does not extend to terrorists, it does not extend to criminals, and it does not extend to the mentally ill.

I have cosponsored Senator Feinstein's bill to ban assault weapons.

Now, we have some ideas on how we can take responsibility.

I also want to take the opportunity to congratulate Gabby's friend and much respected former colleague, Jeff Flake, on his new role as Arizona's junior Senator.

I look forward to a constructive dialogue with your Committee.

If we can all agree that criminals and those adjudicated as mentally ill should not buy firearms, why should we not try to plug the loopholes in the law that allow them to buy guns without background checks?

The bill I introduced last week against gun trafficking will similarly prove helpful and I believe will become an accepted part of our crime control framework.

Lives are at risk when responsible people fail to stand up for laws that will keep guns out of the hands of those who will use them to commit murder, especially mass murder.

No one can take away those rights or their guns. Second Amendment rights are the foundation on which our discussion rests.

My wife would not be sitting in this seat, she would not have been sitting here today if we had stronger background checks.

This is a very political issue. You know, as you know, you know, money and politics kind of drive the discussion on a lot of these issues.

Seventy-five percent of NRA members believe that you should have a background check before buying a gun.

But you know, it really comes down to Congress doing the right thing and coming up with some responsible commonsense changes to gun violence laws.

Personally, I don't think so. You know, I don't think that will work. Gabby and I are both very strong supporters of the Second Amendment.

We believe, Gabby and I believe, that there are four basic things that we need to do to make this country safer.

Gabby is doing great. You know, she's -- she has a little cold right now.

This is a very political issue. As you know, you know, money and politics kind of drive the discussion on a lot of these issues.

I have spoken to a lot of members of the NRA. I have a lot of friends who are members of the NRA; 75 percent of NRA members believe you should have a background check before buying a gun.

But it really comes down to Congress doing the right thing and coming up with some responsible, commonsense changes to gun violence laws, and I think, if we do that, we can reduce the number of deaths in this country from mass shootings…

Gabby and I are both very strong supporters of the Second Amendment. I defended the Constitution. I defended the Second Amendment flying in combat over Iraq and Kuwait defending our country. Gabby owns a gun. I own a gun. This really isn't…

From my experience in the military, I spent 25 years in the Navy, assault weapons are good at killing a lot of people all at once.

A high-capacity magazine was used in Tucson, Aurora, it was used in Newtown.

A universal background check will prevent some criminals and some of the mentally ill from obtaining a firearm.