Biden backs Giffords's gun control initiative

Vice President Biden backed the anti-gun effort of Mark Kelly and former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords on Wednesday.

"Just met with Captain Mark Kelly. Great guy. Fully support his effort to reduce gun violence."--VP@shuttlecdrkelly

— Office of VP Biden (@VP) January 16, 2013

Former astronaut Kelly, along with his wife, Giffords (D-Ariz.), launched a group called Americans for Responsible Solutions last week aimed at reducing gun violence by raising funds to counter the influence of the pro-gun lobby.

Giffords was shot in the head two years ago by a shooter at a constituent event in Arizona. Six people were killed during the incident and Giffords is still recovering. Following the mass shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., late last year, Kelly announced that efforts to reform gun laws "can no longer wait."

Biden sat down with 229 groups following the Newtown tragedy to compile suggestions addressing gun violence, and Biden and President Obama presented the results to the American public on Wednesday. Obama and Biden expressed their resolve to move quickly and use the power of the Executive Office to take immediate action on the issue, and said groups like Kelly and Giffords's could play a key role in that momentum this year. 

---