McClinton and Giffords discuss gun violence at Harris campaign event in Philadelphia

(From left to right): Philadelphia Councilwoman Quetcy Lozada, state Rep. Jordan Harris, House Speaker Joanna McClinton, Gabby Giffords (at podium) and Emma Brown, executive director of Giffords speak at Salt & Light Church in Philadelphia July 25, 2024 (Capital-Star photo by John Cole)

PHILADELPHIA— Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton spoke about the impact of gun violence at a church in Southwest Philadelphia on Thursday, and touted their support of Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign for president.

“Vice President Kamala Harris has been a fierce defender and protector of our communities, standing against gun violence for decades in America,” McClinton said at Salt & Light Church. “Kamala Harris not only has contributed her entire career to public safety, but she has been a vocal and effective advocate to ensure that we have less and less gun violence all across America.”

During her speech, McClinton addressed the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump at a rally in western Pennsylvania on July 13 that resulted in the death of attendee Corey Comperatore and left two others hospitalized. The shooter was also killed at the scene.

McClinton said “we continue to pray” for the victims of the tragedy and those in attendance who had trauma from it, but added that it should be recognized that “no one has been more beholden to the NRA,” than Trump.

“He has stood over and over again with the NRA over our children,” McClinton said of Trump.

The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday.

“Our lives can change so quickly,” Giffords said. “Mine did when I was shot, but I never give up hope.”

Giffords survived an assassination attempt in 2011 in Arizona and discussed her recovery during brief remarks on Thursday.

Emma Brown , executive director of the Giffords organization dedicated to addressing gun violence, highlighted the work that the Biden-Harris administration has done in regards to gun violence. She cited the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act gun safety bill signed into law in 2022 and the creation of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention , which Harris oversees.

State Rep. Jordan Harris (D-Philadelphia), lauded the vice president’s prior work addressing the issue and discussed the local challenges people of all ages in the community deal with related to gun violence.

“How can a child learn mathematics when you subtracted their best friend from the classroom?” Harris said during the press conference.

When discussing how the Pennsylvania General Assembly is addressing gun violence, McClinton pointed to the state House passing three bills that she said would ban ghost guns, close gun show loopholes, and red flag law. Those bills have not passed the GOP-controlled state Senate.

Pennsylvania has been at the center for much of the 2024 presidential campaign and is once again in the spotlight this week following reports that Gov. Josh Shapiro is on Harris’s shortlist for running mates. McClinton, Harris, and various Pennsylvania Democrats have endorsed Shapiro as VP. Shapiro has not confirmed interest in the office, but he also has not denied it.

Giffords’ husband, U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), is reportedly also one of the candidates on Harris’s short list for potential running mates.

Giffords didn’t address speculation about Kelly potentially joining Harris on the ticket, but did respond to a question from reporters when asked to tell them about him.

“He is my best friend,” Giffords said. “He is my best friend. He is so funny, funny, funny. I love him a lot.”

McClinton said “the good news is it’s not up to me,” who will be Harris’s choice for vice president, but said she’s focused on Harrisburg, electing Harris, and “letting people across the nation know that our governor here, Josh Shapiro, has always been a people’s champion,” and lauded his record on public safety from his time as governor and previously serving as attorney general.

“But I also recognize, as I told the congresswoman when she came in, that Sen. Kelly continues to be a champion, a former veteran, an astronaut, someone who earned the United States Senate seat in Arizona with the support of the late Sen. John McCain, is someone we all hold in high regard, but I’m not making those decisions,” McClinton said.

Giffords is reportedly scheduled to stump for the Harris campaign in Michigan over the weekend.

Shapiro will be on the campaign trail for the Harris ticket this weekend in Cumberland County and will be joined by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for an event in the Philadelphia area on Monday.

Trump will be holding a rally in Harrisburg on Wednesday, his first scheduled appearance in the state since the assassination attempt.

An Emerson College poll released earlier on Thursday showed Trump leading Harris by 2 points in Pennsylvania.

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