Former Rep. Gabby Giffords suing Trump, feds over NRA documents
Nov 9, 2017, 6:57 PM | Updated: Nov 10, 2017, 11:36 am
Former Rep. Gabby Giffords of Arizona, who survived an assassination attempt in 2011, raises her fist after calling for action on gun safety legislation on the House steps with fellow Democrats after the deadly mass shooting in Las Vegas this week, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
PHOENIX — An organization headed by former Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.) has sued the Trump administration in an effort to see any communications between officials and the National Rifle Association.
The Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence filed suit against the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for failing to turn over documents relating to those types of communications.
The group reportedly filed multiple Freedom of Information Act requests for documents on the following, according to the publication:
• Policies on concealed carry reciprocity, gun silencers, bump stocks and assault weapon exports
• Evidence that Donald Trump Jr. improperly lobbied on behalf of gun manufacturing companies
• Communications between gun lobbying groups and senior administration officials after October’s mass shooting in Las Vegas
• Attempts by the NRA to review bump stock regulations in coordination with ATF
The group said those documents could show the NRA’s influence over President Donald Trump’s gun policies, but said all of their requests were ignored, the lawsuit alleged.
Robyn Thomas, executive director of the Giffords Law Center, said the Trump administration was “willing to let the National Rifle Association dictate its federal gun safety policy.”
“Protecting the safety of Americans should be the top priority of any president,” she said in the statement. “Unfortunately, gun lobby profits seem to be more important to President Trump.”
Giffords was severely wounded in an assassination attempt in Tucson in 2011 that killed six people and wounded another dozen. She was shot in the head and has difficulty speaking. Shooter Jared Loughner was sentenced to life in prison.
Giffords resigned from Congress the next year. She has since traveled the country advocating for stronger gun-control policies.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
