Giffords, Obama meet on somber anniversary

TUCSON, Ariz. – Former Arizona Rep. Gabby Giffords spent part of the fourth anniversary of the mass shooting that left her gravely wounded meeting with President Barack Obama as her city paused to remember the tragedy that left six dead and 13 injured.

Nineteen solemn bells rang Thursday morning to honor the victims of a shooting in Tucson at a political event hosted by Giffords.

Giffords did not attend the event but met with Obama during his visit to Phoenix.

“It was four years ago today that Gabby and some other wonderful Arizonans were gunned down outside a supermarket in Tucson. It’s a tough day for a lot of folks down there. We keep them in our thoughts and prayers,” Obama said.

“She’s a hero, and she’s a great Arizonan. So we’re really proud of her,” he said.

The ceremony in Tucson took place at 10:10 a.m. and included a bell-ringing for each of the 19 victims of the attack.

“I think it’s important that we never forget what happened because there are a lot of lessons that can be learned from what happened,” said former Arizona Rep. Ron Barber, who was wounded in the shooting and who attended the ceremony.

Organizers with the January 8th Memorial, a nonprofit foundation, are in the final phase of selecting a designer for a permanent memorial. The foundation hopes to finish the memorial in downtown Tucson this year, manager Michelle Crow said.