Local opinion: A survivor's view during National Gun Violence Survivor Week Feb. 1-7

On Jan. 8 of this year, I stood in front of the beautiful memorial downtown to commemorate that fateful day 15 years ago. The blue sky, the cold breeze, a group of people, all brought back that tragic day so clearly. I remembered Gabby running across the parking lot, eager to meet her constituents. Then minutes later, I heard shots fired, and I was on the ground with a bullet lodged in my body. Around me, Congresswoman Giffords and 11 others lay wounded and six people were dead.

That experience propelled me into gun violence prevention activism. Several other Tucson survivors and I have championed gun safety legislation at the local, state, and national level. We are horrified that Arizona has some of the weakest gun laws in the country and the 18th-highest gun death rate in the nation. Approximately 1,300 people die each year in Arizona from gun violence, with 1,125 wounded. There are many common-sense gun measures that would greatly reduce this number, but the Republican majority in the Arizona Legislature refuses to even let gun safety bills advance to a vote. In 2016, a preemption statute was passed by the Legislature that prohibits cities and counties from enacting their own gun safety laws. Often, people ask me, "Is anything being done to curb gun violence?" The answer is yes.

City and county leaders have had to be creative in the face of these restrictions to find ways to create safer communities. One of Mayor Regina Romero's first official acts was to join Mayors Against Illegal Guns. This bipartisan coalition of over 2,000 mayors from across the country seeks ways to reduce illegal access to firearms and support proven prevention policies. This connected Tucson to best practices from around the nation.

Several programs have been initiated by the mayor to decrease violence in Tucson. The city has created its first 311 non-emergency line to improve how residents can connect with help before a situation escalates into an emergency. Time and time again, an argument can lead to a tragedy. Intervention is a proven way to decrease the catastrophic outcome when a trigger is pulled in the heat of the moment. Community Service Officers have increased from 50 in 2019 to 150 today. This has improved the city's ability to respond to nonviolent safety concerns. These CSOs are trained in de-escalation and building relationships in the communities they serve.

The City of Tucson initially became involved in the Place Network Investigation Pilot when the National Policing Institute (NPI) partnered with six jurisdictions nationwide to implement PNI and evaluate effectiveness. In Tucson, gun violence was reduced over 18 months in three targeted sites by up to 80%. This program became permanent with the VIVA (Violence Interruption Vitalization Action) in 2024, and a fourth site has been added.

Investing in young people is seen as a key to preventing violence before it starts. The mayor and council focused on tangible investments in youth by partnering with trusted organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club and others to reach more youth with mentorship, job readiness and leadership development.

In 2025, the CODAC Trauma Recovery Center was opened, providing much-needed services for survivors and victims of violent crime. This is one of only 55 across the country. Trauma recovery services help reduce long-term harm and future victimization following violent incidents.

I have met survivors of gun violence from across the nation and heard their stories. It is so evident that there is much that can be done to create communities that are safe and vibrant. Feb. 1-7 is National Gun Violence Survivor Week. Several of the Jan. 8 survivors, as well as other survivors of gun violence, will attend an event in which Mayor Regina Romero will read a proclamation from the city honoring survivors and families of victims. We are deeply grateful and ready to work alongside our mayor and council as they seek more ways in which to keep our community safe.