Exactly one year ago today, Jared Lee Loughner allegedly opened fire on a crowd meeting Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords outside a Tucson Safeway, killing six people and wounding 14 others, including Rep. Giffords. To remember those who were lost, Mayors Against Illegal Guns has released a video of several survivors describing what happened that day, and why they support the stepped-up enforcement and reform of current gun laws. more ›

Mayor Bloomberg is donating $25,000 apiece to six Democratic Virginia State Senate candidates to ensure that the party maintains control of the Senate and opposes weakening Virginia's already-lax gun laws. Five of them are from Northern Virginia (or "NoVa," for those who have survived it) and the sixth is in the Hampton Roads area. Virginia Republicans are pushing to loosen gun regulations, including the one gun per month restriction currently on the books. Virginia is New York's number one source of illegal handguns. more ›

The House of Representatives passed the bill to raise the debt ceiling in a 269 to 161 vote. The Washington Post has a graphic of the "recalcitrant Republicans and disappointed Democrats [who] rallied around a measure to avert a government default" as well as the House members who voted against the effort, but the real news was that Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Arizona), who was shot in the head at the beginning of the year, made a surprise appearance to cast her vote in support. more ›

Earlier this month, Mayor Bloomberg blasted current gun laws that allowed Jared Lee Loughner, the man accused of attempting to assassinate Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, to buy a gun. Now, with his Mayors Against Illegal Guns group, he has started a new crusade to reform the background checks on gun purchases. According to the campaign, Bloomberg, other lawmakers, and victims of gun violence want Congress to do two things: "1) fulfill the letter of the historic 1968 gun law and ensure that all names of people prohibited from buying a gun are in the background check system; and 2) fulfill the intent of the historic 1968 gun law by subjecting every gun sale to a background check." more ›

In the aftermath of last week's tragic shooting in Tucson, Arizona, which left six people dead and 14 others injured during an apparent assassination attempt on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, much of the ensuing discussion has revolved around gun laws. After Mayor Bloomberg and Peter King called for stricter gun laws this week, Senator Charles Schumer wondered this morning how accused shooter Jared Lee Loughner, who was rejected for military service because of drug use, was able to buy a gun: more ›

In the wake of the horrific Tucson shootings politicians have asked that rhetoric be "toned down," and this is a reminder that that request applies to people on both sides of the political spectrum. James Eric Fuller, a victim of the Tucson shooting, was arrested yesterday for making a death threat at Tucson Tea Party founder Trent Humphries. Fuller was in the front row as Humphries was interviewed on ABC's "This Week," and yelled "you're dead" after Humphries suggested conversations about gun control should be delayed until all the dead were buried. more ›

As the week has gone on, more and more unnerving details have emerged about Jared Lee Loughner, the accused shooter in last weekend's attempted assassination of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords which left six dead and 14 others injured. But late today, the Times reports on a particularly strange new development: law enforcement officials say they have multiple photos of Loughner posing with a Glock 9mm pistol next to his "naked buttocks and dressed in a bright red g-string." more ›

Sarah Palin and the Tea Party have received a lot of criticism in the wake of last weekend's tragic shooting in Tucson, Arizona, prompting Palin to defend herself in a video yesterday, using the antiquated claim of "blood libel." Now, Tucson Tea Party co-founder Trent Humphries has gone one step further, calling the Tea Party victims of the shooting, and arguing that Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is partially responsible for having a lack of security. Regarding Palin's controversial gun-target map, he told the Guardian UK: "It's political gamesmanship. The real case is that she [Giffords] had no security whatsoever at this event. So if she lived under a constant fear of being targeted, if she lived under this constant fear of this rhetoric and hatred that was seething, why would she attend an event in full view of the public with no security whatsoever?" more ›

Mayor Bloomberg, who has already used the assassination attempt in Arizona to push his gun agenda, was asked today about the role of rhetoric and right-wing politicians like Sarah Palin in the tragedy. And—not surprisingly for a man who has been a Democrat, a Republican and an Independent and is constantly eyeing the White House—he instead chose to take target at the shooter and his weapon: more ›

In the aftermath of Saturday's deadly shooting in Tucson, Arizona, in which six were killed and 14 others wounded during an apparent assassination attempt on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, police and media outlets have been scrambling to learn more about the accused shooter, Jared Lee Loughner. And if that means dragging his high school girlfriend into the burning hot eye of the media, then so be it. more ›

Last night, President Obama announced that Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), who was the apparent target of an assassination attempt, had opened her eyes for the first time since being shot in the head on Saturday. And it turns out that Senator Kirsten Gillibrand was holding her hand at the time. Gillibrand, who flew to Tucson with Obama and other Congressional members on Air Force One, was in Giffords' hospital room with Giffords' husband and family, as well as House minority leader Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Debbie Waserman Schultz, and the junior Senator from New York said, "It was like witnessing a miracle." more ›

Potential 2012 presidential candidate Sarah Palin's video statement about the Tucson shooting has been the hot topic today. And that's partly because of her use of the phrase "blood libel." The Anti-Defamation League's Abraham Foxman said, "We wish that Palin had not invoked the phrase 'blood-libel' in reference to the actions of journalists and pundits in placing blame for the shooting in Tucson on others. While the term 'blood-libel' has become part of the English parlance to refer to someone being falsely accused, we wish that Palin had used another phrase, instead of one so fraught with pain in Jewish history." more ›

After a prolonged silence, the parents of Jared Lee Loughner, the 22-year-old who is accused of killing six people and injuring 14 others during an apparent assassination attempt on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson on Saturday, released a statement yesterday regarding their son and the tragic shooting: "There are no words that can possibly express how we feel. We wish that there were so we could make you feel better. We don't understand why this happened. It may not make any difference, but we wish that we could change the heinous events of Saturday. We care very deeply about the victims and their families. We are so very sorry for their loss." more ›

With the country still reeling from the apparent assassination attempt of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, which left six dead and many others injured, outside a Tucson, AZ supermarket, New York politicians have been speaking out about gun laws. Rep. Peter King (R-LI) announced that he would introduce a gun safety bill that would prohibit people from carrying a gun within a 1000 feet of the President, Vice President, members of Congress, and federal judges, "It is imperative that we do all that we can to give law enforcement the tools they need to ensure the safety of New Yorkers and prevent an attack before it happens." more ›

The suspect in the Saturday shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and many others, which left six dead, appeared in court today. Jared Lee Loughner, 20, was held without bail and apparently smirked in court. His mugshot was also released, and it showed the young man with a big smile. more ›

The US Attorney in Arizona has filed charges against Jared Lee Loughner, the accused gunman in yesterday's tragic shooting in Arizona in which six people were killed and 14 wounded. He has been hit with three charges of attempted murder (of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and two members of her staff) and two charges of murdering federal employees (Judge John Roll and Gabriel Zimmerman, a Giffords staff member). And inspectors now believe Loughner was a lone gunman, and have found evidence of a premeditated attempt to assassinate Rep. Giffords. more ›

Six people were killed and 14 others were injured yesterday after a gunman opened fire on a crowd of people at a political meet-and-greet outside an Arizona supermarket. Among those killed were several septuagenarians, Arizona's top federal judge, a political aide to Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, and a 9-year-old girl who was born on September 11, 2001. more ›

Yesterday, politicians of all parties came together to support Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords's speedy recovery after she was shot in the head at her "Congress at Your Corner" event in Tuscon. Suspected gunman Jared Lee Loughner is currently in federal custody, and many New York politicians have released statements on the unthinkable event. "This hateful crime is a tragedy beyond words," said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who dined with Giffords less than a week ago. "More than just a rising political star and phenomenal talent, she is an incredible person." more ›

According to reports, Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot during a public appearance at a Tuscon grocery store today. There are conflicting reports whether she is in surgery or was killed. ABC reports that as many as 12 people had been shot at the "Congress at Your Corner" event outside a Safeway store, and that Giffords had been shot in the head. Two hours ago, she tweeted, "My 1st Congress on Your Corner starts now. Please stop by to let me know what is on your mind or tweet me later." [UPDATES BELOW] more ›