Arizona's two senators are urging the U.S. Department of Interior to support building a memorial in Tucson to honor those who were injured, killed in the January 2011 shooting.
John McCain and Jeff Flake sent a letter to Secretary Sally Jewell in hopes she and others will support the effort by many Arizonans to build a memorial to honor the six people who were killed in the shooting along with the 13 people, including Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who were injured.
A copy of the letter is available below:
We write to bring your attention to a letter we received from our constituents regarding their efforts to establish a permanent memorial as a tribute to the victims of the January 8, 2011 shooting in Tucson, Arizona. On this day, a gunman targeted an event being hosted by Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. The attack took the lives of six innocent people, including Chief Judge John Roll, and wounded 13 individuals, including Rep. Giffords, while impacting countless others across the country. As this letter so accurately describes, the spontaneous memorials that sprang up in the wake of the tragedy, and the future permanent memorial, convey the spirit of solidarity of this community in the face of this horrific event.
Given the impact this tragedy has had on the community of Tucson, the state of Arizona, and the nation as a whole, we believe the attached request is worthy of your consideration. Please carefully consider this request, consistent with existing rules, regulations, and ethical guidelines. Please don't hesitate to contact our staff if you have any further questions.
Sincerely,
John McCain
Jeff Flake
