Gabby Giffords’ Husband Buys AR-15

Mark Kelly, the husband of former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and a gun control activist, recently purchased an AR-15 from a gun store in Tuscon, Arizona.

Along with the AR-15, referred to as an “assault weapon” by the media and politicians, Kelly also purchased a 1911-style pistol. Witnesses said that Kelly also purchased “high capacity” magazines as well.

The story was reported by Breitbart, off a tip from Neil McCabe, the editor of the Guns & Patriots newsletter. McCabe said: “Mark E. Kelly, made purchases which included an AR-15–sometimes described as an ‘assault rifle’–at 3:30 pm on the afternoon of March 5 at Diamondback Police Supply, 170 S. Kolb Street, Tucson, AZ.”

Though it may look like a clear case of hypocrisy on the part of Kelly, he actually announced his purchase of an AR-15 on Facebook, explaining that he bought the guns and the magazines to illustrate why we need stricter gun control in the nation.

“I just had a background check a few days ago when I went to my local gun store to buy a.45. As I was leaving, I noticed a used AR-15,” wrote Kelly. “Bought that too. Even to buy an assault weapon, the background check only takes a matter of minutes. I don’t have possession of it yet but I’ll be turning it over to the Tucson PD when I do.”

During a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting on January 30, Kelly testified, urging senators to restrict the sale of certain firearms based on how deadly they are. Kelly and Giffords have also founded an advocacy group to restrict fun ownership, Americans for Responsible Solutions. On its website, they write that “high capacity magazines are a deadly factor in gun violence.”

The website continues: “Congress should act to limit the sale of high capacity magazines, which are not needed for hunting or self-defense, but have proven very lethal,” and that “Congress should act to limit the sale of assault weapons.”

Kelly also recently appeared on Fox News Sunday, telling host Chris Wallace that lawmakers need to address “assault weapons,” because the purpose of such firearms is “to kill a lot of people very quickly,” and argued that such guns are “too readily available.”

Kelly’s purchase of an AR-15 was meant to illustrate that point. While he intends to turn the rifle in when he picks it up, it is unknown what he plans to do with the 1911-style handgun he purchased.