Clinton campaigns with Giffords, focuses on gun control

Two days before voting begins in Democratic primary, frontrunner paints opponent Bernie Sanders’s record as pro-gun

By Lisa Lerer 31 January 2016, 4:07 am

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A woman in the audience holds a sign that reads "I'm here for the astronaut" as former Arizona Rep. Gabby Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly joins Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton for a rally at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Hillary Clinton campaigned Saturday with gun-control advocates Gabby Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly, trying to draw a contrast between her push for stricter laws with rival Bernie Sanders’s record.

“How can we continue to ignore the toll that this is taking on our children and our country?” Clinton said. “When you go to caucus Monday night please think of this.”

Giffords, the former Democratic congresswoman from Arizona, was gravely wounded in a shooting five years ago in Tucson.

Clinton wants caucus-goers to make gun control a “voting issue.” She has tried to portray Sanders as a National Rifle Association ally by citing his votes against a waiting period for gun purchases and for granting gun manufacturers legal immunity.

Sanders now supports efforts to repeal that immunity and says he’s been a tough opponent of the pro-gun lobby.