WASHINGTON (CBS) -- Two years ago today a gunman opened fire in Tucson, Arizona killing six people and injuring more than a dozen including Gabrielle Giffords. Now the former Congresswoman is launching a new effort to curb gun violence at the same time the Obama administration is holding meetings to hash out a new gun control strategy.
Bells rang out this morning in Tucson, Arizona marking the moment when a gunman opened fired two years ago today. Six people were killed and 13 injured including former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.
Today Giffords and her husband, retired astronaut Mark Kelly, launched a new political action committee aimed at reducing gun violence. Last week Giffords met with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a gun control advocate.
The group he founded called Demand a Plan is airing ads with the mother of the youngest victim in the Tucson shooting.
There have been 11 mass shooting in the U.S. since the one in Tucson including the massacre in Newtown, Connecticut. The shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary sparked an Obama administration push to prevent gun violence.
Vice President Joe Biden is leading the administration effort and plans a series of meetings this week with gun owners, victims' organizations and the video game industry.
The President faces a challenge from National Rifle Association and its supporters. A group of gun rights advocates in Washington is planning a gun appreciation day just two days before the President's second inauguration. Larry Ward, chairman of Gun Appreciation Day says, "Get people to support the second we want people to go out and got to their gun stores, buy a few bullets, shoot a few bullets."
The White House says the President wants to outline a gun violence plan during his state of the union address.
Biden is expected to deliver not just recommendations for new legislation, but to also propose action the President can take without approval for Congress.