McCain supports gun control, gets ... flowers

A Gabrielle Giffords staffer shot in 2011 has given roses to Sen. John McCain for supporting expanded background checks. He was one of just four Republicans to do so.



WASHINGTON — As the National Rifle Association kicks off its annual convention in Houston and Democrats ponder a new gun control push led by Vice President Joe Biden, last month's failed effort to expand background checks for gun purchases still looms large for both sides. Senators, many of them in their home states during a congressional recess this week, have gotten praise and backlash for their votes. John McCain got roses.


As Slate's Dave Weigel first reported Thursday, McCain received the gift from Pam Simon, a staffer to former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. In January 2011, a gunman opened fire at Giffords' event with Arizona constituents. Simon was shot in the arm and chest, while Giffords was shot in the head and only narrowly survived. Six people were killed, including another Giffords staff member and a 9-year-old girl.

McCain was one of only four Republicans to support the Senate bill put forward by Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Pat Toomey, R-Pa., that would have expanded background check requirements to cover gun sales over the Internet and at gun shows. The bill got 54 "yes" votes, but fell short of a 60-vote threshold needed for most measures in the current Senate.

"I would like to thank you so much for your vote on background checks," said Simon, giving McCain a bouquet of 19 roses, representing the six people killed and 13 people wounded in the shooting in front of a Tucson grocery store.

McCain was speaking at an unrelated town hall meeting Thursday in Oro Valley, 15 miles outside of Tucson. He said he would continue to try to push for gun control measures