Thursday, June 17
Bern, Switzerland
Home Front Update on Gun Safety Reform with Gabby Giffords, Peter Ambler, and Phil Andrew
As US citizens living abroad, we have all watched the news with dismay as stories unfold about yet another shooting. It's very easy to feel helpless; what can we do? Many of us live in countries with comprehensive gun regulations (even "liberal" Switzerland) and we want some of those same regulations applied back home.
We have organized an amazing panel of experts to discuss the major developments in firearm policy reform that have been taking shape over the past year. Please join us as we welcome:
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Gabby Giffords, former Congresswoman and co-founder of Giffords
As the youngest woman ever elected to the Arizona State Senate and a trailblazer in other offices, Gabby represented her community in the Arizona legislature from 2000 to 2005, and then in Congress from 2006 to 2012.
On January 8, 2011, at a “Congress On Your Corner” constituent event in Tucson, Gabby was shot in the head by a gunman who killed six people and injured 12 others. Gabby stepped down from Congress in January 2012 to focus on her recovery. As the nation’s eyes were upon her, Gabby embarked on a path to regain her ability to speak and walk, inspiring the country with her resilience and optimistic spirit.
In 2013, after the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, Gabby co-founded the organization today known as Giffords. Over the past several years, the organization has been a leader in the national gun safety movement, making gun safety a kitchen table issue for voters. Giffords has helped gun safety champions win up and down the ballot in local, state, and federal races and worked hard to pass lifesaving legislation in states across the country and in the US House of Representatives.
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Peter Ambler, Executive Director and co-founder of Giffords
Peter Ambler currently serves as the executive director of Giffords: Courage to Fight Gun Violence, which he co-founded with Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, Captain Mark Kelly.
In his capacity as executive director, Peter has guided the growth of the organization from a start-up in Washington DC to a national group with offices and staff across the country. As Giffords has expanded, Peter has overseen the organization’s defining moments as it has challenged the NRA’s dominance, changed the politics and culture of guns, won elections, and passed legislation as part of the fight for gun safety. Peter worked closely with Senate leaders on the 2013 Manchin-Toomey background check bill and with the Obama White House on the 2016 gun safety executive actions, developed and implemented innovative advertising and electoral campaigns in elections across the country, oversaw the organization’s support for the over 300 gun safety laws that have passed since Sandy Hook, and built coalitions of prominent supporters that contribute to the mission of Giffords.
- Phil Andrew, Principal and co-founder of PAX Group
Phil Andrew has over 30 years of professional expertise in building great teams, cultures and strategies that navigate complex and dynamic relationships, projects and environments. Phil served 21 years as a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) throughout the U.S. and overseas with expertise in violence prevention, counter terrorism, intelligence, crisis management and hostage negotiation, crimes against children, undercover work, behavioral analysis and broad investigative experience. He has led complex investigations and deployed regularly on domestic and international kidnappings and hostage-takings and has received numerous FBI and US Department of Justice awards.
In May 1988, Phil Andrew, then a 20-year-old college student, was shot in the chest in the aftermath of the Hubbard Woods elementary school shooting in Winnetka—one of the nation’s first modern mass school shootings.
Andrew survived his injuries, but the experience would ultimately shape his priorities and his career. In the 33 years since the shooting, he has dedicated his life to fighting violence - as a survivor, FBI agent, crisis negotiator and subject mater expert. He has served as an instructor at the FBI Academy and expert in crisis management, negotiation, behavior analysis and undercover work. Phil has keynoted, consulted and trained clients globally. Prior to the FBI, Phil practiced law in Chicago.
Time allowing, there will be a Q&A after their presentation.
WHEN
Thursday, June 17, 2021 at 05:00 PM Bern Time
WHERE
WebEx - RSVP to receive details
Bern, BE
Switzerland
Google map and directions
CONTACT
Karen Herzog
[email protected]