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Obama Greets Giffords, Esty Before State Of The Union Address

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. – U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty, a Connecticut Democrat, had a nearly front row seat for Tuesday night's State of the Union – along with her special guest, former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

Gabrielle Giffords reaches out to President Barack Obama before the State of the Union Address begins Tuesday night. Giffords, a former Congresswoman and gun violence victim, is sitting with U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn., 5th District).

Gabrielle Giffords reaches out to President Barack Obama before the State of the Union Address begins Tuesday night. Giffords, a former Congresswoman and gun violence victim, is sitting with U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn., 5th District).

 Photo Credit: YouTube Screenshot / The White House
Gabrielle Giffords reaches out to President Barack Obama before the Stat eof the Union Address begins Tuesday night. Giffords, a former Congresswoman and gun violence victim, is sitting with U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn., 5th District).

Gabrielle Giffords reaches out to President Barack Obama before the Stat eof the Union Address begins Tuesday night. Giffords, a former Congresswoman and gun violence victim, is sitting with U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn., 5th District).

 Photo Credit: YouTube Screenshot / The White House
Daily Voice

The television cameras turned a number of times to Esty (D-5th District) and Giffords, who was shot five years ago while meeting with voters at an Arizona supermarket. Obama paused to embrace both on his way into the House chamber as well. Esty and Giffords are leading gun violence prevention legislation advocates.

Esty praised the president's speech, his last State of the Union address. 

“Tonight, President Obama highlighted our country’s resilience and recovery since the 2008 economic collapse, and reminded us of our shared, uniquely American tradition of working together to create a brighter future for all our children," Esty said in a statement.

“I join the president in his call for innovation and investment in education and economic opportunities. Focusing our efforts in this way is essential to growing our middle class, lifting wages, and helping working families in central and northwest Connecticut," she said.

“The president also challenged Congress to take action on gun violence prevention legislation and to prevent opioid addiction. I have repeatedly called on my colleagues to have this debate since the tragedy at Sandy Hook, as we have not had a single vote on the issue. Partisanship cannot be an excuse for inaction in Congress and it is time we answer the call to honor with action those we have lost due to senseless gun violence."

Esty was also at the White House just last week as Obama announced new executive orders aimed at curbing gun violence. But in the State of the Union address, he uttered the words "gun violence" only once. 

Overall, Esty praised the speech and the president. 

“Make no mistake, the United States remains the strongest nation on Earth. As Americans, we have risen to every challenge, secure in the knowledge that when we work together, when we draw on the best from all of our people, we will prevail.”

Esty also brought James Wardwell, chief of police for New Britain, as her guest for the speech due to his effective efforts to address opioid addiction and gun violence. 

Esty serves as Vice Chair of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force and on the Bipartisan Task Force to Combat the Heroin Epidemic. 

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