Gabrielle Giffords to speak in Dover on gun control

Gabrielle Giffords, a gun control advocate and former Democratic congresswoman from Arizona, will visit Legislative Hall in Dover on Thursday to lobby on behalf of Delaware legislation that would strengthen rules around turning over firearms under the authority of a restraining order.

Giffords has advocated on behalf of stricter gun laws nationwide since she was shot in the head in January 2011 during an event at a Tuscon, Arizona, grocery store.

She will deliver remarks at 2 p.m. Thursday before the Delaware Senate and hold a press conference with the bill's supporters at 3:30 p.m.

Delawareans subject to a Family Court protection-from-abuse order are already prohibited from owning, possessing or purchasing firearms under Delaware law.

The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Margaret Rose Henry, D-Wilmington, would strengthen rules for turning over firearms after the issuance of a protective order.

Henry's legislation would require that protective orders state clearly that firearms must be immediately relinquished and that it's illegal under Delaware law for those subject to a protective order to purchase or possess firearms.

Giffords' husband, Mark Kelly, visited Legislative Hall in 2013 to advocate for stricter gun laws.

Contact Jonathan Starkey at (302) 983-6756, on Twitter @jwstarkey or at jstarkey@delawareonline.com.