countrytimes.com
State Rep. DebraLee Hovey, R-Newtown, who last week on her Facebook page called on shooting victim Gabrielle Giffords to “stay out of my towns,” issued an apology Monday.
“The remarks I made regarding Congresswoman Gifford’s visit were insensitive and if I offended anyone I truly apologize,” Hovey said in a statement issued by her office, referring to Giffords’ visit Friday to Newtown.
“My comments were meant to be protective of the privacy of the families and our community as we work to move on, and were in no way intended as an insult to Congresswoman Giffords personally. Our community has struggled greatly through this tragedy, and we are all very sensitive to the potential for this event to be exploited for political purposes. This is what I wish to avoid,” Hovey said in her statement.
Former Democratic Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and her husband, Mark Kelly, went to Newtown, Connecticut met privately with several government officials before meeting with some of the families of the 20 children and six teachers killed in a massacre by lone gunman, Adam Lanza, at the Sandy Hook Elementary School last month. Giffords and Kelly have been increasingly involved in lobbying for stricter gun laws and improved access to mental health treatment
