[Baldwin:] Now to the 2020 race. Not for president, not for Senate, but for the seat vacated by the passing of John McCain. Winning his spot next year has become the next mission of former astronaut, Mark Kelly, a Democrat. Kelly is also the husband of former Congresswoman Gabby Gifford, who was nearly murdered in 2011 in a mass shooting. The couple has become vocal gun control advocates. Gifford, who suffered major brain trauma was featured prominently in Kelly's announcement.
[Mark Kelly, , Arizona Senate Candidate & Former Astronaut:] You remember when you first entered Congress for the first time?
[Gabby Giffords, , Former Congresswoman:] Yes, so exciting.
[Kelly:] It was exciting. I thought then that I had the risky job.
[Giffords:] Yes.
[Kelly:] Turned out that you were the one who had the risky job.
[Giffords:] Yes.
[Kelly:] What I learned from my wife is how you use policy to improve people's lives. I've decided that I'm launching a campaign for the United States Senate. We've seen this retreat from science and data and facts, and if we don't take these issues seriously, we can't solve these problems.
[Baldwin:] Right now, the Arizona seat is filled by Republican Martha McSally who will hold the seat until special election next year. It is a significant week for gun control advocates who are about to see a big move on Capitol Hill in their favor. This Thursday will mark the one-year anniversary of the shooting at the time Parkland, Florida, high school where 17 people were killed. The Democratic congressman, who represents the area, plans to introduce a bill to ban high-capacity magazines. So let's go to Capitol Hill to CNN Congressional Reporter, Liz Landers. And, Liz, there are no Republican co-sponsors for this bill. So how likely that it becomes law?
[Liz Landers, Cnn Congressional Reporter:] Brooke, this is going to be an uphill battle for Democrats right now, but it's a battle that they are willing to fight. As you said, it's been a year since that Parkland shooting happened and there's been no meaningful legislation in either the House or the Senate on gun control. Today, Congressman Deutch, who represents that district in Parkland, joined with Bob Menendez to reintroduce a ban on high-capacity magazines for guns. That means any device that attaches to a weapon that has 10 rounds of ammunition or more. Deutch spoke just a few moments ago at a press conference. Here's what he said about that bill. "The few seconds that it takes to reload a weapon matter. And those seconds can take can save a life." As you mentioned, there's no bipartisan support for this bill quite yet. I asked Senator Bob Menendez why he's optimistic that anything can happen with this, especially in the Republican-controlled majority Senate. Listen to what he had to say about why he's optimistic about that.
[Sen. Bob Menendez , New Jersey:] The reality of a Democratic majority sending legislation I believe this week they're starting on background check, if I'm not mistaken. But that creates an impetus and a challenge for the Republican leader in the Senate. Are you going to silence the voices that want to see reasonable gun safety measures or are you going to give it an up-or-down vote on the Senate floor? We're going to test in every way we can that proposition.
[Landers:] Now, Brooke, as you can imagine, the NRA has been critical of this new reintroduction of this bill. And I'd also point out that this has been introduced in the past. So what the NRA says is, you know, this is an arbitrary limit that's pulled out of thin air with no evidence that this limit would even improve public safety. But today, at this press conference on the Hill, Manny Oliver, who lost his son in that Parkland shooting, said of gun legislation action, "We are not asking, we're not begging, we demand" Brooke?
[Baldwin:] We demand. Liz Landers, thank you very much. Now I just want to take a minute to read a special letter, not just because Valentine's Day is Thursday, it's the same day as Parkland shooting from a year ago. The words I'm about to read are from Lori Alhadeff, to her daughter, Alyssa, who was just 14 when her daughter was killed just one year ago. So few. I'll try to get through this. She writes, "Dear Alyssa, it is Valentine's Day, a day full of love, chocolates and flowers. For me, it is more than that now. Last Valentine's Day was the last time I saw you. Whew. You wore a black and white dress. Your long dark hair dangled, your make-up looked just right. Of course, your white sneakers protected your feet as you walked into the high school. Valentine's Day is now about memories. Today, like all days, I remember you. I remember you weren't looking forward to going to school that day. And like many 14-year-old girls, you wanted a valentine and were disappoint that you didn't have one. High school love is magic. I was 14 once, and those butterflies had whirled inside of me, too. I wanted that for you." I want to get through this because these words matter. "I remember the golden gift bag I gave you that morning. It held a pair of diamond earrings to make you feel pretty. A chocolate bar to make you smile. And a hair tie so you wouldn't ask for mine. I touched your ears putting the stems of the earrings through your lobes. You said you were ready to go to school after that. You opened the car door. "I love you,'I said. 'I love you, too," you said. Valentine's Day, the last time I saw you alive." She continues on. "A year has been a long time without you. So much has happened I want to tell you about. I watch your brother's miss you terribly. They want to know that they miss fighting with you. They say thank you for convincing dad to get unlimited Wi-Fi. Dad fights for you every day. He is your voice. Grammy has honored you and became a school safety activist. We got a dog. Her name is Roxie and she's a soccer player like you. She kicks the ball around the yard but sometimes puts it in her mouth. And your soccer team, wow, what a group? They wear your number eight on their sleeves and have started using it sideways to honor you, Infiniti. Oh, and I found out about the time you jumped off a bridge. Alyssa, you jumped off a bridge! There are things I do in your memory that I never thought I could or would ever do. You see a mother's protective instincts don't leave when we lose the ones we love. I talk to other moms who have lost children. We talk about you. We talk about their kids. But when we look into each other's eyes we see it, a fire. I ran for the school board. I won. I screamed on national TV words of rage directed at the president. I started a nonprofit called Make Our Schools Safe. And there's a law named after you in New Jersey, Alyssa's Law." She goes on. "But I just want to include her closing. It's Valentine's Day. As I remember you, grief washes over me, but that grief emboldened me to fight for change. I wish I could take all the bullets for you. It has been a year since I saw you. You in the black-and-white dress, those Converse on your feet and that smile. I'll never forget that smile. It feels like yesterday. I just want to you back. Love forever, Mom."