TUCSON, Ariz. — The 8th anniversary of the January 8th shooting in Tucson is on Tuesday. The deadly shooting left six dead and 13 injured, including now former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.
"Its always a sad day. You know, it was so unnecessary for that young man to do that horrible thing where 6 people died, including little Christina Taylor Green," said Patricia Maisch, shooting survivor and hero.
Maisch prefers not to say she's moved on, because one can't ever truly move on from a tragic experience. But rather, she says she's worked on looking forward.
"We don't like to move away from that, because its such an important thing. But my outlook has always been hopeful. That proved itself this past fall with the elections. How many women were elected, how many women and men were elected on gun violence prevention," said Maisch.
Looking back at her actions on Jan. 8, 2011, Maisch, along with several others, were named heroes that day for their brave actions to stop the mass killer.
"I was able to act because two heroes that day, Roger Salzgeber and Bill Badger, had the courage to come after him. Which gave me the ability to take that magazine away from him," said Maisch.
She says having fellow survivors to lean on after the fact was comforting and still is to this day.
"People who have not been involved with an active shooter, don't have any idea. It's a real touching and its comforting to be with other survivors. And I'm always honored, because, I'm on the outside ring of survivor-ship. There are so many other people that are right in the center of it, that I feel honored to be in their lives and have them in mine," said Maisch.
8 years later, she has been a voice against gun violence and a voice for survivors and victims around the country.
"Thank you for taking the time to remember . Its important. People who's loved ones had been taken, all they do is want you to remember so that they don't fade away," said Maisch.
A memorial service will be held at Tucson Fire Department's Station 1 on S. Fire Central Place at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning.
Also that day, Maisch says a bipartisan bill for improved background checks, assisted by Giffords and Mark Kelly, will be introduced on the house floor in Washington D.C.
