Shooting Victim to Attend State of the Union

Pembroke Pines, FL, February 12, 2013
On Tuesday in Washington D.C., survivors of gun violence will come together as they join their local representatives to watch President Barack Obama deliver his State of the Union address. Rep. Wasserman Schultz invites 17-year-old Megan Hobson to join he

PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. – Last April, Megan Hobson was the victim of a drive-by shooting. She was hit by a bullet that entered the car through the trunk and then entered her body through the back, affecting her intestines, bladder, pelvis bones and other surrounding tissue and bone.

Even though she was shot, Megan thought quickly and moved the two-year-old who was sitting beside her in the back seat so that he was down below the seat, saving his life. Megan lost a significant amount of blood from the shooting and needed several transfusions. She spent three weeks in the ICU at Memorial Regional Hospital and then several more weeks in inpatient rehab. She has had multiple surgeries to repair the damage and is left with a residual weakness in one leg.

Across the nation, there are victims of gun violence like Megan, who have been brave enough to share their stories with the public. On Tuesday in Washington D.C., survivors of gun violence will come together as they join their local representatives to watch President Barack Obama deliver his State of the Union address.

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) has invited Megan to be her guest to the address, where the President is expected to talk about the national debate surrounding gun violence prevention, and how our country can move forward to prevent future tragedies like the recent one at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn.

Before heading to Washington on Tuesday, Megan joined Rep. Wasserman Schultz at her Pembroke Pines office to discuss how excited she is to attend the State of the Union and her views on gun violence. Rep. Wasserman Schultz also discussed recent roundtables she’s hosted with local officials, law enforcement, and gun owners about ideas for sensible measures that can help curb gun violence.

Megan is a first 17-year-old first generation American citizen from Hialeah, Florida. She went to Memorial Regional Hospital as a trauma patient following the drive-by shooting. She has since returned to American Senior High School, where she is an honor roll student working hard to catch up on her school work in order to graduate on time with her class. She also volunteers to help other trauma patients at Memorial Regional Hospital.