Former Representative Gabby Giffords, who survived a life-threatening gunshot wound in 2011, expressed confidence in Vice President Kamala Harris’s ability to challenge the gun lobby during her speech at the Democratic National Convention’s final night.
Giffords, who served in Congress from 2006 until her resignation in 2012 to focus on recovery from the shooting, emphasized her journey of resilience, stating, “I almost died. But I fought for my life and I survived. I learned to walk again, one step at a time. I learned to talk again, one word at a time.” She reflected on her past, recalling the day she was shot during a public event in Tucson, Arizona, which left six people dead and many others injured.
During her speech, Giffords expressed gratitude towards President Biden for his continued support and labeled him a “decent man.” She commended Harris for her determination and praised her capabilities, stating, “Kamala can beat the gun lobby.”
The convention also featured other individuals affected by gun violence, including a survivor from the Sandy Hook tragedy and a mother mourning the loss of a child in the Uvalde school shooting.
Senator Mark Kelly, Giffords’s husband, joined her on stage and highlighted her perseverance despite her challenges with speech due to aphasia. He remarked on her strength and then shifted the discussion to foreign policy, criticizing former President Trump for his approach to international relations and proclaiming the seriousness of the threats facing the United States.
Kelly, who succeeded in flipping Arizona’s Senate seat in 2020, noted the significance of Harris’s support for troops, veterans, and democratic values while recalling Trump’s negative remarks about service members.
He also mentioned that Harris had considered him as a potential running mate, before ultimately choosing Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Kelly was re-elected in 2022, reinforcing his position in a state that had transitioned to support Democratic candidates after decades of Republican representation.