Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, who survived a life-threatening gunshot wound to the head in 2011, expressed her belief in Vice President Kamala Harris’ ability to take on the gun lobby during a speech at the Democratic National Convention’s closing night.
Giffords, a prominent figure in the Democratic Party after her election to Congress in 2006, was severely injured during a community event in Tucson, Arizona, where a shooting left six people dead and many others wounded. Reflecting on her career, she recalled the challenges she faced on the day of the shooting, describing it as “a terrible, terrible day.”
After resigning from Congress a year post-incident to focus on her recovery, Giffords has emerged as a prominent advocate for gun reform. Despite her ongoing struggles with speech, she demonstrated significant progress during her recent address, 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.”
In her speech, Giffords expressed gratitude towards President Biden for his continued support and called him a “decent man.” She characterized Harris as “tough” and possessing “grit,” affirming her confidence by stating, “Kamala can beat the gun lobby.”
The event also included testimonies from other survivors of gun violence, such as a teacher from the Sandy Hook massacre and a mother who lost her child in the Uvalde shooting.
Accompanying Giffords was her husband, Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, who humorously remarked about following Giffords and singer Pink in the program lineup. He praised Giffords’ resilience, noting her ability to address the audience despite her struggles with aphasia.
Kelly then shifted focus to foreign policy, criticizing former President Trump and asserting the importance of strong leadership in the face of global threats posed by countries like Russia, Iran, North Korea, and China. He highlighted Harris’ support for U.S. troops, NATO, and democratic values in elections.
Entering politics in 2020, Kelly won a Senate seat previously held by John McCain and successfully secured reelection in 2022. His name was considered as a possible running mate for Harris, as well as a potential successor for Biden amid discussions about his candidacy.