Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, who survived a gunshot wound to the head in 2011, spoke on the final night of the Democratic convention, stating that Vice President Kamala Harris “can beat the gun lobby.”
Giffords, who began her congressional career in 2006, faced a tragic turn of events when she was nearly killed in a mass shooting during a constituent event in Tucson, Arizona, which resulted in six fatalities and numerous injuries.
Reflecting on her past, Giffords noted, “For five years, I served in Congress from a swing district. Everybody called me a rising star.” She described the day of the shooting as “a terrible, terrible day.”
After the incident, she stepped down from her congressional role to concentrate on her recovery, subsequently emerging as a staunch advocate for gun reform. Despite her ongoing challenges with speech, Giffords demonstrated significant improvement in her address at the convention.
“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 stated.
In her speech, Giffords expressed gratitude to President Biden for his consistent support since her shooting, describing him as a “decent man,” and recognized Harris for her toughness and resilience.
“Kamala can beat the gun lobby,” Giffords affirmed.
Giffords was joined by her husband, Senator Mark Kelly from Arizona, who commented after a performance by Pink. He humorously noted the challenge of following both Giffords and the artist on stage.
Mark Kelly highlighted Giffords’ strength, saying, “She was able to walk out and address you tonight because she’s a fighter.” He then shifted the focus to national security concerns, criticizing former President Trump for his relationships with authoritarian leaders and emphasizing the threats facing the U.S.
Kelly appreciated Harris for her support of American troops, NATO, Ukraine, and for safeguarding democratic processes, pointing out the contrasting views expressed by Trump about service members.
Having entered politics in 2020 to finish the term of the late John McCain, Kelly successfully flipped a key Senate seat in Arizona, allowing Democrats to hold both Senate positions in the state for the first time in nearly 70 years. He subsequently secured reelection in 2022 and was considered a candidate for both Vice President Harris’s running mate and as a potential replacement for Biden amid calls for him to step back from the race.