Gabby Giffords

Gabrielle Dee Giffords was born on June 8, 1970, and grew up in Tucson, Arizona;{{CongLinks | congbio=g000554 }} her parents were Gloria Kay (née Fraser) and Spencer J. Giffords. She was raised in a mixed religious environment, as her mother was a Christian Scientist and her father was Jewish. Her paternal grandfather, Akiba Hornstein, was a Jewish emigrant from Lithuania who changed his name to Giffords to avoid anti-Semitism in the United States.{{cite news |last1=Stolbert |first1=Sheryl Gay |last2=Yardley |first2=William |title=For Giffords, Tucson Roots Shaped Views |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/15/us/15profile.html |work=The New York Times |date=January 15, 2011 |access-date=February 24, 2017 |archive-date=March 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170321073442/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/15/us/15profile.html |url-status=live}} Through her father, Giffords is a second cousin of actress Gwyneth Paltrow and director Jake Paltrow.{{cite web |title=Congresswoman Gifford's Hollywood Connection to Paltrows |url=http://www.showbiz411.com/2011/01/09/congresswoman-giffords-hollywood-connection-to-paltrows |url-status=live |date=January 9, 2011 |access-date=January 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308055440/http://www.showbiz411.com/2011/01/09/congresswoman-giffords-hollywood-connection-to-paltrows |archive-date=March 8, 2013|quote=Gabrielle Giffords' [paternal] grandmother and Gwyneth Paltrow's late [paternal] grandfather were brother and sister.}}

Giffords graduated from Tucson's University High School. She is a former Girl Scout. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Latin American History from Scripps College in California in 1993;{{cite web |url=http://giffords.house.gov/about/ |title=Biography |access-date=January 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110106092033/http://giffords.house.gov/about/ |archive-date=January 6, 2011}} and spent a year as a Fulbright Scholar in Chihuahua, Mexico.{{cite web |title="Many prayers are interceding for your recovery" | Scripps College Alumna Gabrielle Giffords |url=http://community.scrippscollege.edu/gabrielle/fact-sheet/M/ |publisher=Community.scrippscollege.edu |access-date=January 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707234609/http://community.scrippscollege.edu/gabrielle/fact-sheet/M/ |archive-date=July 7, 2012}} She returned to graduate school, earning a Master's degree in Regional Planning from Cornell University in 1996. She focused her studies on Mexican-American relations.

Giffords worked as an associate for regional economic development at Price Waterhouse in New York City. In 1996, she became president and CEO of El Campo Tire Warehouses, a local chain of auto service centers founded by her grandfather. The business was sold to Goodyear Tire in 2000. At the time of the sale, she commented on the difficulties local businesses face when competing against large national firms.{{cite web |url=http://www.giffordsforcongress.com/2005/08/17/giffords-lombardi-picked-as-top-young-leaders/ |title=Giffords campaign website |access-date=May 8, 2007 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070421130424/http://www.giffordsforcongress.com/2005/08/17/giffords-lombardi-picked-as-top-young-leaders/ |archive-date=April 21, 2007}}

Since 2001, she has practiced Judaism exclusively and belongs to Congregation Chaverim, a Reform synagogue, in Tucson.{{cite web |last=Ya'ar |first=Chana |title=Jewish US Lawmaker Gabrielle Giffords Shot, Prognosis Optimistic |date=January 8, 2011 |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/141607 |publisher=Arutz Sheva Israel National News |access-date=January 9, 2011 |archive-date=January 10, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110220536/http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/141607 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last=Kampeas |first=Ron |title=Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords shot in the head |work=The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles (JTA) |date=January 8, 2011 |url=http://www.jewishjournal.com/nation/article/arizona_congresswoman_gabrielle_giffords_shot_in_the_head_20110108/ |access-date=January 9, 2011 |archive-date=January 10, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110020847/http://www.jewishjournal.com/nation/article/arizona_congresswoman_gabrielle_giffords_shot_in_the_head_20110108/ |url-status=live}} In 2021, Giffords celebrated her bat mitzvah at the Chaverim, concluding a process two decades in the making.

Giffords switched her party affiliation from Republican to Democratic in 2000 and was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2001.{{cite web|url=https://www.troyrecord.com/news/profile-rep-gabrielle-giffords-dem-who-wins-in-conservative-district/article_543cdc3c-7f08-5bb1-8b27-2f432e22d7cf.html|title=PROFILE: Rep. Gabrielle Giffords: Dem who wins in conservative district|first=Bob|last=Christie|website=The Record|date=January 8, 2011|access-date=April 21, 2020|archive-date=November 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103034713/https://www.troyrecord.com/news/profile-rep-gabrielle-giffords-dem-who-wins-in-conservative-district/article_543cdc3c-7f08-5bb1-8b27-2f432e22d7cf.html|url-status=live}} She was elected to the Arizona Senate in the fall of 2002, at the time the youngest woman elected to that body. She took office in January 2003 and was re-elected in 2004. She resigned from the Arizona Senate on December 1, 2005, in preparation for her congressional campaign.

In early 2005, Giffords observed that "the 2004 election took its toll on our bipartisan coalition" and that as a result "a number of significant problems will receive far less attention than they deserve." She highlighted among these, the lack of high-paying jobs or necessary infrastructure, rapid growth, and inward migration that threatened the environment and "strain[ed] ... education, health care, and transportation", and unresolved problems such as Students First; Arnold v. Sarn; repayments due under Ladewig v. Arizona; the No Child Left Behind mandate; low educational achievement; health care costs; and the demands of the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. She said that Arizona was not alone in facing such challenges.{{cite news |url=http://www.giffordsforcongress.com/2005/01/10/guest-opinion-right-wing-agenda-will-obscure-our-most-pressing-issues/ |title=Right-Wing Agenda Will Obscure our Most-Pressing Issues |work=Tucson Citizen (republished on candidate's web site) |date=January 10, 2006 |access-date=November 12, 2006 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061109013756/http://www.giffordsforcongress.com/2005/01/10/guest-opinion-right-wing-agenda-will-obscure-our-most-pressing-issues/ |archive-date=November 9, 2006}}

Expanding health care access was an issue pursued by Giffords while she served in the state legislature. She also pushed for bills related to mental health and was named by the Mental Health Association of Arizona as the 2004 Legislator of the Year. Giffords earned the Sierra Club's Most Valuable Player award.{{cite news |url=http://www.giffordsforcongress.com/2005/06/12/flunkies-the-sierra-club-grades-the-arizona-legislature/ |title=Flunkies – The Sierra Club grades the Arizona Legislature |publisher=Candidate's web site |date=June 12, 2006 |access-date=November 12, 2006 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061109013355/http://www.giffordsforcongress.com/2005/06/12/flunkies-the-sierra-club-grades-the-arizona-legislature/ |archive-date=November 9, 2006}}

In the legislature, Giffords worked on the bipartisan Children's Caucus, which sought to improve education and health care for Arizona's children. Critics of this plan argued that it amounted to taxpayer-funded daycare. She worked with Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano to promote all-day kindergarten. Giffords supported raising more money for schools "through sponsorship of supplemental state aid through bonds and tax credits that could be used for school supplies." She was awarded Arizona Family Literacy's Outstanding Legislator for 2003.{{cite news|url=http://www.giffordsforcongress.com/issues/education/#trackrecord/ |title=Track Record |publisher=Candidate's web site |date=June 12, 2006 |access-date=November 12, 2006 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061109005935/http://www.giffordsforcongress.com/issues/education/ |archive-date=November 9, 2006}}

File:Gabrielle Giffords working at desk crop.jpg

;2006

{{see also|2006 Arizona's 8th congressional district election}}

Giffords launched her first candidacy for Arizona's 8th congressional district in the U.S. Congress on January 24, 2006. The campaign received national attention early on as the seat was considered a likely pick-up for the Democratic Party. Prominent Democrats, including Tom Daschle, Robert Reich, Janet Napolitano, and Bill Clinton, endorsed her. EMILY's List endorsed Giffords early in the campaign cycle.{{cite news |title=EMILY's List Announces Endorsement of Gabrielle Giffords for Arizona's 8th Congressional District |url=http://www.emilyslist.org/newsroom/releases/20060614a.html |publisher=Emily's List |date=June 14, 2006 |access-date=November 9, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108223950/http://www.emilyslist.org/newsroom/releases/20060614a.html |archive-date=November 8, 2006}} The Sierra Club and the Arizona Education Association also endorsed her.{{Cite news |url=http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2006/06/12/daily21.html |title=Democratic contender gets support in House race |work=Phoenix Business Journal |date=June 13, 2006 |access-date=November 9, 2006 |first=Mike |last=Sunnucks |archive-date=February 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215014337/https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2006/06/12/daily21.html |url-status=live}} On September 12, 2006, Giffords won her party's nomination in the primary election.

Her Republican opponent in the general election was Randy Graf, a conservative former state senator known for his enforcement-only position on immigration. Graf had run against Jim Kolbe in the 2004 GOP primary and had announced his candidacy in 2006 before Kolbe announced his retirement. The Republican establishment was somewhat cool toward Graf, believing he might be too conservative for the district. The national GOP took the unusual step of endorsing one of the more moderate candidates in the primary. Graf won anyway, helped by a split in the Republican moderate vote between two candidates.

Not long after the primary, Congressional Quarterly changed its rating of the race to "Leans Democrat." By late September, the national GOP had pulled most of its funding, effectively conceding the seat to Giffords. Giffords won the race on November 7, 2006, with 54 percent of the vote. Graf received 42 percent. The rest of the vote went to minor candidates. Giffords's victory was portrayed as evidence that Americans are accepting towards comprehensive immigration reform.{{cite news |title=Voters reject immigrant-bashing among candidates |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/opinion/15994756.htm |work=San Jose Mercury News |date=November 12, 2006 |access-date=November 12, 2006}}{{dead link|date=January 2011}} She was the first Jewish woman elected to Congress from Arizona.{{cite news |last=Gelbart |first=Debra Morton |title=Jewish woman takes Arizona seat |publisher=JTA.org |date=November 30, 1999 |url=http://www.jta.org/news/article/1999/11/30/14643 |access-date=October 25, 2012 |archive-date=September 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120924101925/http://www.jta.org/news/article/1999/11/30/14643 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Bloodshed Puts New Focus on Vitriol in Politics |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/us/politics/09capital.html |work=The New York Times |quote=Ms. Giffords is the first Jewish woman elected to the House from her state. |last1=Hulse |first1=Carl |last2=Zernike |first2=Kate |date=January 8, 2011 |access-date=January 9, 2011 |archive-date=January 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125024701/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/us/politics/09capital.html |url-status=live}}

;2008

{{see also|2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona#District 8}}

In 2008, Giffords was elected to a second term. Republican Tim Bee, a childhood classmate and former colleague in the Arizona State Senate, ran against her. Bee was the President of the Arizona State Senate and considered a strong challenger in the race. Despite native son John McCain's running as the Republican presidential candidate that year, Democrat Giffords was reelected with 56.20 percent of the vote to Bee's 41.45 percent.{{cite web |url=http://www.pima.gov/elections/results.htm |title=Election Summary Report |publisher=Pima County, Arizona |date=November 10, 2010 |access-date=January 12, 2011 |archive-date=April 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110419235459/http://www.pima.gov/elections/results.htm |url-status=live}}

;2010

File:Gabrielle Giffords press conference.jpg

{{see also|2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona#District 8}}

On November 5, 2010, Giffords was declared the victor after a close race against Republican Jesse Kelly.{{cite news |url=https://www.azcentral.com/news/election/azelections/articles/2010/11/05/20101105arizona-elections-gabrielle-giffords-elected.html |title=Gabrielle Giffords wins re-election in Arizona |publisher=AZCentral.com |date=November 5, 2010 |access-date=November 6, 2010 |archive-date=February 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215014340/https://help.azcentral.com/ |url-status=live}} Kelly, an Iraq War veteran (not relation to Mark Kelly), was listed as a top-ten Tea Party candidate to watch by Politico, and described by The Arizona Republic as highly conservative even compared to Sarah Palin.{{cite news |url=https://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/09/21/20100921-tea-party-candidates-to-watch-politico-prog.html?page=2#ixzz11vdFO15S |title=Top 10 "Tea Party' Candidates to Watch |publisher=AZCentral.com |date=September 21, 2010 |access-date=October 9, 2010 |archive-date=February 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215014340/https://help.azcentral.com/#ixzz11vdFO15S |url-status=live}} Giffords had been targeted for defeat by Sarah Palin's political action committee, SarahPAC.{{cite news |last=Rowley |first=James |title=Giffords Is Centrist Who Defies Political Labels |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-10/giffords-is-centrist-who-defies-political-labels-correct-.html |access-date=January 11, 2011 |agency=Bloomberg |date=January 10, 2011 |archive-date=August 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823140230/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-10/giffords-is-centrist-who-defies-political-labels-correct-.html |url-status=live}}

Giffords participated in the reading of the United States Constitution on the floor of the House of Representatives on January 6, 2011; she read the First Amendment.{{cite web |url=http://arizonaspolitics.blogspot.com/2011/01/watch-arizona-rep-gabrielle-giffords.html |title=WATCH: Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Read 1st Amendment On Floor |date=January 6, 2011 |publisher=Arizona's Politics |access-date=January 20, 2011 |archive-date=July 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708023725/http://arizonaspolitics.blogspot.com/2011/01/watch-arizona-rep-gabrielle-giffords.html |url-status=live }}

File:Gabrielle Giffords, official portrait, 111th Congress.jpg

Following the November 2006 election, Giffords was sworn in as a congresswoman on January 3, 2007. She was the third woman in Arizona's history to be elected to serve in the U.S. Congress. In her inaugural speech on the floor of the House of Representatives, Giffords advocated a comprehensive immigration reform package, including modern technology to secure the border, more border patrol agents, tough employer sanctions for businesses that knowingly hire undocumented immigrants, and a guest-worker program.{{cite web|url=http://giffords.house.gov/2007/01/rep-gabrielle-giffords-calls-for-secure-borders-immigration-reform-in-first-floor-speech-wraps-up-fi.shtml |title=REP. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS CALLS FOR SECURE BORDERS, IMMIGRATION REFORM IN FIRST FLOOR SPEECH; WRAPS UP FIRST FULL WEEK AS A MEMBER OF THE 110th CONGRESS |date=January 12, 2007 |publisher=United States House of Representatives |access-date=January 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110116121608/http://giffords.house.gov/2007/01/rep-gabrielle-giffords-calls-for-secure-borders-immigration-reform-in-first-floor-speech-wraps-up-fi.shtml |archive-date=January 16, 2011}} In her first month in office, Giffords voted in favor of increased federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research;{{cite web|url=http://giffords.house.gov/2007/01/rep-gabrielle-giffords-votes-to-expand-federal-funding-for-life-saving-stem-cell-research.shtml |title=REP. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS VOTES TO EXPAND FEDERAL FUNDING FOR LIFE-SAVING STEM CELL RESEARCH |date=January 11, 2007 |publisher=United States House of Representatives |access-date=January 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110116121709/http://giffords.house.gov/2007/01/rep-gabrielle-giffords-votes-to-expand-federal-funding-for-life-saving-stem-cell-research.shtml |archive-date=January 16, 2011}} raising the minimum wage; endorsing the 9/11 Commission recommendations; new rules for the House of Representatives targeting ethical issues;{{cite web|url=http://giffords.house.gov/2007/01/first-vote-of-110th-congress–-repgabrielle-giffordsvotes-to-reform-ethical-standards-in-washington.shtml |title=FIRST VOTE OF 110th CONGRESS – REP. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS VOTES TO REFORM ETHICAL STANDARDS IN WASHINGTON |date=January 4, 2007 |publisher=United States House of Representatives |access-date=January 19, 2011}}{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}} and the repeal of $14 billion of subsidies to big oil companies, in favor of renewable energy subsidies and the founding of the Strategic Renewable Energy Reserve.{{cite web|url=http://giffords.house.gov/2007/01/rep-gabrielle-giffords-wraps-up-the-100-hours-agenda-with-votes-to-make-us-energy-independent-and-co.shtml |title=REP. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS WRAPS UP THE "100 HOURS AGENDA" WITH VOTES TO MAKE U.S. ENERGY INDEPENDENT AND COLLEGE MORE AFFORDABLE |date=January 18, 2007 |publisher=United States House of Representatives |access-date=January 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110116121550/http://giffords.house.gov/2007/01/rep-gabrielle-giffords-wraps-up-the-100-hours-agenda-with-votes-to-make-us-energy-independent-and-co.shtml |archive-date=January 16, 2011}}

During the 2007 session of Congress, Giffords introduced a bill (H.R. 1441)[http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:h.r.01441: THOMAS Search Results: H.R.1441.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116103703/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:h.r.01441: |date=January 16, 2016}} Library of Congress. Retrieved March 9, 2008. to forbid the sale of F-14 aircraft parts on the open market to prevent them from being acquired by Iran.[http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?ContentBlockID=89e79ecd-78d1-40b9-ad44-20e8f1d3c26b House Votes Again To Ban Sales Of F-14 Parts To Iran.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926234809/http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?ContentBlockID=89e79ecd-78d1-40b9-ad44-20e8f1d3c26b |date=September 26, 2007}} Aero-News Network, June 13, 2007. Retrieved March 9, 2008. Giffords advocated for a national day of recognition for cowboys as one of her first actions.{{cite news |title=Profile: Gabrielle Giffords |publisher=BBC News |date=January 9, 2011 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12143984 |access-date=January 12, 2011 |archive-date=January 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110111062057/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12143984 |url-status=live}} She voted for the contentious May 2007 Iraq Emergency Supplemental Spending bill, saying, "I cannot, in good conscience, allow the military to run out of money while American servicemen and women are being attacked every day".[http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/opinion/53618.php Stanton, Billie. Stanton: Democrats damned by Iraq war vote.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927000023/http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/opinion/53618.php |date=September 27, 2007}} Tucson Citizen June 5, 2007. Retrieved March 9, 2008.

In the 2011 Speaker of the United States House of Representatives election, Giffords was one of 18 Democrats to cast their vote for someone other than Nancy Pelosi (the leader of the House Democratic Caucus). Giffords cast her vote for Congressman John Lewis.Congressional Record—House, Vol. 157, Pt. 1, January 5, 2011, [https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CRECB-2011-pt1/pdf/CRECB-2011-pt1-Pg75-2.pdf p. 76] Arizona's two other Democratic House members voted for Pelosi. Giffords's spokesperson characterized her vote for Lewis, "signal[ing] her desire for courageous leadership and high moral standards at a critical time in our nation's history," citing Lewis as being, "one of our nation's most prominent civil rights leaders and a hero to all Americans."{{cite web |last1=Bodfield |first1=Rhonda |title=Pueblo Politics: Giffords Votes Against Pelosi |url=https://tucson.com/news/blogs/pueblo-politics/pueblo-politics-giffords-votes-against-pelosi/article_9d384460-190d-11e0-9498-001cc4c002e0.html |website=Arizona Daily Star |access-date=November 3, 2024 |language=en |date=January 5, 2011}}

Giffords was a member of the Blue Dog Coalition and the New Democrat Coalition. She was a co-founder of the Congressional Motorcycle Safety Caucus. Until her husband's retirement, she was the only member of the U.S. Congress whose spouse was an active duty member of the U.S. military. She is also known as a strong proponent of solar energy as well as for her work to secure the Mexico–United States border.{{cite web|url=http://giffords.house.gov/2010/07/senate-rejects-border-funding-us-rep-giffords-is-outraged.shtml |title=Senate rejects border funding; U.S. Rep Giffords is outraged |publisher=KGUN9 Tucson |date=July 26, 2010 |access-date=October 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007045630/http://giffords.house.gov/2010/07/senate-rejects-border-funding-us-rep-giffords-is-outraged.shtml |archive-date=October 7, 2010 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.bensonnews-sun.com/articles/2008/12/31/news/news01.txt |title=Solar energy, immigration top congresswoman's priorities |work=San Pedro Valley News-Sun |date=December 30, 2008 |access-date=October 11, 2010 |archive-date=January 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110112085508/http://www.bensonnews-sun.com/articles/2008/12/31/news/news01.txt |url-status=live}}

• Committee on Armed Services
• Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces
• Subcommittee on Readiness
• Committee on Science, Space and Technology
• Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics (Ranking Member)
• Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation

{{main|2011 Tucson shooting}}

File:Gabrielle Giffords shooting scene 2.jpg

On January 8, 2011, Giffords was shot in the head outside a Safeway grocery store in Casas Adobes, Arizona, a suburban area northwest of Tucson, during her first "Congress on Your Corner" (a public opportunity for constituents to speak directly with their representatives){{cite web |url=http://higgins.house.gov/services/congress-on-your-corner |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151108220222/http://higgins.house.gov/services/congress-on-your-corner |archive-date=November 8, 2015 |title=Congress on Your Corner |publisher=Congressman Brian Higgins}} gathering of the year.{{cite news |url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/01/us_prosecutors_charge_gunman_a.html |title=U.S. prosecutors charge gunman accused of assassination attempt on Arizona Rep. Giffords, killing 6 |agency=Associated Press |work=The Star-Ledger |date=January 9, 2011 |access-date=January 12, 2011 |archive-date=January 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110114154103/http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/01/us_prosecutors_charge_gunman_a.html |url-status=live}} A man ran up to the crowd and began firing a 9mm pistol with a 33-round magazine.{{cite news |last=Barrett |first=Paul M. |title=Glock: America's Gun |url=http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_04/b4212052185280.htm|date=January 13, 2011 |work=Bloomberg Businessweek|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.|access-date=November 17, 2017|archive-date=August 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130821034718/http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_04/b4212052185280.htm}}{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2011/01/08/132764367/congresswoman-shot-in-arizona |title=Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords Shot in Arizona |publisher=NPR |date=January 8, 2011 |access-date=January 8, 2011 |archive-date=February 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215014340/https://www.npr.org/2011/01/10/132764367/congresswoman-shot-in-arizona |url-status=live}} The gunman hit 19 individuals with gunfire, killing six of them.{{cite news |last1=Bell |first1=Melissa |last2=Buck |first2=James |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/blog-post/2011/01/arizona_shooting_victims_the_i.html |title=Updated: List of injured victims in Arizona shooting released by Pima County sheriff |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=January 14, 2011 |access-date=January 14, 2011 |archive-date=October 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009173637/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/blog-post/2011/01/arizona_shooting_victims_the_i.html |url-status=dead}} Among the dead were federal judge John Roll and 9-year-old child Christina-Taylor Green. Green was the granddaughter of major league baseball manager and GM Dallas Green.{{cite news |last=Bookman |first=Jay |url=http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/2011/01/08/arizona-congresswoman-shot-in-tucson/ |title=Federal judge wounded in AZ; congresswoman shot |newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=January 8, 2011 |access-date=January 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110111073418/http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/2011/01/08/arizona-congresswoman-shot-in-tucson/ |archive-date=January 11, 2011}}{{cite news |url=http://usat.ly/1OEefAv |title=Family of Ariz. shooting victim at White House Tuesday |newspaper=USA Today}}{{cite news |url=https://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/01/08/20110108arizona-giffords-brk.html |title=Arizona Congresswoman Giffords shot in Tucson |work=The Arizona Republic |date=January 8, 2011 |access-date=February 18, 2020 |archive-date=February 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215014341/https://help.azcentral.com/ |url-status=live}} A 20th person was injured at the scene, but not by gunfire.

The shooter, Jared Lee Loughner,{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna40980334 |title=Profile of Jared Loughner: 'I can't trust the current government' |publisher=NBC News |date=January 8, 2011 |access-date=January 8, 2011 |archive-date=February 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215014339/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna40980334 |url-status=live}} was detained by bystanders until he was taken into police custody.{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE7071IA20110108 |title=Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords shot in Arizona |publisher=Reuters |date=January 8, 2011 |access-date=January 8, 2011 |first=Roberta |last=Rampton |archive-date=February 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215014339/https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE7071IA20110108?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews |url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=US congresswoman in critical condition after shooting |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna40978517 |publisher=NBC News |access-date=January 8, 2011 |date=January 8, 2011 |archive-date=February 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215014340/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna40978517 |url-status=live}} Federal officials charged Loughner on the next day with killing federal government employees, attempting to assassinate a member of Congress, and attempting to kill federal employees.{{cite news |title=Federal charges could carry death penalty |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2011/01/federal-charges-could-carry-death-penalty-047298 |work=Politico |date=January 9, 2011 |author=Alexander Burns & Matt Negrin |access-date=January 9, 2011 |archive-date=March 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130310162653/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0111/47298.html |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |title=Suspect charged in congresswoman's attack |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna40988567 |publisher=NBC News |agency=Associated Press |date=January 9, 2011 |access-date=November 13, 2019 |archive-date=February 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215014340/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna40988567 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Suspect charged with attempted assassination of Giffords |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE7071IA20110110 |publisher=Reuters |date=January 9, 2011 |author=Tim Gaynor and Peter Henderson |access-date=July 1, 2017 |archive-date=November 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124173559/https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE7071IA20110110 |url-status=live}} After eventually facing more than 50 federal criminal charges, Loughner pleaded guilty to 19 of them in a plea bargain to avoid a death sentence.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/07/us/arizona-loughner-plea/index.html|title=Loughner pleads guilty to 19 counts in Tucson, Arizona, mass shooting - CNN.com|first=Michael Martinez and Kyung|last=Lah|publisher=CNN|date=August 7, 2012|access-date=July 13, 2016|archive-date=July 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160726165732/http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/07/us/arizona-loughner-plea/index.html|url-status=live}}

Giffords's intern, Daniel Hernández Jr., provided first-aid assistance to her immediately after she was wounded, and is credited with saving her life.{{cite news |last=Williams |first=Mary Elizabeth |url=http://www.salon.com/life/feature/2011/01/10/daneil_hernandez_gay_latino_hero |title=The Giffords shooting's gay, Hispanic hero |journal=Salon |date=January 10, 2011 |access-date=January 15, 2011 |archive-date=November 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102115158/http://www.salon.com/2011/01/10/daneil_hernandez_gay_latino_hero/ |url-status=live}} She was quickly evacuated to the University Medical Center of Tucson in critical condition,{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/01/08/arizona.shooting/index.html |title=Arizona congresswoman among 12 shot at Tucson grocery |publisher=CNN |date=January 8, 2011 |access-date=January 8, 2011 |archive-date=January 9, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110109020830/http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/01/08/arizona.shooting/index.html |url-status=live}} though she was still conscious and "following commands."

On the same day, doctors performed emergency surgery to extract skull fragments and a small amount of necrotic tissue from her brain.{{cite news |last=Stein |first=Rob |author2=Vedantam, Shankar |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/09/AR2011010904439.html |title=Doctors see signs of hope for Giffords's recovery |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=January 9, 2011 |access-date=January 10, 2011 |archive-date=February 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110221204956/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/09/AR2011010904439.html |url-status=live}} The bullet passed through Giffords's head without crossing the midline of the brain, where the most critical injuries typically result. Part of her skull was removed to avoid further damage to the brain from pressure caused by swelling.{{cite news |last=Gupta |first=Sanjay |author-link=Sanjay Gupta |url=http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/10/gupta-how-giffords-survived-bullet-to-the-brain/ |title=Gupta: What helped Giffords survive brain shot |publisher=CNN |date=January 10, 2011 |access-date=January 11, 2011 |archive-date=January 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110111061831/http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/10/gupta-how-giffords-survived-bullet-to-the-brain/ |url-status=dead}} Doctors who first treated Giffords said the bullet entered the back of her head and exited through the front of her skull, but physicians later concluded that it had traveled in the opposite direction.{{cite news |last=Alltucker |first=Ken |url=https://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/01/12/20110112gabrielle-giffords-more-responsive-brk12-ON.html |title=Obama visits Giffords at hospital, leaves for speech on campus |newspaper=The Arizona Republic |date=January 12, 2011 |access-date=January 12, 2011 |archive-date=February 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215014342/https://help.azcentral.com/ |url-status=live }}

Upon receiving a call from a staffer about Giffords's injury, her husband Mark Kelly and his daughters flew in a friend's aircraft directly from Houston to Tucson.{{cite news |last=O'Connor |first=Anahad |title=Giffords's Husband Heard His Wife Had Died in Tucson |url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/19/giffordss-husband-heard-his-wife-had-died-in-tucson/ |newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 19, 2011 |access-date=January 19, 2011 |archive-date=January 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110120151652/http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/19/giffordss-husband-heard-his-wife-had-died-in-tucson/ |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/01/13/arizona.shooting/ |title=Doctor: Giffords may be showing 'glimmers of recognition' |publisher=CNN |date=January 13, 2011 |access-date=January 14, 2011 |archive-date=November 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109045540/http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/01/13/arizona.shooting/ |url-status=live}}

Giffords was initially placed in an induced coma to allow her brain to rest. She was able to respond to simple commands when periodically awakened, but was unable to speak as she was on a ventilator.{{Cite news |last=Carollo |first=Kim |title=Gabrielle Giffords in Medically Induced Coma to Help Brain Rest |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Health/gabrielle-giffords-health-update/story?id=12576433 |publisher=ABC News |date=January 9, 2011 |access-date=January 9, 2011 |archive-date=January 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110119040501/http://abcnews.go.com/Health/gabrielle-giffords-health-update/story?id=12576433 |url-status=live}} Nancy Pelosi (the House minority leader) shared that Giffords's husband Mark Kelly had acknowledged that there was a "rough road ahead" in her recovery, but that he was encouraged by her responsiveness,{{cite news |last=Allen |first=Jonathan |title=Aide: Gabrielle Giffords Is 'Sort of Alert' |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2011/01/aide-giffords-is-sort-of-alert-047331 |newspaper=Politico |date=January 9, 2011 |access-date=January 9, 2011 |archive-date=January 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110112070114/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0111/47331.html |url-status=live}} including her ability to signal with her hand and move both arms.{{cite news |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/41018273 |title=Doctor: Giffords has '101 Percent Chance' of Surviving |publisher=NBC News |date=January 11, 2011 |access-date=January 12, 2011 |archive-date=February 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215010004/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/41018273 |url-status=dead}} U.S. Army neurologist Geoffrey Ling of the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland, was sent to Tucson to consult on Giffords's condition. Ling stated, "Her prognosis for maintaining the function that she has is very good. It's over 50 percent."{{cite news |last=Brown |first=David |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/10/AR2011011006771.html |title=Bullet path may decide Giffords's fate |date=January 11, 2011 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=January 11, 2011 |archive-date=May 17, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120517101723/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/10/AR2011011006771.html |url-status=live}} On January 11, neurosurgeon G. Michael Lemole Jr. said that Giffords's sedation had been reduced and that she could breathe on her own.{{cite news |last=Branigin |first=William |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/11/AR2011011103607.html |title=Doctors: Gabrielle Giffords able to breathe on her own |date=January 11, 2011 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=January 11, 2011 |archive-date=January 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110121125103/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/11/AR2011011103607.html |url-status=live}} On January 12, President Barack Obama visited Giffords at the medical center and publicly stated in an evening memorial ceremony for the victims of the shooting that Giffords had "opened her eyes for the first time" that day.{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-rep-giffords-opened-her-eyes-today/ |title=Obama: Rep. Giffords "Opened Her Eyes" Today |date=January 12, 2011 |publisher=CBS News |agency=Associated Press |access-date=January 13, 2011 |archive-date=January 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110114021723/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/01/12/national/main7240841.shtml |url-status=live }} Shortly after the shootings, some questions were raised by the media as to whether Giffords could be removed from office under a state law that allows a public office to be declared vacant if the officeholder is absent for three months, but a spokesperson for the Arizona secretary of state said the statute "doesn't apply to federal offices" and was, therefore, not relevant.{{cite news |last=Fischer |first=Howard |url=http://www.yumasun.com/news/office-66911-arizona-law.html |title=Replacing Giffords called speculation |newspaper=Yuma Sun |date=January 17, 2011 |access-date=January 18, 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130209230222/http://www.yumasun.com/news/office-66911-arizona-law.html |archive-date=February 9, 2013}}

As Giffords's status improved, by mid-January she began simple physical therapy,{{cite news |last=Money |first=Luke |url=http://wildcat.arizona.edu/news/giffords-can-move-legs-begins-physical-therapy-1.1843099 |title=Giffords can move legs, begins physical therapy |newspaper=Arizona Daily Wildcat |date=January 14, 2011 |access-date=January 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110117041554/http://wildcat.arizona.edu/news/giffords-can-move-legs-begins-physical-therapy-1.1843099 |archive-date=January 17, 2011}} including sitting up with the assistance of hospital staff and moving her legs upon command. On January 15, surgeons performed a tracheotomy, replacing the ventilator tube with a smaller one inserted through Giffords's throat to assist independent breathing.{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2011-jan-16-la-na-giffords-medical-20110116-story.html |title=Rep. Gabrielle Giffords taken off ventilator |last=Maugh |first=Thomas H. II |date=January 16, 2011 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=January 17, 2011 |archive-date=January 18, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110118075600/http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jan/16/nation/la-na-giffords-medical-20110116 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last=Poole |first=Brad |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70E20B20110115 |title=Doctors open breathing hole in Giffords's throat |publisher=Reuters |date=January 15, 2011 |access-date=January 16, 2011 |archive-date=January 17, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110117230811/http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70E20B20110115 |url-status=live}} Ophthalmologist Lynn Polonski surgically repaired Giffords's damaged eye socket,{{cite news |last=Leinwand |first=Donna |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-01-17-giffords-arizona-shooting_N.htm |title=Husband: Giffords smiles, rubs his neck |date=January 17, 2011 |access-date=January 17, 2011 |work=USA Today |archive-date=January 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110119023629/http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-01-17-giffords-arizona-shooting_N.htm |url-status=live}} with additional reconstructive surgery to follow.{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/01/17/arizona.shooting/index.html |title=Giffords undergoes successful operation to repair eye socket |date=January 17, 2011 |publisher=CNN |access-date=January 17, 2011 |archive-date=January 17, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110117080700/http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/01/17/arizona.shooting/index.html |url-status=live}} Giffords's condition improved from "critical" to "serious" on January 17,{{cite news |title=Kelly: Injured Giffords cares for others |url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/01/17/Kelly-Injured-Giffords-cares-for-others/UPI-76741295273051/ |work=United Press International |date=January 17, 2011 |access-date=January 17, 2011 |archive-date=January 18, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110118141738/http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/01/17/Kelly-Injured-Giffords-cares-for-others/UPI-76741295273051/ |url-status=live}} and to "good" on January 25.{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/01/26/arizona.shooting.giffords/index.html |title=Giffords moves to rehabilitation hospital |last=Cohen |first=Elizabeth |date=January 26, 2011 |publisher=CNN |access-date=January 26, 2011 |archive-date=January 26, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110126195733/http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/01/26/arizona.shooting.giffords/index.html |url-status=live}} She was transferred on January 21 to the Memorial Hermann Medical Center in Houston, Texas, where she subsequently moved to the TIRR Memorial Hermann to undergo a program of physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy.{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/01/21/arizona.shooting/index.html |title=Giffords arrives in Houston |last=Martinez |first=Michael |date=January 21, 2011 |publisher=CNN |access-date=January 21, 2011 |archive-date=January 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110121102450/http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/01/21/arizona.shooting/index.html |url-status=live}} Medical experts' initial assessment in January was that Giffords's recovery could take from several months to more than one year.{{cite news |last=Landau |first=Elizabeth |url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/01/11/giffords.brain.surgery/ |title=Giffords in key period after brain injury |publisher=CNN |date=January 11, 2011 |access-date=January 11, 2011 |archive-date=January 31, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130131151116/http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/01/11/giffords.brain.surgery/ |url-status=live}} Upon her arrival in Houston, her doctors were optimistic, saying she has "great rehabilitation potential".{{cite news |url=http://azstarnet.com/news/local/article_4dc188e0-25a8-11e0-aa8e-001cc4c002e0.html |title=Doctor: Giffords has 'great rehabilitation potential' |date=January 21, 2011 |newspaper=Arizona Daily Star |access-date=January 22, 2011 |archive-date=January 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110124194124/http://azstarnet.com/news/local/article_4dc188e0-25a8-11e0-aa8e-001cc4c002e0.html |url-status=live}}

On March 12, 2011, Giffords's husband informed her that six people had been killed in the attack on her, but he did not identify who they were until months later.Myers, Amanda Lee and Michelle Price. [https://news.yahoo.com/ap-exclusive-giffords-vows-return-congress-154211434.html "AP Exclusive: Giffords vows return to Congress"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305010012/http://news.yahoo.com/ap-exclusive-giffords-vows-return-congress-154211434.html |date=March 5, 2016}}, yahoo.com, Associated Press, November 4, 2011 In late April, Giffords's doctors reported that her physical, cognitive, and language production abilities had improved significantly, placing her in the top 5 percent of patients recovering from similar injuries. She was walking under supervision with perfect control of her left arm and leg, and able to write with her left hand. She was able to read and understand, and spoke in short phrases. With longer efforts, she was able to produce more complex sentences.{{cite web |title=Gabrielle Giffords' doctors, husband share details on her progress |last=Rose |first=Jaimee |date=April 24, 2011 |work=The Arizona Republic |access-date=April 25, 2011 |url=https://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/04/24/20110424gabrielle-giffords-medical-condition.html |archive-date=February 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215014342/https://help.azcentral.com/ |url-status=live}}

From early in her recovery, Giffords's husband had expressed confidence that she would be able to travel to the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, to witness the launch of his final Space Shuttle mission, STS-134, which was scheduled for April 2011.{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/02/09/giffords.recovery/ |title=Spokesman: Giffords recovering part of her ability to speak |publisher=CNN |date=February 9, 2011 |access-date=February 9, 2011 |archive-date=February 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211215059/http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/02/09/giffords.recovery/ |url-status=live}} On April 25, Giffords's doctors cleared her for travel to Florida for the launch, scheduled for April 29. She went to Florida to watch from a private family area with no public appearance or photography. The launch of STS-134 was delayed due to mechanical problems, and Giffords and Kelly returned to Houston after meeting with President Obama, who had also planned to see the launch with his family at Kennedy Space Center (KSC).{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/spokesman-says-gabby-giffords-plans-to-return-to-florida-to-watch-husbands-shuttle-launch/2011/05/02/AFFK4DaF_story.html |title=Spokesman says Rep. Giffords plans to return to Florida to watch husband's shuttle launch |date=May 2, 2011 |newspaper=The Washington Post |agency=Associated Press |access-date=May 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226185329/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/spokesman-says-gabby-giffords-plans-to-return-to-florida-to-watch-husbands-shuttle-launch/2011/05/02/AFFK4DaF_story.html |archive-date=December 26, 2018 }}{{cite news |title=Astronauts in Fla. for next-to-last space shuttle flight, Endeavour patched, in 'great' shape |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/astronauts-in-fla-for-next-to-last-space-shuttle-flight-endeavour-patched-in-good-shape/2011/05/12/AFOmZkyG_story.html |date=May 12, 2011 |newspaper=The Washington Post |agency=Associated Press |access-date=May 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211202518/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/astronauts-in-fla-for-next-to-last-space-shuttle-flight-endeavour-patched-in-good-shape/2011/05/12/AFOmZkyG_story.html |archive-date=December 11, 2018 }}

After continuing her rehabilitation therapy in Houston,{{cite news |url=http://www.indystar.com/article/20110425/NEWS01/104250355/Doctors-OK-Rep-Giffords-trip-Florida-shuttle-launch |title=Doctors OK Rep. Gifford's trip to husband's shuttle launch |date=April 25, 2011 |work=The Indianapolis Star |agency=Associated Press |access-date=April 25, 2011}}{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-giffords-shuttle-idUSTRE73O3XB20110425 |title=Doctors say Giffords can attend husband's shuttle launch |date=April 25, 2011 |publisher=Reuters |access-date=April 25, 2011 |archive-date=January 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116103708/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-giffords-shuttle-idUSTRE73O3XB20110425 |url-status=live}} Giffords returned to KSC for her husband's launch on May 16, 2011. Kelly wore his wife's wedding ring into space, which she had exchanged for his.{{cite web|last=Shauk |first=Zain |url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7566443.html |title=500,000 gather to see launch of Endeavour |work=Houston Chronicle |date=May 16, 2011 |access-date=August 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727124632/http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7566443.html |archive-date=July 27, 2011}}

File:Gabby returns to house 8 1 11.jpg

Giffords underwent cranioplasty surgery on May 18, 2011, to replace the part of her skull that had been removed in January to permit her brain to swell after the gunshot to her head. Surgeons replaced the bone with a piece of molded hard plastic, fixed with tiny screws. They expected that her skull would eventually fuse with the porous plastic. From that point, Giffords no longer needed to wear the helmet that she had been wearing to protect her brain from further injury.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/successful-surgery-to-repair-skull-lets-gorgeous-gabby-finally-shed-hated-helmet/2011/05/20/AFvGdd7G_story.html "Successful surgery to repair skull"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181207170929/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/successful-surgery-to-repair-skull-lets-gorgeous-gabby-finally-shed-hated-helmet/2011/05/20/AFvGdd7G_story.html |date=December 7, 2018}}. The Washington Post, May 20, 2011.{{cite news |first=Deborah Quinn |last=Hensel |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-giffords-surgery-idUSTRE74H7DS20110518 |title=Giffords recovering from cranioplasty in Houston |work=Reuters |date=May 18, 2011 |access-date=June 12, 2011 |archive-date=January 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116103704/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-giffords-surgery-idUSTRE74H7DS20110518 |url-status=live}} On June 9, 2011, her aide Pia Carusone announced that while Giffords's comprehension appeared to be "close to normal, if not normal", she was not yet speaking in complete sentences.{{cite news |last=Montini |first=E. J. |url=https://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/06/09/20110609gabrielle-giffords-health-issues-revealed.html |title=Gabrielle Giffords' staffer talks about congresswoman's health |work=The Arizona Republic |date=June 9, 2011 |access-date=June 9, 2011 |archive-date=May 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501061023/https://help.azcentral.com/ |url-status=live }} On June 12, two photos of Giffords taken on May 17 were released, the first since the shooting.{{cite news |url=http://www.theledger.com/article/20110612/NEWS/110619829 |title=First post-shooting photos of Giffords released |last=Plushnick-Masti |first=Ramit |author2=Amanda Lee Myers |date=June 12, 2011 |work=The Ledger |agency=Associated Press |access-date=January 25, 2012 |archive-date=July 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120715025717/http://www.theledger.com/article/20110612/NEWS/110619829 |url-status=live}} On June 15, Giffords was released from the hospital to return home, where she continued speech, music, physical and occupational therapy.{{cite news |last1=Cappon |first1=Colleen |first2=Jessica Ryen |last2=Doyle |url=https://www.foxnews.com/health/doctor-gabrielle-giffords-could-return-to-congress/ |title=Doctor: Gabrielle Giffords Could Return to Congress |publisher=Fox News Channel |date=July 8, 2011 |access-date=July 8, 2011 |archive-date=July 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711012740/http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/07/08/doctor-gabrielle-giffords-could-return-to-congress/ |url-status=live }} Having learned the French horn as a child, she picked it up again as part of her music therapy, an experience she described in a speech endorsing Joe Biden's presidential bid at the 2020 Democratic presidential convention.{{cite news |url=https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2020/08/19/play-it-again-gabby |title=Play it again, Gabby |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200822042315/https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2020/08/19/play-it-again-gabby |archive-date=August 22, 2020 |first=Max |last=Brantley |work=Arkansas Times |date=August 19, 2020}}

On August 1, 2011, she made her return to the House floor to vote in favor of raising the debt limit ceiling. She was met with a standing ovation and accolades from her fellow members of Congress.{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/08/01/congress.giffords/index.html |title=Giffords returns to House for debt vote |date=August 1, 2011 |publisher=CNN |access-date=August 1, 2011 |archive-date=January 31, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130131151541/http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/08/01/congress.giffords/index.html |url-status=live}} A Giffords spokesman, Mark Kimble, stated in August 2011 that the congresswoman was walking without a cane and was writing left-handed, as she did not have full use of her right side.[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/30/gabrielle-giffords-walking-writing_n_941894.html "Gabrielle Giffords Walking, Writing, Aide Says"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116103703/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/30/gabrielle-giffords-walking-writing_n_941894.html |date=January 16, 2016}}. Huffington Post, August 30, 2011 On October 6, Giffords traveled to Washington for her husband's retirement ceremony, where she presented him with the Distinguished Flying Cross medal. She returned to her husband's Texas home.Memoli, Michael A. [https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-xpm-2011-oct-06-la-pn-giffords-kelly-20111006-story.html "Gabrielle Giffords praised as 'inspiration' in White House visit"] . Los Angeles Times, October 6, 2011 On October 25, 2011, she travelled to Asheville, North Carolina, for intensive rehabilitation treatments, ending November 4.[http://articles.cnn.com/2011-10-23/us/us_north-carolina-giffords-rehab_1_gabrielle-giffords-jared-loughner-intensive-therapy "Gabrielle Giffords to undergo 'intensive' therapy in North Carolina"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103061454/http://articles.cnn.com/2011-10-23/us/us_north-carolina-giffords-rehab_1_gabrielle-giffords-jared-loughner-intensive-therapy |date=November 3, 2011}}. CNN, October 23, 2011 During her treatments in North Carolina, she stayed at the North Carolina Governor's Western Residence.{{cite web | url=https://www.ourstate.com/governors-mansion-west/ | title=NC Governor's Mansion in Asheville | date=July 2, 2013 }} In Kelly's memoir, Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope, released in November 2011, he reported that Giffords would return to Congress. {{as of|2016}}, she continued to struggle with language and had lost fifty percent of her vision in both eyes.

During recovery, Giffords made a concerted effort to share her progress with the public through statements, videos, and other means of communication. Giffords’s recovery and subsequent gun violence prevention advocacy was also chronicled in the 2022 documentary Gabby Giffords Won't Back Down, directed by Julie Cohen and Betsy West.

File:Barack Obama with Gabrielle Giffords at the 2012 State of the Union 01-24-12.jpg at the 2012 State of the Union Address]]

On January 22, 2012, Giffords announced in a video statement that she intended to resign her seat so that she could focus on her recovery.[https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/gabrielle-giffords-to-resign-from-u-s-congress-1.1250483 "Gabrielle Giffords to resign from US Congress"], CBC, January 22, 2012 She attended President Obama's 2012 State of the Union Address on January 24, and formally submitted her resignation on January 25. Appearing on the floor of the House, after the last bill she sponsored was brought to a vote and unanimously passed, Giffords was lauded by members of Congress, including both the majority and minority leaders who spoke in tribute to her strength and accomplishment in an unprecedented farewell ceremony. Her letter of resignation was read on her behalf by her close friend and fellow Democratic representative, Debbie Wasserman Schultz.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-giffords-bill-20120126,0,6404241.story |title=Rep. Gabrielle Giffords sees her last bill pass, says farewell |last=Mascaro |first=Lisa |date=January 26, 2012 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=January 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126055707/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-giffords-bill-20120126%2C0%2C6404241.story |archive-date=January 26, 2012 }}{{cite news |url=http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2012/01/25/Giffords-resigns-House-seat-to-focus-on-recovery-from-gunshot-wound-to-head.html |title=Giffords resigns House seat to focus on recovery from gunshot wound to head |work=The Toledo Blade |agency=Associated Press |date=January 25, 2012 |access-date=June 12, 2016 |archive-date=June 30, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630083824/http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2012/01/25/Giffords-resigns-House-seat-to-focus-on-recovery-from-gunshot-wound-to-head.html |url-status=live }}

File:Joe Biden presents the Medal of Freedom to Gabby Giffords (52308218001).jpg by President Joe Biden in July 2022]]

A joint memoir by Giffords and her husband, Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope, with co-author Jeffrey Zaslow, was published on November 15, 2011.{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/books/story/2011-11-14/gabrielle-giffords-mark-kelly-memoir/51207060/1 |title=Giffords, Kelly detail recovery 10 months after shooting |last=Rose |first=Jaimee |date=November 15, 2011 |work=USA Today |access-date=January 25, 2012 |archive-date=December 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111219070204/http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/story/2011-11-14/gabrielle-giffords-mark-kelly-memoir/51207060/1 |url-status=live}} Giffords and Kelly were interviewed by ABC's Diane Sawyer in their first joint interview since the shooting, which aired on a special edition of 20/20 on November 14, 2011, in conjunction with the book's publication.{{cite news |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/473686-Diane_Sawyer_Gets_First_Sit_Down_With_Gabby_Giffords.php |title=Diane Sawyer Gets First Sit-Down With Gabby Giffords |last=Morabito |first=Andrea |date=September 12, 2011 |work=Broadcasting & Cable |access-date=September 12, 2011 |archive-date=April 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404031124/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/473686-Diane_Sawyer_Gets_First_Sit_Down_With_Gabby_Giffords.php |url-status=live }}

Giffords has made appearances at the four Democratic National Conventions held since she left congress. On September 6, 2012, Giffords led the Pledge of Allegiance at that evening's meeting of the 2012 Democratic National Convention.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/former-rep-gabrielle-giffords-to-deliver-pledge-of-allegiance-at-democratic-convention/2012/09/06/71a81fce-f83f-11e1-a93b-7185e3f88849_story.html|title=Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords to deliver Pledge of Allegiance at Democratic convention|newspaper=The Washington Post}}{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} At the 2016 Democratic National Convention, Giffords delivered a speech in support of presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.{{cite web |title=WATCH: Gabby Giffords' powerful entrance to DNC follows with strong message |url=https://abc7chicago.com/gabby-giffords-speech-gun-violence-dnc/1446097/ |website=ABC7 Chicago |access-date=January 12, 2021 |date=July 28, 2016 |archive-date=June 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614191746/https://abc7chicago.com/gabby-giffords-speech-gun-violence-dnc/1446097/ |url-status=live}} For the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Giffords delivered a speech supporting presidential nominee Joe Biden and urging action on gun violence. At the 2024 Democratic National Convention held in Chicago, Illinois, she again spoke for gun safety and reform.

In January 2013, Giffords still had difficulty speaking and walking, and her right arm was paralyzed. She continued to undergo speech and physical therapy.{{cite news |author=Benac, Nancy |url=https://news.yahoo.com/halting-voice-giffords-speaks-guns-190250144--politics.html |title=With halting voice, Giffords speaks out on guns |publisher=Associated Press |date=January 30, 2013 |access-date=January 14, 2017 |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305072146/http://news.yahoo.com/halting-voice-giffords-speaks-guns-190250144--politics.html |url-status=live}} On January 8, 2014, Giffords marked the third anniversary of her shooting by going skydiving. Giffords said on an interview with the Today show, "Oh, wonderful sky. Gorgeous mountain. Blue skies. I like a lot. A lot of fun. Peaceful, so peaceful."{{cite news |last=Murray |first=Matt |title='One of the strongest women ever': What #GoGabby means to you |url=http://www.today.com/orangeroom/one-strongest-women-ever-what-gogabby-means-you-2D11884038 |newspaper=TODAY |date=January 9, 2014 |access-date=January 9, 2014 |archive-date=January 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109181635/http://www.today.com/orangeroom/one-strongest-women-ever-what-gogabby-means-you-2D11884038 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Nicks |first=Denver |title=Watch: Gabby Giffords Skydives to Celebrate Life |url=http://nation.time.com/2014/01/09/watch-gabby-giffords-skydives-to-celebrate-life/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109192216/http://nation.time.com/2014/01/09/watch-gabby-giffords-skydives-to-celebrate-life/ |archive-date=January 9, 2014 |newspaper=Time|date=January 9, 2014}} As of 2022, Giffords continues to experience aphasia, a disorder which diminishes her ability to communicate her thoughts through spoken language. She co-founded the organization Friends of Aphasia as a support group for others suffering the disorder.Multiple sources:

• {{Cite web |last=Narula |first=Dr Tara |date=November 18, 2022 |title=Gabby Giffords Still struggles to find words, but she hasn't lost her voice |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/18/health/gabby-giffords-aphasia-essay/index.html |access-date=September 17, 2024 |website=CNN |language=en}}
• {{cite web |title=Aphasia Won't Stop Gabby Giffords from Speaking Out |url=https://www.brainandlife.org/articles/gabby-giffords-doesnt-let-aphasia-stop-her |website=Brain & Life |access-date=November 3, 2024 |language=en |date=October 2022}}
• {{cite web |title=Profiles of Aphasia: Gabby Giffords |url=https://aphasia.org/stories/aphasia-gabby-giffords/ |website=The National Aphasia Association |date=July 25, 2017 |access-date=November 3, 2024}}

After her shooting, Giffords became an advocate for ending gun violence in the United States. In 2013, in response to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, Giffords and her husband founded the nonprofit organization Americans for Responsible Solutions (ARS) to support candidates who champion gun safety. In 2017, the organization joined forces with the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence and renamed itself GIFFORDS, in honor of its founder.

In 2019, GIFFORDS sued the Federal Election Commission, alleging the regulatory agency failed to take action against the National Rifle Association for alleged campaign finance violations.{{Cite news |last=Itkowitz |first=Colby |date=2019-04-25 |title=NRA at center of new lawsuit against the Federal Election Commission |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/nra-at-center-of-new-lawsuit-against-the-federal-election-commission/2019/04/24/abfa1178-66ec-11e9-8985-4cf30147bdca_story.html |access-date=2025-04-24 |newspaper=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}} The lawsuit, filed by GIFFORDS and the Campaign Legal Center, states the FEC did not respond to multiple complaints accusing the NRA of using shell organizations to donate more than the legal amount to the campaigns of President Trump and six Republican Senate candidates.{{Cite news |last=Itkowitz |first=Colby |date=2019-04-25 |title=NRA at center of new lawsuit against the Federal Election Commission |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/nra-at-center-of-new-lawsuit-against-the-federal-election-commission/2019/04/24/abfa1178-66ec-11e9-8985-4cf30147bdca_story.html |access-date=2025-04-24 |newspaper=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}{{Cite web |last=Oprysko |first=Caitlin |date=2021-11-02 |title=Giffords sues NRA alleging campaign finance violations |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-influence/2021/11/02/giffords-sues-nra-alleging-campaign-finance-violations-798628 |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}

In October 2021, GIFFORDS launched an affiliated program focused on promoting community-based solutions to gun violence in American cities. Called GIFFORDS Center for Violence Intervention, this program began hosting the annual Community Violence Intervention Conference, the largest gathering of community violence experts and advocates in the United States.{{Citation |title=Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence |date=2024-12-24 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giffords_Law_Center_to_Prevent_Gun_Violence#cite_note-10 |access-date=2025-04-24 |language=en}}

GIFFORDS was a leading key player in the Biden administration’s historic efforts against gun violence, providing research and policy suggestions that contributed to 2022’s Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the administration’s numerous executive actions on guns, and the formation of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention in 2023.{{Citation |title=Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence |date=2024-12-24 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giffords_Law_Center_to_Prevent_Gun_Violence#cite_note-11 |access-date=2025-04-24 |language=en}}

In 2024, GIFFORDS Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence—the legal arm of GIFFORDS— settled a major lawsuit against ghost gun company Polymer80 on behalf of Philadelphia, and undertook similar litigation in other parts of the country. In 2024, GIFFORDS Law Center was also active in the Supreme Court case United States vs. Rahimi, which was decided in favor of GIFFORDS Law Center’s position.{{Citation |title=Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence |date=2024-12-24 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giffords_Law_Center_to_Prevent_Gun_Violence#cite_note-12 |access-date=2025-04-24 |language=en}}

President Joe Biden awarded Giffords the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her courage while recovering from her shooting and persistence in fighting for change on July 7, 2022. She was among recipients that “demonstrate the power of possibilities and embody the soul of the nation — hard work, perseverance, and faith,” according to the Biden administration.{{Cite web |date=2022-07-01 |title=Biden to award Medal of Freedom to Gabby Giffords, Simone Biles, John McCain |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/biden-award-medal-freedom-gabby-giffords-simone-biles-john-mccain-rcna36349 |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=NBC News |language=en}} In 2023 she was the Grand Marshal of the Rose Parade and presided over both the parade and the Rose Bowl game.{{Cite web |last=Toohey |first=Grace |date=2022-10-13 |title=Former Rep. Gabby Giffords to serve as 2023 Rose Parade grand marshal |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-10-13/gabby-giffords-rose-parade-grand-marshal-2023-rose-bowl |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}

File:Mark Kelly and Gabrielle Giffords by Gage Skidmore.jpg in 2016]]

Giffords married U.S. Navy captain and NASA astronaut Mark Kelly on November 10, 2007. Kelly was the Space Shuttle's pilot on the STS-108 and STS-121 missions, was the commander of STS-124 and STS-134,{{cite web |last=Faherty |first=John |url=https://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/06/01/20080601 |title=Congresswoman's husband now in orbit |publisher=Azcentral.com |date=June 1, 2008 |access-date=January 8, 2011 |archive-date=May 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501061055/https://help.azcentral.com/ |url-status=live }} and became a U.S. Senator for Arizona in 2020.

Giffords is a former member of the Arizona regional board of the Anti-Defamation League.{{cite web |url=http://www.adl.org/PresRele/Mise_00/5958_00.htm |title=ADL Condemns Attack on U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords; Calls for Thorough Investigation into Motives of Shooter |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110201719/http://www.adl.org/PresRele/Mise_00/5958_00.htm |archive-date=January 10, 2011 }} After Hurricane Katrina struck in August 2005, Giffords spent time as a volunteer in Houston, Texas, in relief efforts for hurricane victims. She wrote about her experience in the Tucson Citizen.{{cite web |url=http://www.giffordsforcongress.com/2005/09/19/guest-opinion-houstons-humble-haven-if-nothing-else-we-should-learn-from-tragedy/ |title=Giffords campaign website |access-date=May 8, 2007 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070422115300/http://www.giffordsforcongress.com/2005/09/19/guest-opinion-houstons-humble-haven-if-nothing-else-we-should-learn-from-tragedy/ |archive-date=April 22, 2007}}

Prior to her injury, Giffords was an avid reader, and was featured on NPR's Weekend Edition on July 9, 2006, talking about her love of books.{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5543404 |title=Books to Make the Most of Her Personal Space |date=July 9, 2006 |publisher=NPR |access-date=January 19, 2011 |archive-date=May 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522233448/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5543404 |url-status=live }} She was periodically interviewed in 2007 together with Illinois Republican Peter Roskam on NPR's All Things Considered.{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6723561 |title=Perspectives on the Change in Power |date=January 4, 2007 |publisher=NPR |access-date=January 19, 2011 |archive-date=February 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219014746/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6723561 |url-status=live }} The series focused on their experiences as freshman members of the 110th Congress.{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6724736 |title=Freshmen Members Stake Out Roles in House |date=January 4, 2007 |publisher=National Public Radio (NPR) |access-date=January 19, 2011 |archive-date=April 23, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100423050927/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6724736 |url-status=live }};
{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7431187 |title=New Congress Members Join House Debate on Iraq |date=February 15, 2007 |publisher=NPR |access-date=January 19, 2011 |archive-date=April 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100424130928/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7431187 |url-status=live }};
{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9482787 |title=Freshmen Lawmakers Take District Temperatures |date=April 9, 2007 |publisher=NPR |access-date=January 19, 2011 |archive-date=February 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203034252/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9482787 |url-status=live }};
{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10330378 |title=Bipartisan Immigration Bill Faces Bipartisan Critics |date=May 22, 2007 |publisher=NPR |access-date=January 19, 2011 |archive-date=February 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219121411/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10330378 |url-status=live }};
{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12492620 |title=Freshmen Lawmakers Weigh in on Iraq after Visits |date=August 3, 2007 |publisher=NPR |access-date=January 19, 2011 |archive-date=February 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219121501/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12492620 |url-status=live }};
{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15604107 |title=First Re-Election Bids Require Balancing Act |date=October 24, 2007 |publisher=NPR |access-date=January 19, 2011 |archive-date=February 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219121447/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15604107 |url-status=live }}

Giffords voted against President Bush's Economic Stimulus Act of 2008. Giffords was one of 60 lawmakers who voted against the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 during its first House vote before switching to a yes vote in its second House vote,{{Cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-10-03-2053602361_x.htm |work=USA Today |title=Vote switchers on financial bailout |date=October 3, 2008 |access-date=May 3, 2010 |archive-date=May 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501061149/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-10-03-2053602361_x.htm |url-status=live }} and she voted for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.{{cite web|url=http://giffords.house.gov/2009/02/stimulus-bill-deserved-my-vote.shtml |title=Stimulus bill deserved my vote | Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords |publisher=Giffords.house.gov |date=February 22, 2009 |access-date=July 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100707023626/http://giffords.house.gov/2009/02/stimulus-bill-deserved-my-vote.shtml |archive-date=July 7, 2010}}

In August 2011, she voted in favor of raising the U.S. debt ceiling.

Giffords argued that Americans are competing on a global level and that this competition starts in the classroom. She was a critic of the No Child Left Behind law, arguing that it imposed an unfunded federal mandate. She also identified herself as a being a supporter of public schools and improving their efficiency.{{cite web |url=http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/rep_bios.php?rep_id=81737106&category=views&id=20110527128561 |title=Gabrielle Giffords – Education |publisher=The Political Guide |access-date=January 20, 2011 |archive-date=July 17, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717024006/http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/rep_bios.php?rep_id=81737106&category=views&id=20110527128561 |url-status=usurped }}

She has also been a Girl Scout supporter for many years. On April 21, 2007 (the same day Giffords hosted her third "Congress on Your Corner" in Tucson, Arizona) she also spoke at the Sahuaro Girl Scout Council Annual Meeting.

Giffords strongly supported renewable energy (especially solar energy) as a top public policy priority.{{cite web |url=http://www.sciencecoalition.org/showContent.cfm?id=472§ion=briefingroom&pageName=Legislative%20Issues |title=The Science Coalition |access-date=May 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110115173530/http://www.sciencecoalition.org/showContent.cfm?id=472§ion=briefingroom&pageName=Legislative%20Issues |archive-date=January 15, 2011 }} In September 2007, she published a report titled: The Community Solar Energy Initiative, Solar Energy in Southern Arizona in which it was noted that Arizona has enough sunshine to power the entire United States. The report reviewed current energy usage and discussed ways to increase the production of solar electricity.{{cite web|url=http://giffords.house.gov/Solar%20Energy%20in%20Southern%20Arizona%20Report_Exec%20Summary.pdf |title=Solar Energy in Southern Arizona: Executive Summary |last=Giffords |first=Gabrielle |date=September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722121624/http://giffords.house.gov/Solar%20Energy%20in%20Southern%20Arizona%20Report_Exec%20Summary.pdf |archive-date=July 22, 2011 }} On August 1, 2008, she wrote to congressional leaders regarding tax credits that were set to expire, arguing that failure to extend the scheme would be extremely harmful to the renewable energy industry "just as it is beginning to take off".{{cite web |last=Schuster |first=John |url=http://www.tucsonweekly.com/gbase/Currents/Content?oid=oid:114370 |title=Power Play | Currents Feature |work=Tucson Weekly |access-date=July 11, 2010 |archive-date=May 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501061029/https://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/power-play/Content?oid=1092209 |url-status=live }}

File:Gabrielle Giffords with military officer.jpg

During Giffords's tenure in the House, Arizona's 8th congressional district was one of ten in the country bordering Mexico. In 2010, Giffords stated that the Arizona SB 1070 legislation was a "clear calling that the federal government needs to do a better job"{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/04/28/immigration.reform.debate/index.html |title=Democrats call for elimination of Arizona's new immigration law |publisher=CNN |date=April 28, 2010 |access-date=April 30, 2010 |archive-date=April 29, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100429035623/http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/04/28/immigration.reform.debate/index.html |url-status=live}} and said that she hoped that the legislation would serve as a wake-up call to the federal government. However, she stopped short of supporting the law itself, saying that it "does nothing to secure our border" and that it "stands in direct contradiction to our past and, as a result, threatens our future". She also expressed concern that SB1070 was hurting the state's ability to attract students and businesses.{{cite web|url=http://giffords.house.gov/2010/04/us-rep-gabrielle-giffords-statement-on-arizonas-new-immigration-law-and-the-need-to-secure-our-borde.shtml |title=Giffords Statement On Arizona's New Immigration Law and the US Border |date=April 30, 2010 |access-date=August 10, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100804030453/http://giffords.house.gov/2010/04/us-rep-gabrielle-giffords-statement-on-arizonas-new-immigration-law-and-the-need-to-secure-our-borde.shtml |archive-date=August 4, 2010}}

On August 31, 2010, Giffords praised the arrival of National Guard troops on the border: "Arizonans have waited a long time for the deployment of the National Guard in our state. Their arrival represents a renewed national commitment to protecting our border communities from drug cartels and smugglers."{{cite web|url=http://giffords.house.gov/2010/08/us-rep-gabrielle-giffords-statement-on-arrival-of-national-guard-troops-on-the-arizona-mexico-border.shtml |title=U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' Statement On Arrival Of National Guard Troops on the Arizona–Mexico Border |date=August 31, 2010 |access-date=October 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007075442/http://giffords.house.gov/2010/08/us-rep-gabrielle-giffords-statement-on-arrival-of-national-guard-troops-on-the-arizona-mexico-border.shtml |archive-date=October 7, 2010}}

Giffords worked to secure passage of the August 2010 bill to fund more Border Patrol agents and surveillance technology for Arizona's border with Mexico. The legislation passed the House of Representatives only to be sent back by the U.S. Senate with reduced funding. Ultimately a $600-million bill was passed and signed into law. The bill was over $100 million less than Giffords fought for, but she said, "This funding signals a stronger federal commitment to protect those Americans who live and work near the border."{{cite web|url=http://giffords.house.gov/2010/08/us-rep-gabrielle-giffords-welcomes-presidents-signing-of-border-security-bill.shtml |title=U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Welcomes President's Signing Of Border Security Bill |date=August 13, 2010 |access-date=October 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007080302/http://giffords.house.gov/2010/08/us-rep-gabrielle-giffords-welcomes-presidents-signing-of-border-security-bill.shtml |archive-date=October 7, 2010}}

In 2008, Giffords introduced legislation that would have increased the cap on the H-1B visa from 65,000 per year to 130,000 per year.{{cite web |url=http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.R.5630: |title=Bill Text – 110th Congress (2007–2008) – THOMAS (Library of Congress) |publisher=Thomas.gov |date=March 13, 2008 |access-date=January 8, 2011 |archive-date=January 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116103705/http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.R.5630: }} If that were not sufficient, according to her legislation, the cap would have been increased to 180,000 per year.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}} The bill would have allowed, at most, 50% of employees at any given company with at least 50 employees to be H-1B guest workers.{{cite news |last=Gross |first=Grant |title=Bill Would Double Cap on H-1B Visas |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/143475/bill_would_double_cap_on_h1b_visas.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131183827/http://www.pcworld.com/article/143475/bill_would_double_cap_on_h1b_visas.html |archive-date=January 31, 2013 |newspaper=PC World |date=March 14, 2008 |access-date=April 20, 2010}} Giffords said the bill would help high-tech companies in southern Arizona, some of which rely on H-1B employees. However, Giffords's bill was never voted on by the House of Representatives.

In 2008, before being shot, Giffords opposed prohibitions in Washington, D.C., on the possession of handguns in the home and having usable firearms there, signing an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in District of Columbia v. Heller to support its overturn.{{cite web |title=Brief for respondent District of Columbia v. Heller 07-290 |url=http://www.abanet.org/publiced/preview/briefs/pdfs/07-08/07-290_RespondentAmCuSenateHouseMembers.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=August 10, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325025828/http://www.abanet.org/publiced/preview/briefs/pdfs/07-08/07-290_RespondentAmCuSenateHouseMembers.pdf |archive-date=March 25, 2009}}

In January 2013, Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly, motivated by the Sandy Hook shooting and their own experience with gun violence, started an organization called Americans for Responsible Solutions, whose mission was to promote gun safety legislation with elected officials and the general public. In 2016, the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence merged with Americans for Responsible Solutions, changing the organization’s name to GIFFORDS and the organization changed its name to Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence in 2017. GIFFORDS seeks to unite gun owners and gun safety advocates in a unified front against all forms of gun violence. The organization also includes the coalition Gun Owners for Safety, a forum for gun owners across the nation to mobilize in support of sensible solutions to gun violence.

Giffords was a surprise witness at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on gun violence on January 30, 2013.{{cite web |title=Giffords, NRA battle over gun control |url=http://www.adn.com/2013/01/29/2769708/nra-says-more-gun-control-not.html#emlnl=Afternoon_Newsletter |work=Anchorage Daily News |access-date=January 31, 2013 |date=January 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203093239/http://www.adn.com/2013/01/29/2769708/nra-says-more-gun-control-not.html#emlnl=Afternoon_Newsletter |archive-date=February 3, 2013 }} In a halting voice, she called for Congress to pass tougher laws on guns, saying "too many children are dying." Giffords is right-handed; her speech therapist had to write out her statement for her since her right arm was paralyzed in the shooting.

In 2017, after the Las Vegas shooting that killed 58 and injured 546, she implored lawmakers to take action, saying she "knows the horror of gun violence all too well."{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/las-vegas-shooting/gabby-giffords-i-know-horror-too-well-n806691|title=Gabby Giffords: I know this 'horror too well'|date=October 2, 2017 |publisher=NBC News|access-date=October 8, 2017|archive-date=October 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008053122/https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/las-vegas-shooting/gabby-giffords-i-know-horror-too-well-n806691|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Anapol |first=Avery|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/353389-giffords-las-vegas-shooting-is-a-grave-tragedy-for-our-nation|title=Giffords: Las Vegas shooting is a 'grave tragedy for our nation'|date=October 2, 2017|website=TheHill|access-date=February 21, 2020|archive-date=January 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129020145/https://thehill.com/homenews/353389-giffords-las-vegas-shooting-is-a-grave-tragedy-for-our-nation|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://fortune.com/2017/10/02/las-vegas-shooting-gabby-giffords/|title='Find the Courage:' Gabby Giffords Begs Congress to Act After Las Vegas Shooting |website=Fortune |access-date=February 21, 2020|archive-date=January 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129020041/https://fortune.com/2017/10/02/las-vegas-shooting-gabby-giffords/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2017/10/02/las-vegas-shooting-gabrielle-giffords-mark-kelly-tougher-gun-control-laws/723967001/|title=Las Vegas shooting: Gabby Giffords, Mark Kelly push more gun control|first=Ronald J.|last=Hansen|website=azcentral}}

Giffords spoke on the third night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, urging action on gun control. She worked with a speech therapist for months in preparation for the speech, and also performed "America" on the French horn, an instrument she had played as a teen, as a symbol of her recovery.{{cite web|first1=Dan |last1=Merica |first2=Kate |last2=Sullivan|title=Gabby Giffords relates personal recovery to American resilience in powerful speech at DNC|date=August 20, 2020 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/19/politics/gabby-giffords-recovery-resilience-dnc/index.html|access-date=August 22, 2020|publisher=CNN|archive-date=August 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200821170951/https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/19/politics/gabby-giffords-recovery-resilience-dnc/index.html|url-status=live}}

In 2022, she launched the GIFFORDS Center for Violence Intervention to promote "evidence-based, community-driven strategies to reduce gun violence" and assist communities in community violence intervention efforts.{{cite press release |url=https://giffords.org/press-release/2022/10/giffords-launches-giffords-center-for-violence-intervention/ |title=Giffords Launches Giffords Center for Violence Intervention |publisher=Giffords.org |date=October 5, 2022 |access-date=August 13, 2024}}

Giffords endorsed Kamala Harris' campaigns for U.S. senate in 2016 and president in 2024, declaring the election a "choice between Harris, who would sign a ban on assault weapons, and more gun violence under Donald Trump, who gun-rights groups back."{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/giffords-kamala-gun-violence-campaign-running-mate-5e7bb60c211ffa08a00668b93da5faa8 |title=Gabrielle Giffords stumps for Kamala Harris in Pennsylvania as campaign for running mate takes shape |work=AP News |last=Levy |first=Marc |date=July 25, 2024 |access-date=August 13, 2024}}{{cite press release |url=https://giffords.org/press-release/2024/07/gabby-giffords-kamala-harris-will-be-a-great-president/ |title=Gabby Giffords: Kamala Harris Will Be a Great President |publisher=Giffords.org |date=July 21, 2024 |access-date=August 13, 2024}}

{{main|USS Gabrielle Giffords{{!}}USS Gabrielle Giffords}}

It was announced by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, on February 10, 2012, that the next U.S. Navy littoral combat ship would be named {{USS|Gabrielle Giffords|LCS-10}}. Giffords, still recovering from injuries sustained in the 2011 assassination attempt, attended the ship's keel-laying ceremony and etched her initials into a plate welded into the ship.{{cite news |last=Finch II |first=Michael |url=http://www.al.com/business/index.ssf/2014/04/gabrielle_giffords_signs_initi.html |title=Gabrielle Giffords signs initials onto future littoral combat ship bearing her name |work=AL.com |date=April 16, 2014 |access-date=November 2, 2015 |archive-date=December 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222123257/http://www.al.com/business/index.ssf/2014/04/gabrielle_giffords_signs_initi.html |url-status=live}}

USS Gabrielle Giffords was christened at the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Alabama, on June 13, 2015.{{cite press release |url=https://www.defense.gov/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=17329 |title=Navy Christens Littoral Combat Ship Gabrielle Giffords |date=June 11, 2015 |number=NR-228-15 |publisher=U.S. Department of Defense |access-date=June 11, 2015 |archive-date=June 14, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150614040638/http://www.defense.gov/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=17329 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2015/06/13/navy-ship-uss-gabrielle-giffords-christened/71186248/ |title=Navy ship christened for former Arizona Rep. Giffords |work=The Arizona Republic |date=June 13, 2015 |access-date=September 27, 2015 |archive-date=May 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501061149/https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2015/06/13/navy-ship-uss-gabrielle-giffords-christened/71186248/ |url-status=live }} Giffords attended the christening ceremony, along with Second Lady of the United States Jill Biden, who served as the ship's sponsor. The ship was commissioned on June 12, 2017, at a ceremony in Port of Galveston, Texas with Joe Biden, Jill Biden, Hillary Clinton, and other prominent political figures in attendance.{{cite web|title=Navy Commissions USS Gabrielle Giffords|url=http://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/News/Article/Article/1210817/navy-commissions-uss-gabrielle-giffords/|website=U.S. Department of Defense|access-date=June 14, 2017|archive-date=June 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170612194626/https://www.defense.gov/News/Article/Article/1210817/navy-commissions-uss-gabrielle-giffords/|url-status=live}}

Some commentators have noted that several ships in the U.S. Navy, including {{USS|Henry M. Jackson|SSBN-730|2}}, {{USS|Carl Vinson|CVN-70|2}}, {{USS|John C. Stennis|CVN-74|2}}, {{USS|Jimmy Carter|SSN-23|2}}, {{USS|Ronald Reagan|CVN-76|2}}, and {{USS|George Bush|CVN-77|2}} were named for prominent politicians who were still alive at the time of the naming.{{cite web |last=Farley |first=Robert |title=USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS-10) |url=http://www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2012/02/uss-gabrielle-giffords-lcs-10 |date=February 10, 2012 |access-date=March 28, 2013 |archive-date=June 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150616083538/http://www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2012/02/uss-gabrielle-giffords-lcs-10 |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |url=https://nation.time.com/2012/02/27/more-on-ship-naming-controversies-about-the-uss-gabrielle-giffords/ |title=More on Ship-Naming Controversies: About the USS Gabrielle Giffords |magazine=Time |last=Iskra |first=Darline |date=February 27, 2012 |access-date=March 29, 2013 |archive-date=May 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150504153242/http://nation.time.com/2012/02/27/more-on-ship-naming-controversies-about-the-uss-gabrielle-giffords/ |url-status=live}} A subsequent Navy report on the naming noted that Secretary Mabus considered honoring Giffords and other victims of the Tucson shooting by naming LCS-10 after the city of Tucson, consistent with the practice of naming littoral combat ships for U.S. cities, but this was not possible because {{USS|Tucson|SSN-770|6}}, an active {{sclass|Los Angeles|submarine|1}}, already bears the name.{{cite news |last=Olson |first=Wyatt |url=http://www.stripes.com/news/navy/from-hope-to-giffords-the-navy-s-long-history-of-unconventional-ship-names-1.353190 |title=From Hope to Giffords: The Navy's long history of unconventional ship names |work=Stars and Stripes |date=June 19, 2015 |access-date=October 23, 2015 |archive-date=November 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117061338/http://www.stripes.com/news/navy/from-hope-to-giffords-the-navy-s-long-history-of-unconventional-ship-names-1.353190 |url-status=live}}

{{Hidden begin|toggle=left|title=Gabby Giffords electoral history}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change|title=Arizona House of Representatives 13th district election, 2000{{cite web|url=https://apps.azsos.gov/election/2000/Primary/Canvass2000PE.pdf|title=STATE OF ARIZONA OFFICIAL CANVASS - 2000 Primary Election - September 12, 2000|website=Secretary of State of Arizona|date=September 25, 2000|accessdate=June 20, 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://apps.azsos.gov/election/2000/General/Canvass2000GE.pdf|title=STATE OF ARIZONA OFFICIAL CANVASS - 2000 General Election - November 7, 2000|website=Secretary of State of Arizona|date=November 27, 2000|accessdate=June 20, 2025}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Gabrielle Giffords

| votes = 4,923

| percentage = 35.10%

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Ted Downing

| votes = 4,478

| percentage = 31.92%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Howard Shore

| votes = 2,992

| percentage = 21.33%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Colette Barajas (withdrawn)

| votes = 1,634

| percentage = 11.65%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 14,027

| percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box open primary general election no change}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Gabrielle Giffords

| votes = 25,160

| percentage = 27.83%

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Carol Somers

| votes = 22,687

| percentage = 25.10%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Ted Downing

| votes = 21,684

| percentage = 23.99%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Jonathan Paton

| votes = 20,869

| percentage = 23.09%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 90,400

| percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

| winner = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

| winner = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change|title=Arizona State Senate 28th district election, 2002{{cite web|url=https://apps.azsos.gov/election/2002/Primary/Canvass2002PE.pdf|title=STATE OF ARIZONA OFFICIAL CANVASS - 2002 Primary Election - September 10, 2002|website=Secretary of State of Arizona|date=September 23, 2002|accessdate=June 20, 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://apps.azsos.gov/election/2002/General/Canvass2002GE.pdf|title=STATE OF ARIZONA OFFICIAL CANVASS - 2002 General Election - November 5, 2002|website=Secretary of State of Arizona|date=November 25, 2002|accessdate=June 20, 2025}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Gabrielle Giffords

| votes = 11,075

| percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 11,075

| percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box open primary general election no change}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Gabrielle Giffords

| votes = 31,301

| percentage = 74.19%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Libertarian Party (United States)

| candidate = Kimberly Swanson

| votes = 10,888

| percentage = 25.81%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 42,189

| percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box gain with party link no swing

| winner = Democratic Party (United States)

| loser = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change|title=Arizona State Senate 28th district election, 2004{{cite web|url=https://apps.azsos.gov/election/2004/Primary/Canvass2004PE.pdf|title=STATE OF ARIZONA OFFICIAL CANVASS 2004 Primary Election - September 7, 2004|website=Secretary of State of Arizona|date=September 20, 2004|accessdate=June 20, 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://apps.azsos.gov/election/2004/General/Canvass2004General.pdf|title=STATE OF ARIZONA OFFICIAL CANVASS 2004 General Election - November 2, 2004|website=Secretary of State of Arizona|date=November 22, 2004|accessdate=June 20, 2025}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Gabrielle Giffords (incumbent)

| votes = 9,754

| percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 9,754

| percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box open primary general election no change}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Gabrielle Giffords (incumbent)

| votes = 43,911

| percentage = 64.15%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Charles H. Josephson

| votes = 22,254

| percentage = 32.51%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Libertarian Party (United States)

| candidate = Mick Chvala

| votes = 2,289

| percentage = 3.34%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 68,454

| percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

| winner = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change|title=Arizona's 8th congressional district election, 2006{{cite web|url=https://apps.azsos.gov/election/2006/Primary/Canvass2006PE.pdf|title=STATE OF ARIZONA OFFICIAL CANVASS - 2006 Primary Election - September 12, 2006|website=Secretary of State of Arizona|date=September 25, 2006|accessdate=June 20, 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://apps.azsos.gov/election/2006/General/Canvass2006GE.pdf|title=STATE OF ARIZONA OFFICIAL CANVASS - 2006 General Election - November 7, 2006|website=Secretary of State of Arizona|date=December 4, 2006|accessdate=June 20, 2025}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Gabrielle Giffords

| votes = 33,375

| percentage = 54.37%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Patty Weiss

| votes = 19,148

| percentage = 31.19%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Jeffrey Lynn Latas

| votes = 3,687

| percentage = 6.01%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Alex Rodriguez

| votes = 2,855

| percentage = 4.65%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = William Johnson

| votes = 1,768

| percentage = 2.88%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Francine Shacter

| votes = 576

| percentage = 0.94%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 61,389

| percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box open primary general election no change}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Gabrielle Giffords

| votes = 137,655

| percentage = 54.25%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Randy Graf

| votes = 106,790

| percentage = 42.09%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Libertarian Party (United States)

| candidate = David F. Nolan

| votes = 4,849

| percentage = 1.91%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Independent

| candidate = Jay Quick

| votes = 4,408

| percentage = 1.74%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Independent

| candidate = Paul Price (write-in)

| votes = 7

| percentage = 0.00%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Independent

| candidate = Russ Dove (write-in)

| votes = 7

| percentage = 0.00%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Independent

| candidate = Leo F. Kimminau, Sr. (write-in)

| votes = 4

| percentage = 0.00%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 253,720

| percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box gain with party link no swing

| winner = Democratic Party (United States)

| loser = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change|title=Arizona's 8th congressional district election, 2008{{cite web|url=https://apps.azsos.gov/election/2008/Primary/Canvass2008PE.pdf|title=STATE OF ARIZONA OFFICIAL CANVASS - 2008 Primary Election - September 2, 2008|website=Secretary of State of Arizona|date=September 15, 2008|accessdate=June 20, 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://apps.azsos.gov/election/2008/General/Canvass2008GE.pdf|title=STATE OF ARIZONA OFFICIAL CANVASS - 2008 General Election - November 4, 2008|website=Secretary of State of Arizona|date=December 1, 2008|accessdate=June 20, 2025}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Gabrielle Giffords (incumbent)

| votes = 46,223

| percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 46,223

| percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box open primary general election no change}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Gabrielle Giffords (incumbent)

| votes = 179,629

| percentage = 54.73%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Tim Bee

| votes = 140,553

| percentage = 42.82%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Libertarian Party (United States)

| candidate = Paul Davis

| votes = 8,081

| percentage = 2.46%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Independent

| candidate = Paul Price (write-in)

| votes = 3

| percentage = 0.00%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 328,266

| percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

| winner = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change|title=Arizona's 8th congressional district election, 2010{{cite web|url=https://apps.azsos.gov/election/2010/Primary/Canvass2010PE.pdf|title=STATE OF ARIZONA OFFICIAL CANVASS - 2010 Primary Election - August 24, 2010|website=Secretary of State of Arizona|date=September 7, 2010|accessdate=June 20, 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://apps.azsos.gov/election/2010/General/Canvass2010GE.pdf|title=STATE OF ARIZONA OFFICIAL CANVASS - 2010 General Election - November 2, 2010|website=Secretary of State of Arizona|date=November 29, 2010|accessdate=June 20, 2025}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Gabrielle Giffords (incumbent)

| votes = 55,530

| percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 55,530

| percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box open primary general election no change}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Gabrielle Giffords (incumbent)

| votes = 138,280

| percentage = 48.76%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Jesse Kelly

| votes = 134,124

| percentage = 47.30%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Libertarian Party (United States)

| candidate = Steven Stoltz

| votes = 11,174

| percentage = 3.94%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 283,578

| percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

| winner = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Hidden end}}

• Giffords
• Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence
• List of Jewish members of the United States Congress
• List of United States Congress members killed or wounded in office
• Women in the United States House of Representatives

{{reflist

| colwidth = 30em

| refs =

{{cite video

| title = House Session, Jan 6, 2011

| date = January 6, 2011

| work = C-SPAN

| access-date = January 12, 2011

| url = http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/HouseSession3985

| time = 1:55:48 – 1:56:10

| archive-date = May 1, 2023

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230501061037/https://www.c-span.org/video/?297341-1/house-session

| url-status = live

}}

{{cite news

| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/15/us/15medical.html

| date = January 14, 2011

| title = From Bloody Scene to E.R., Life-Saving Choices in Tucson

| author = Denise Grady

| author2 = Jennifer Medina

| work = The New York Times

| access-date = January 15, 2011

| archive-date = January 15, 2011

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110115052402/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/15/us/15medical.html

| url-status = live

}}

}}

{{Wikiquote}}

{{Wikisource|Author:Gabrielle Dee Giffords}}

{{Commons category|Gabrielle Giffords}}

{{Wikinews category}}

• {{cite web |url=http://giffords.house.gov/ |title=U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords |access-date=January 5, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728205427/http://giffords.house.gov/ |archive-date=July 28, 2011 }} official U.S. House website (archive 2011)
• {{cite web |url=http://giffords.house.gov/Solar%20Energy%20in%20Southern%20Arizona%20Report_Exec%20Summary.pdf |title=Giffords Community Solar Energy Initiative |access-date=May 6, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722121624/http://giffords.house.gov/Solar%20Energy%20in%20Southern%20Arizona%20Report_Exec%20Summary.pdf |archive-date=July 22, 2011 }}
• {{cite web |url=http://giffords.house.gov/2010%2007%2007%20Border%20Security%20Action%20Plan.pdf |title=Congresswoman Giffords Action Plan to Improve Border Security |access-date=October 12, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722121756/http://giffords.house.gov/2010%2007%2007%20Border%20Security%20Action%20Plan.pdf |archive-date=July 22, 2011 }}
• {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20060901233635/http://www.giffordsforcongress.com/ Gabrielle Giffords for U.S. Congress]}} official campaign website

{{CongLinks | congbio=g000554 | votesmart=28507 | fec=H6AZ08038 | congress= }}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070929083613/http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Gabrielle_Giffords Profile] at SourceWatch
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaSjIiaI5s0 Giffords's announcement of her resignation, January 22, 2012]
• [https://giffords.org/ giffords.org] Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence and Giffords PAC
• [http://www.makers.com/gabrielle-giffords Gabrielle Giffords] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429080058/http://www.makers.com/gabrielle-giffords |date=April 29, 2014}} Video produced by Makers: Women Who Make America
• {{TED speaker|mark_kelly_and_gabby_giffords}}
• {{C-SPAN|1021830}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-par|us-az-hs}}

{{s-bef|before=Andy Nichols}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the Arizona House of Representatives
from the 13th district|years=2001–2003}}

{{s-aft|after=Steve Gallardo}}

|-

{{s-par|us-az-sen}}

{{s-bef|before=Randall Gnant}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the Arizona Senate
from the 28th district|years=2003–2006}}

{{s-aft|after=Paula Aboud}}

|-

{{s-par|us-hs}}

{{s-bef|before=Jim Kolbe}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arizona's 8th congressional district|years=2007–2012}}

{{s-aft|after=Ron Barber}}

|-

{{s-prec|usa}}

{{s-bef|before=Steve Russell|as=Former US Representative}}

{{s-ttl|title=Order of precedence of the United States
{{small|as Former US Representative}}|years=}}

{{s-aft|after=Harry Mitchell|as=Former US Representative}}

{{s-end}}

{{ArizonaUSRepresentatives}}

{{USCongRep-start|congresses=110th–112th United States Congresses|state=Arizona}}

{{USCongRep/AZ/110}}

{{USCongRep/AZ/111}}

{{USCongRep/AZ/112}}

{{USCongRep-end}}

{{Portal bar|Arizona|Biography|United States|Politics}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Giffords, Gabrielle}}

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