'I Have Not Lost My Voice': Gabby Giffords' Stirring DNC Speech

TUCSON, AZ — Former Arizona Rep. Gabrielle "Gabby" Giffords gave her longest public address in nearly a decade Wednesday at the 2020 Democratic National Convention. Giffords was shot in the head in 2011 while meeting with constituents in Tucson and has spent years recovering.

Giffords was partially paralyzed in the tragedy and still struggles with her speech due to aphasia. She and husband, Mark Kelly, started a gun control foundation called Giffords shortly after the shooting. Kelly, a retired astronaut currently running for U.S. Senate, will face Republican incumbent Sen. Martha McSally on the ballot in November.

In her pre-taped speech, Giffords touched on her experience following the incident and took a stand against gun violence.

"We are at a crossroads," she said. "We can let the shooting continue, or we can act. We can protect our families, our future. We can vote. We can be on the right side of history."

She also took the opportunity to advocate for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden as images of the two together flashed across the screen.

"He was there for me. He will be there for you, too," Giffords said.

Her spokesman said the DNC speech was the longest public address she has given since 2011, according to CNN. She worked on it for months with a speech therapist.

"Words once came easily, today I struggle to speak. But I have not lost my voice. America needs all of us to speak out, even when you have to fight to find the words," she said.

Six people died and 12 others were injured in the 2011 shooting in Tucson. The gunman, Jared Loughner, was sentenced to life in prison the following year.