One day after writing a New York Times op-ed regarding the defeat of the Manchin-Toomey background check compromise, Time Magazine has named Gabrielle Giffords as one of its 100 most influential people of the year.
The essay about her was penned by Jim Brady, the namesake of the Brady Act and former White House press secretary, is excerpted below:
On that day Gabby Giffords first spoke out so eloquently about the tragedy in Newtown, Conn., and her commitment to the issue of reducing gun violence, I knew the movement would no longer see just a fleeting success.
…
We all remember that terrible tragedy in Tucson, Ariz., and those we lost, but few actually know the grit, pain, tenacity and strong will it took Gabby to emerge as the lovely spokeswoman and face of the gun-violence-prevention movement.
This article appears in Apr 18-24, 2013.
I am so sick of hearing about Giffords and Kelly and gun control, Lets hear about jobs, the econmy and the debt, The gun bill would not have stopped any of the shootings that have happened. It’s just a reach to get gun owners on a national registration. and thats the truth.
@ azrebelmaj – we’re taking this issue back. Deal with it.
Azrebelmaj…I wonder what Gabby Giffords and Mark Kelly and the rest of the victims or survivors are sick of. Constant ringing in the ears, chronic headaches, sleepless nights, the challenge of putting a complete sentence together, walking without assistance, or the excruciating weight of endless grief from the senseless and pointless death of an innocent, optimistic and beautiful 9 year old girl? Or perhaps they are sick of the fear that something might explode in their face, in the grocery store parking lot.
Have you no compassion in your empty soul except for your own selfish and immature desire? Are you part of a human race that might have something to contribute toward the greater good? Even an earthworm contributes toward the development of compost and better soil, and therefore is not a parasite.
She is right when she speaks of the cowardice of legislators, but wrong when she still believes that it is OK for sane people to solve their problems with guns. The notion that problems can be solved with violence conflicts with my definition of sanity.
You know what I think we are ALL sick of? People who are: 1.) Intolerant (of anyone who supports the idea that gun owners need to be accountable, and who are not paranoid about federal laws); 2.) Ignorant (of anything that is quite obviously sane, still affords citizens freedom, is respectful, but rigorous); 3.) Ignoble (Who hate just about everything, but then try to sound intelligent by spouting off the same stuff about the economy, which is not even the issue here). Please, please, get a clue. It’s not about Obama! It’s about your
neighbors, and something that 90% of all Arizonans support. You are outnumbered AND out-gunned.
I think they are confused. It’s Mark Kelly behind Gabby Gifford…he’s using her to get ahead.