Gabrielle Giffords

Gabrielle Giffords - Political Leaders, Family and Family

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Gabrielle Giffords's Personal Details

Gabrielle Dee 'Gabby' Giffords is an American politician and a former Arizona Congresswoman

InformationDetail
BirthdayJune 8, 1970
NationalityAmerican
FamousCornell University, Leaders, Political Leaders
City/StateArizona
SpousesMark Kelly (m. 2007)
Known asGabrielle Dee Gabby Giffords
ChildrensClaire Kelly, Claudia Kelly
Universities
  • Cornell University
  • University High School
  • Cornell University
  • Scripps College
Notable Alumnis
  • Cornell University
Birth PlaceTucson, Arizona
GenderFemale
FatherSpencer J. Giffords
MotherGloria Fraser Giffords
Sun SignGemini
Born inTucson, Arizona
Famous asPolitical Leader
Socials

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Gabrielle Giffords's photo

Who is Gabrielle Giffords?

Gabrielle Dee “Gabby” Giffords is an American politician and a former Arizona Congresswoman. She was in the news when she survived (albeit with a severe brain injury) an assassination attempt. Born and raised in Arizona, US, she studied at ‘Scripps College’ and ‘Cornell University.’ After devoting a few years to her family business, she won a seat in the ‘Arizona House of Representatives.’ Later, she became the youngest woman elected in the ‘Arizona State Senate.’ Giffords resigned from the ‘Senate’ to run for the congressional seat from Arizona’s 8th district and became the first Jewish congresswoman from that state in the ‘US House of Representatives.’ During her tenure, she strongly supported causes of border security, alternative energy development, and the needs of servicemen and their families. She won the congressional seat for three consecutive terms. However, toward the beginning of her third term, while meeting her constituents, she was shot in the head by a gunman named Jared Loughner. She underwent rehabilitation and regained her abilities to some extent. A year later, she resigned from her seat. She is the first living woman (in more than two centuries) to have a ‘Navy’ warship named after her. She is married to former ‘NASA’ astronaut and US Navy Captain Mark Kelly.

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Childhood & Early Life

Giffords was born on June 8, 1970, in Tucson, Arizona, to a Jewish father, Spencer Giffords, and a Christian Scientist mother, Gloria Kay (née Fraser). She was raised in a mixed religious environment but follows Judaism now. Her father looked after their family business, ‘El Campo Tire Warehouses,’ and was a member of the district school board. Her mother was an author and an art restorer.

Giffords has an older sister named Melissa and an older half-brother named Alejandro. Her childhood adventures included summer camping with Melissa across the border, in Mexico. With a liking for horses, she worked in the stable to pay for her riding lessons.

Giffords graduated in 1988 from the ‘University High School’ in Tucson. She was a ‘Girl Scout,’ too. She studied at ‘Scripps College,’ a women’s college in California, and received a BA degree in sociology and Latin American history in 1993. She then earned a ‘William Fulbright Scholarship’ and studied in Chihuahua, Mexico, for a year. In 1996, she got a master’s degree in regional planning from ‘Cornell University,’ Ithaca, New York.

After completing her studies, she worked for six months as an associate at ‘Price Waterhouse’ in New York City. She returned to Tucson to work as the CEO of her family business, ‘El Campo Tire Warehouses.’ In 2000, she sold the company to ‘Goodyear Tire.’

Career

While working in Tucson, Giffords took interest in helping her community. At 18, inspired by ‘Supreme Court’ justice Sandra Day O’Connor, she registered as a ‘Republican.’ However, in 1999, she switched to the ‘Democratic Party.’

In 2001, she was elected to the ‘Arizona House of Representatives.’ She served in this post till 2003. In 2002, she ran for the ‘Arizona Senate’ and won, thereby becoming the youngest woman elected to the ‘Arizona Senate.’ She joined the ‘Senate’ in 2003 and was re-elected in 2004.

While in the legislature office, Giffords worked on issues such as healthcare costs and low educational achievements. Her work on bills concerning mental health earned her the honor of the 2004 ‘Legislature of the Year,’ awarded by the ‘Mental Health Association of Arizona.’ In 2003, she received the ‘Outstanding Legislature Award,’ awarded by the ‘Arizona Family Literacy’ program, for her efforts in improving education and healthcare of her state’s children.

In December 2005, she resigned from the ‘Senate’ to run for the elections for the ‘US House of Representatives.’ The 8th congressional district seat in Arizona was being vacated by Representative Jim Kolbe, and Gifford announced her candidacy for that seat on January 24, 2006. She was endorsed by important ‘Democrats,’ including Bill Clinton. She was nominated by her party after a primary election on September 12, 2006.

On November 7, 2006, she won the elections with 54% of the votes. Her opponent, ‘Republican’ Randy Graf, secured 42% of the votes. She became the first woman of Jewish descent to be elected to the ‘Congress’ from Arizona.

For her second term elections in 2008, Gifford faced a tough challenge from ‘Republican’ candidate Timothy Bee, who was the president of the ‘Arizona State Senate’ and her childhood classmate. She won the elections with 56.20% of the total votes. She was re-elected for her third term on November 5, 2010, when she won with a slim margin against ‘Republican’ candidate Jesse Kelly.

Gifford was the third woman from Arizona to join the US ‘Congress,’ when she was first sworn in on January 3, 2007. She addressed many issues concerning her state, such as issues related to immigrants and border security. She made efforts to work on the violence related to border security and drug-trafficking in the Mexico–Arizona border area. She conducted a drug violence summit with 60 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers.

She was also involved in a number of other developments, such as funding for embryonic stem-cell research, establishing the ‘Strategic Renewable Energy Reserve,’ and raising minimum wages. She endorsed a national day of recognition for cowboys and presented a bill to prohibit the sale of F-14 aircraft parts in the open market.

Giffords regularly hosted the ‘Congress on Your Corner’ gatherings in Tucson, where she met and spoke with her constituents.

During her second term, she was a member of the ‘Armed Services’ and ‘Foreign Affairs’ committees. She was also part of the ‘Science, Space, and Technology Committee’ and served as the chairperson of the ‘Space and Aeronautics’ sub-committee. Giffords was a member of the fiscally conservative ‘Blue Dog Coalition,’ too.

During her third term, she supported the $600-million border security bill, which was later signed by President Barack Obama. This made it possible to hire a thousand border control agents and other additional personnel.

Giffords also advocated small-business tax relief and was an active supporter of the ‘Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,’ for which she had to face strong political opposition. Later, her office was vandalized. This was said to have been related to her support of the act.

On January 8, 2011, while Giffords was at a ‘Congress on Your Corner’ meeting outside a ‘Safeway’ grocery store in Tucson, she was shot in the head from a close range, in an assassination attempt. 22-year-old Jared Lee Loughner fired a 9mm pistol with a 33-round magazine, killing six (including a ‘District Court’ judge, a 9-year-old girl, and an aide to Giffords) and injuring 18 people. Reportedly, Giffords was the main target of this shooting.

Giffords was rushed to the ‘University Medical Center’ of Tucson and underwent an emergency surgery. Gradually, her condition stabilized and then improved. On January 21, she was shifted to the ‘Memorial Hermann Medical Center,’ and then to the ‘TIRR Memorial Hermann’ in Houston, for rehabilitation.

She had recovered sufficiently to travel to the ‘Kennedy Space Center,’ Florida, to witness the launch of her husband Mark Kelly’s final space shuttle mission, ‘Endeavour,’ on May 16, 2011.

On June 15, she returned home from the hospital.

Giffords attended the ‘House of Representatives’ on August 1, 2011, which was her first public appearance after the assassination attempt, to vote for “raising the debt limit ceiling.” She was greeted with a standing ovation and accolades. She could not fully use her right side and had trouble speaking. By then, she had also lost 50% vision in her eyes.

She submitted her resignation from her ‘Congress’ seat on January 25, 2012, as she needed to devote time to her recovery.

The shooter, Jared Lee Loughner, faced trial for more than 50 federal criminal charges. In November 2012, he pleaded guilty in a plea bargain, to avoid a death sentence, and was sentenced to seven life terms and 140 years in prison, without the possibility of parole.

Personal Life

Giffords married Mark Kelly on November 10, 2007. She had met him four years earlier, on a trip to China. He is a former ‘Navy’ pilot and ‘NASA’ astronaut.

Kelly and Giffords later founded ‘Americans for Responsible Solutions,’ which advocates gun-violence prevention and gun-owner responsibility.

Publications & Honors

In November 2011, Giffords and Kelly released a memoir, ‘Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope,’ co-written with Jeffrey Zaslow.

Their second book, ‘Enough: Our Fight to Keep America Safe from Gun Violence,’ was published in May 2017.

The ‘US Navy’ combat ship ‘USS Gabrielle Giffords,’ named in her honor, was commissioned into service on June 12, 2017, in Texas. She is the first living woman to have a ‘Navy’ warship named after her. The only other woman was Martha Washington in 1776. She is also the third living woman in the US to have a naval vessel named after her.

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Gabrielle Giffords biography timelines

  • // 1776 To 12th Jun 2017
    The ‘US Navy’ combat ship ‘USS Gabrielle Giffords,’ named in her honor, was commissioned into service on June 12, 2017, in Texas. She is the first living woman to have a ‘Navy’ warship named after her. The only other woman was Martha Washington in 1776. She is also the third living woman in the US to have a naval vessel named after her.
  • // 8th Jun 1970
    Giffords was born on June 8, 1970, in Tucson, Arizona, to a Jewish father, Spencer Giffords, and a Christian Scientist mother, Gloria Kay (née Fraser). She was raised in a mixed religious environment but follows Judaism now. Her father looked after their family business, ‘El Campo Tire Warehouses,’ and was a member of the district school board. Her mother was an author and an art restorer.
  • // 1999
    While working in Tucson, Giffords took interest in helping her community. At 18, inspired by ‘Supreme Court’ justice Sandra Day O’Connor, she registered as a ‘Republican.’ However, in 1999, she switched to the ‘Democratic Party.’
  • // 2000
    After completing her studies, she worked for six months as an associate at ‘Price Waterhouse’ in New York City. She returned to Tucson to work as the CEO of her family business, ‘El Campo Tire Warehouses.’ In 2000, she sold the company to ‘Goodyear Tire.’
  • // 2003 To 2004
    While in the legislature office, Giffords worked on issues such as healthcare costs and low educational achievements. Her work on bills concerning mental health earned her the honor of the 2004 ‘Legislature of the Year,’ awarded by the ‘Mental Health Association of Arizona.’ In 2003, she received the ‘Outstanding Legislature Award,’ awarded by the ‘Arizona Family Literacy’ program, for her efforts in improving education and healthcare of her state’s children.
  • // 7th Nov 2006
    On November 7, 2006, she won the elections with 54% of the votes. Her opponent, ‘Republican’ Randy Graf, secured 42% of the votes. She became the first woman of Jewish descent to be elected to the ‘Congress’ from Arizona.
  • // 3rd Jan 2007
    Gifford was the third woman from Arizona to join the US ‘Congress,’ when she was first sworn in on January 3, 2007. She addressed many issues concerning her state, such as issues related to immigrants and border security. She made efforts to work on the violence related to border security and drug-trafficking in the Mexico–Arizona border area. She conducted a drug violence summit with 60 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers.
  • // 10th Nov 2007
    Giffords married Mark Kelly on November 10, 2007. She had met him four years earlier, on a trip to China. He is a former ‘Navy’ pilot and ‘NASA’ astronaut.
  • // 2008 To 5th Nov 2010
    For her second term elections in 2008, Gifford faced a tough challenge from ‘Republican’ candidate Timothy Bee, who was the president of the ‘Arizona State Senate’ and her childhood classmate. She won the elections with 56.20% of the total votes. She was re-elected for her third term on November 5, 2010, when she won with a slim margin against ‘Republican’ candidate Jesse Kelly.
  • // 8th Jan 2011
    On January 8, 2011, while Giffords was at a ‘Congress on Your Corner’ meeting outside a ‘Safeway’ grocery store in Tucson, she was shot in the head from a close range, in an assassination attempt. 22-year-old Jared Lee Loughner fired a 9mm pistol with a 33-round magazine, killing six (including a ‘District Court’ judge, a 9-year-old girl, and an aide to Giffords) and injuring 18 people. Reportedly, Giffords was the main target of this shooting.
  • // 16th May 2011
    She had recovered sufficiently to travel to the ‘Kennedy Space Center,’ Florida, to witness the launch of her husband Mark Kelly’s final space shuttle mission, ‘Endeavour,’ on May 16, 2011.
  • // 1st Aug 2011
    Giffords attended the ‘House of Representatives’ on August 1, 2011, which was her first public appearance after the assassination attempt, to vote for “raising the debt limit ceiling.” She was greeted with a standing ovation and accolades. She could not fully use her right side and had trouble speaking. By then, she had also lost 50% vision in her eyes.
  • // Nov 2011
    In November 2011, Giffords and Kelly released a memoir, ‘Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope,’ co-written with Jeffrey Zaslow.
  • // 25th Jan 2012
    She submitted her resignation from her ‘Congress’ seat on January 25, 2012, as she needed to devote time to her recovery.
  • // Nov 2012
    The shooter, Jared Lee Loughner, faced trial for more than 50 federal criminal charges. In November 2012, he pleaded guilty in a plea bargain, to avoid a death sentence, and was sentenced to seven life terms and 140 years in prison, without the possibility of parole.
  • // May 2017
    Their second book, ‘Enough: Our Fight to Keep America Safe from Gun Violence,’ was published in May 2017.

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Gabrielle Giffords's FAQ

  • What is Gabrielle Giffords birthday?

    Gabrielle Giffords was born at 1970-06-08

  • Where is Gabrielle Giffords's birth place?

    Gabrielle Giffords was born in Tucson, Arizona

  • What is Gabrielle Giffords nationalities?

    Gabrielle Giffords's nationalities is American

  • Who is Gabrielle Giffords spouses?

    Gabrielle Giffords's spouses is Mark Kelly (m. 2007)

  • Who is Gabrielle Giffords childrens?

    Gabrielle Giffords's childrens is Claire Kelly, Claudia Kelly

  • What was Gabrielle Giffords universities?

    Gabrielle Giffords studied at Cornell University, University High School, Cornell University, Scripps College

  • What was Gabrielle Giffords notable alumnis?

    Gabrielle Giffords's notable alumnis is Cornell University

  • Who is Gabrielle Giffords's father?

    Gabrielle Giffords's father is Spencer J. Giffords

  • Who is Gabrielle Giffords's mother?

    Gabrielle Giffords's mother is Gloria Fraser Giffords

  • What is Gabrielle Giffords's sun sign?

    Gabrielle Giffords is Gemini

  • How famous is Gabrielle Giffords?

    Gabrielle Giffords is famouse as Political Leader

  • What is Gabrielle Giffords's facebook?

    Gabrielle Giffords's facebook is https://www.facebook.com/giffords/

  • What is Gabrielle Giffords's twitter?

    Gabrielle Giffords's twitter is https://twitter.com/gabbygiffords/

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    Gabrielle Giffords's instagram is https://www.instagram.com/gabbygiffords/