Gabrielle Giffords To Attend Tucson Candlelight Vigil Honoring Victims Of Arizona Shooting

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Rep. Gabrielle Giffords plans to attend an Arizona candlelight vigil exactly one year after she and 18 others were shot outside a Tucson grocery store during a congressional meet-and-greet.

Giffords husband, former astronaut Mark Kelly, will be one of the speakers at Sunday evening's vigil, which will be held at the University of Arizona. Giffords' spokesman Mark Kimble says the congresswoman will not grant any interviews while she's in Tucson.

The event is designed to honor those who survived and to remember the six people who were killed in the Jan. 8, 2011, shooting.

Giffords was shot in the head during the rampage. She has been undergoing physical and speech therapy for the past year in Houston.

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Comments

[jufrgs]

07:55 AM on 01/06/2012

Gabrielle is such an American Hero. This is a person that God requires us to be even though many of us would not have it in our hearts to be. I can't wait until she returns to Congress. The United States Government would be much better if we had more Gabrielle's in Congress. Good Luck Gabbie, Good Luck.

[straight skinny]

05:40 AM on 01/06/2012

Good for her! Gabrielle's a Fighter!!

[sidecarman]

05:08 PM on 01/05/2012

No GOP member should be within 10 miles of this event. They should be ashamed for what they did to her.

[acharleyhorse]

10:12 PM on 01/05/2012

What, exactly, did the GOP do to her????

[sidecarman]

10:05 AM on 01/06/2012

by their explicit support of the nra and gun ownership they might as well shot her them selves. ban and confiscate all guns now.

[mclown69]

04:56 PM on 01/05/2012

Glad she is doing better! She's way too tough for some no good uneducated n_ut tbag to take her down!!

[quadia]

03:01 PM on 01/05/2012

While I applaud Ms Gifford's effort to be at the candlelight vigil, I wonder if she is aware of those who were killed during that rampage, and, if so, if she has (privately) visited the families and expressed her condolences. After all, since she was apparently the primary target, her presence was the reason others were killed (not that she is to blame, of course). I hope she, and her husband, have personally, and without publicity, sincerely visited, spoken with, and expressed their sadness at the loss of lives that day, as well as the injuries.

She is the one who has been spotlighted as the result of this senseless outrage, but the others who were wounded or killed are just as important, and I trust they will never be forgotten, especially by Ms Giffords and Mr Kelly.

[Micah Vandalay]

04:08 PM on 01/05/2012

that is so mean spirited, she didn't go there with the intent of having people hurt nor herself. yes of course she is the one spot lighted but she was before the rampage.

[quadia]

06:37 PM on 01/05/2012

You have completely misunderstood my post. The only one responsible is the thug who fired the shots. That was not my point. For some time, in order not to hinder Ms Gifford's recovery, she was not told the extent of the massacre. That was, in my opinion, the right judgment call. However, now that she is recovered enough to have made a couple public appearance, including Congress, I just wondered if she (privately) made contact with the others who were injured, and the families of those who were killed. I am in no way blaming the victims, including and especially Ms Gifford. However, she is not the only one who suffered serious injury, and the others should never be forgotten. Period.

No one could anticipate, or imagine, the horror that awaited people that day, least of all Ms Giffords. Please know that I admire her and am very happy she is on the road to recovery. No one blames her for that which happened. Still, it would be helpful to the other victims if she visited, or expressed her condolences, to them. She may have, and if she did, she did it the right way . . . out of the spotlight.

[ricklexus]

03:01 PM on 01/05/2012

Geez, enough already with her..

[Frank-ly Speaking]

03:26 PM on 01/05/2012

Get help.

[letitbeme]

02:11 PM on 01/05/2012

Ask the nra to pay her medical costs.

[woodbutcherjohn]

03:02 PM on 01/05/2012

Why should they? They didn't shoot her. Besides, she has that premium healthcare insurance, from being a congresswoman, that most of us can't afford. Don't worry, she's getting the best care that us taxpayers can pay for.

[Boffer Bings]

11:50 PM on 01/05/2012

You are forgetting two things: that members of congress actually contribute a lot of money to their healthcare plans, and that Giffords fought to expand medical insurance coverage, so begrudging her the care she's been getting sounds a bit disingenuous. And if you think the lawmakers' healthcare plans are so wonderful, read this report: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-06-23-congress-benefits_N.htm

[FredVenice]

03:10 PM on 01/05/2012

it's great that you and my tax dollarsare going to "assist" the person that shot her, hopfully the 4-5 million over the next 40 years to keep him in rehab will well spent tax money, but I sure wish it were'nt mine

[Pierre99]

02:04 PM on 01/05/2012

Who will ever forget the classic and phony photo op seized upon by the Congressional ghouls? Note dates.

"Giffords can open her eyes, but because she is on a ventilator she can’t speak." ----Dr. Peter Rhee, Chief Trauma Surgeon Rhee, University Medical Center (1/8/11)

"And I want to tell you … right after we (Nancy Pelosi, Kirsten Gillibrand and Debbie Wasserman Schultz) went to visit, a few minutes after we left her room and some of her colleagues in Congress were in the room, Gabby opened her eyes for the first time. Gabby opened her eyes for the first time." ---Barack Obama (1/11/11)

[El Duderino 791]

02:44 PM on 01/05/2012

Point being?

[woodbutcherjohn]

03:05 PM on 01/05/2012

The point being that Obama lied, when he said that she opened her eyes for the 1st time. Read it again.

[mrsentinel]

01:12 PM on 01/05/2012

An exceptional woman. She will work for Zod in the New Order.

[Eric Graff]

12:59 PM on 01/05/2012

harsh trolls..............geez

[Frank-ly Speaking]

03:28 PM on 01/05/2012

They're sick. Their employers should withhold their blood money on this one since I doubt they're changing anyone's hearts and minds.

[marylou93063]

12:41 PM on 01/05/2012

she looks almost child like- so sad- when is she going to resign---she is unable to do her job- Or do the tax payers just keep on paying for her and her staff to do nothing?

[El Duderino 791]

01:11 PM on 01/05/2012

Just a concerned citizen, right? Right?

[Contemplate1]

01:22 PM on 01/05/2012

As a Tucson resident who lives in her district, I can tell you that there have been a number of letters to the editor of the Arizona Daily Star that express concern for our lack of representation in Congress. What happened on January 8, 2011, was a terrible tragedy and I am amazed at Congresswoman Giffords' recovery and truly wish her all the best for a complete recovery. At the same time, however, we residents in her district do deserve representation in the House, don't we?

[Tom uws]

01:21 PM on 01/05/2012

As long as it's there's a heartwarming story to be had, no one will officially ask her to step down. It's irrelevant whether she can barely put together a sentence. This is the state of our government these days unfortunately. It doesn't matter how competent a person is, it just matters about public perception and how the media controls it. sad

[Contemplate1]

01:32 PM on 01/05/2012

I'm sure you are correct. Those of us who live in her district will be compelled to wait for her announcement about whether she will run in the next election. In the meantime, the closest thing we have for representation are the staff members in her office. Which, by the way, is NOT legal representation.

[SMAGE]

12:27 PM on 01/05/2012

What Arizona needs is a replacement for Gifford in Washington. We have been short of a Member of Congress from Arizona for a year now while Congresswoman Gifford has been unable to carry out her duties. She needs to resign and allow for an election or appointment to replace her. The citizens of Arizona deserve a full time member of Congress at her desk in Washington.

For over a year now we have shoulder the cost of her staff and offices in Arizona and Washington and its time to move on.

[Contemplate1]

01:24 PM on 01/05/2012

Fully agree. I live in her district. Although I am impressed with her recovery so far, we residents do deserve proper representation in Congress.

[Boffer Bings]

12:03 AM on 01/06/2012

There's no Congresswoman of that name in Washington. I think you meant Gabrielle GIFFORDS? And judging by the number of cases her staff and offices have handled so far (4 times more than the average US Rep office), you are still getting good value for money. ;)

[SMAGE]

12:47 PM on 01/06/2012

Not sure what "cases" you are talking about? Her staff was not elected to anything, but just hanging on a drawing a salary for answering the phone. We elected Giffords, not her staff. WE NEED A REPLACEMENT NOW.

[Contemplate1]

04:15 PM on 01/06/2012

Staff CANNOT vote in the House of Representatives. Staff is NOT legal representation in accordance with the US Constitution. Isn't the lack of legal representation in Congress an impingement on the consitutional rights of the residents of her district? I believe it is.

[ssgoodluck]

12:19 PM on 01/05/2012

To bad Brian Terry couldn't make her vigil, did she make his? Oh that's right he didn't have one, most probably don't even know who he is.. . . .except Holder, Napolitano and Obama.

[Boffer Bings]

11:54 AM on 01/06/2012

Educate yourself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1FvZinWDkU

[ssgoodluck]

04:16 PM on 01/06/2012

Educate yourself . . .
I don't need a youtube video to learn about Gabby or the border situation. I have lived in southern Arizona for over thirty years. The problem I have is massive over the top coverage of the living and breathing Gabby for purely politically motivated reasons . The murder of Brian Terry defending the border is currently a political liability for the administration, all of their own doing. They just cannot make it go away fast enough. Reprehensible and despicable difference.

[Ssan Henry]

11:50 AM on 01/05/2012

I will b glad t take donations for Her

[Ssan Henry]

11:48 AM on 01/05/2012

I think it's great Gaby got better, why can't we take care of other people too, the Gov't spent Millions on her but my disabled friend can't eve see a dr. no $$$$$$$$$$$$

[bartonlyle]

12:20 PM on 01/05/2012

Bozo ... insurance paid for it. She and her husband are more than adequately covered by insurance.

[marylou93063]

12:43 PM on 01/05/2012

I am sure- AIG -isn't that her insurance- that we the tax payers bailed - why aren't our military getting the same medical-

[clarissa49]

01:02 PM on 01/05/2012

Cadillac insurance for members of Congress!