Gabrielle Giffords Makes Tucson Survivor 'Want To Vomit'

A year after the Tucson shootings that left six dead and 13 injured, one of the survivors has strong feelings about the incident and congresswoman and her astronaut husband Mark Kelly.

That feeling is best described as nausea.

"Every time I see them on TV," George Morris, 77, told the Arizona Republic, "it makes me want to vomit."

Morris, a self-described "ultra-conservative," initially went to Giffords' town hall meeting outside the grocery store in Tucson on Jan. 8, 2011, to complain to his congresswoman, who he says kept voting for liberal causes.

However, before Morris had a chance to speak a gunman later identified as Jared Lee Loughner began shooting. Morris' wife, Dorothy, 76, was one of those killed in the rampage, and Morris was hit in the legs and back. Giffords was shot in the head.

He was angry at Giffords' job performance before the shooting, but now Morris is more convinced that she should be removed from office immediately, according to MSNBC.com.

"I think she ought to be thrown out of Congress posthaste," he said. "I do not think she is worthy of serving."

Morris, a retired Marine and airline pilot, was married for 54 years before his wife's death. The two met while they were juniors in high school.

But while he told the Arizona Republic that "no man has ever loved a woman more than I loved my wife," he didn't always agree with her.

"If my wife had a fault, it was she was too concerned about how other people would feel," said Morris, who felt so strongly about his political beliefs that he refused an invitation to have President Barack Obama visit him in his hospital room in the days following the shootings.

PHOTOS:

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• Arizona Shooting Memorial Ceremony

  U.S. Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., right, and wife Cheryl, second from left, pose for a photograph with Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, center, and her husband, former astronaut Mark Kelly, at a memorial ceremony remembering the victims and survivors one year after a gunman shot Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

• Arizona Shooting Memorial Ceremony

  From left, Rabbi Stephanie Aaron, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, her husband Mark Kelly, and University of Arizona Medical Center's Dr. Peter Rhee, dance to the music of Calexico, during a vigil at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Ariz., on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012. Giffords led a crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance in a rare public appearance one year after surviving a deadly shooting. (AP Photo/The Republic, David Wallace)

• Arizona Shooting Memorial Ceremony

  U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords recites the "Pledge of Allegiance" alongside her husband Mark Kelly, right, Ron Barber, far right, and Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett, left, at the start of a vigil at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Ariz., on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012. The day marks the one year anniversary of the shootings at the Safeway in Tucson. (AP Photo/The Republic, David Wallace)

• Arizona Shooting Memorial Ceremony

  People hold lights aloft during a a memorial vigil remembering the victims and survivors of the shooting that wounded Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, 12 others and killed six one year ago Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

• Arizona Shooting Memorial Ceremony

  Mark Kelly leans on the shoulder of his wife, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords at a memorial vigil remembering the victims and survivors of the shooting that wounded Giffords, 12 others and killed six one year ago Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, in Tucson, Ariz.

• Arizona Shooting Memorial Ceremony

  Teresa Bier leaves a rose honoring Christina Taylor-Green in a vase for the six people killed in the shooting at an event for Giffords one year ago, during an interfaith remembrance service at St. Augustine Catherdral, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012 in Tucson, Ariz.

• Arizona Shooting Memorial Ceremony

  Pat Maisch, right, who grabbed a gun magazine as the shooter prepared to reload, reacts after being introduced by former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona, during a memorial ceremony remembering the victims and survivors of the shootings in Tucson that left six dead and 13 wounded, including Giffords, one year ago Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

• Arizona Shooting Memorial Ceremony

  Daniel Hernandez, former intern for U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, leaves one of six roses for the six people killed in the shooting at an event for Giffords one year ago, during an interfaith remembrance service at St. Augustine Catherdral, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012 in Tucson, Ariz. Hernandez came to Giffords' aid after the shooting.

• Arizona Shooting Memorial Ceremony

  A memorial of flowers and six crosses stands across the street from the Safeway where one year before a shooting at an event for Rep. Gabrielle Giffords left six dead and 13 injured, including Giffords, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, in Tucson.

• Arizona Shooting Memorial Ceremony

  Matt McLear, 48, of Tucson, Ariz., looks at a memorial of flowers and crosses across the street from the Safeway where one year before a shooting at an event for Rep. Gabrielle Giffords left six dead and 13 injured, including Giffords, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, in Tucson.

• Arizona Shooting Memorial Ceremony

  Shooting victim Mary Reed, right, receives a hug during a service honoring the lives of the 2011 Tucson shooting victims at University of Arizona Centennial Hall in Tucson, Ariz., Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012. One year ago, a gunman opened fire at an event for U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, killing six and injuring 13, including the Congresswoman.

• Arizona Shooting Memorial Ceremony

  U.S. Senator Mark Udall, right, speaks for shooting victim U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords during a service honoring the lives of the 2011 Tucson shooting victims at University of Arizona Centennial Hall in Tucson, Ariz., Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012. One year ago, a gunman opened fire at an event for Giffords, killing six and injuring 13, including the Congresswoman.

• Arizona Shooting Anniversary

  Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her husband retired Navy Captain Mark Kelly walk on the Davidson Canyon Gabe Zimmerman Memorial Trailhead Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012 to pay tribute to Zimmerman, who was killed almost one year ago during the Tucson shooting. Zimmerman was the director of community outreach for U.S. Representative Giffords.

• Arizona Shooting Anniversary

  In this photo provided by the office of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, Giffords and husband Mark Kelly pose at the Davidson Canyon Gabe Zimmerman Memorial trailhead outside of Tucson, Ariz., on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012. Kelly posted the photo earlier Saturday via his Twitter account. The trailhead is named in honor of Giffords' slain staff member Gabe Zimmerman.

• Arizona Shooting Anniversary

  Iesha Seiku, center, founder of a Harlem anti-gun violence group, joins members of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence and the National Action Network as they pause during a "Too Many Victims" march and vigil against gun violence on the first anniversary of the Arizona shootings that killed six and injured 12, including Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

• Gabrielle Giffords

  The signals are strong. One year after being shot in the head, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is on a mission to return to the job she so clearly loved. Her husband and people near the three-term congresswoman say she is highly motivated to recover from her injuries and get back to work in Washington, potentially using her inspirational story as a way to mend political differences in the nation's capital. She faces a May deadline to get on the November ballot, meaning she has a few months to decide her next step. (AP Photo/southwestphotobank.com, P.K. Weis)

• Jared Loughner

  This Jan. 8, 2011 file photo provided by the Pima County Sheriff's Office shows Jared Loughner. Loughner, The mentally ill man charged in the Tucson shooting rampage that killed six people and wounded Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and 12 others isn't expected to go to trial in 2012 as he continues to be forcibly medicated in a bid to make him psychologically fit to stand trial.

• John Green, Roxanne Green

  John and Roxanna Green finish a floral portrait of their daughter Taylor, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, at the historic Castle Green in Pasadena, Calif. Taylor was Killed during the attempted assassination of Rep. Gabriel Giffords and Roxanne will carry the floral portrait on the Donate Life float in the Rose Parade on, Monday, Jan. 2, 2011. (AP Photo/Bret Hartman)

• Gabrielle Giffords

  U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., waves to airmen while serving a Thanksgiving meal at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2011, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Comments

[Andy Tangeman]

12:49 PM on 11/08/2012

He sounds like the type to shoot into a crowd of people over anger. Sometimes events like that change people for the better. Sometimes, it makes no difference at all.

[Barry Laycock]

02:15 PM on 08/06/2012

Perhaps the gentleman in question needs to understand that Rep Giffords has resigned from Congress. May I suggest that he do with Ms Giffords what I do when Mr Romney appears on my TV screen; change the channel.

[joeythetrollslayer]

11:00 PM on 08/05/2012

Hey guy, at least the shooter wasn't too concerned for how people would feel.

[xnicholasz]

11:19 PM on 02/11/2012

''AMERICA''!!! THIS IS JUST A SAMPLE OF ''THE RIGHT-WING-SCREWHEADS'' That
are controlling ''ARIZONA POLITICS & DIALOGUE TODAY'' !!! Our state is in a mess with a Governor who thinks ''TANSPLANT SURGERY IS AN ELECTIVE SURGERY, INSTEAD OF LIFE SAVING'' !!!Arizona citizens have died with her decision In cutting these ''LIFE SAVING PROCEDURES''!! I want to see her charged with ''MANSLAUGHTER'' , ''ASAP'' !!! Months ago when this issue came up there was a ''Republican State Senator from Ohio'', who was on the financial
legislative commitee for his state and who went through the entire ''STATE OF ARIZONA BUDGIT,
PAGE BY PAGE'' and ''FOUND OVER TWENTY, areas that the Governor of Arizona
could have funded these ''LIFE SAVING OPERATIONS'' and ''NOT COST THE
CITIZENS OF ARIZONA, A PENNY MORE'' !!!

PLEASE, NOT JUST ARIZONIANS, BUT ACROSS OUR NATION, COME TO OUR STATE
AND LET YOUR VOICES BE HEARD AND SEND YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE
RECALL OF THIS ''HEARTLESS HEAD OF STATE IN ARIZONA !!!
PLEASE SUPPORT ''SANE AND BALANCED GOVERMENT'' ''NO MATTER WHERE IN
OUR COUNTRY AND NO MATTER WHAT POLITICAL PARTY'' !!!

NICK ''X''.

[UnknownSolider]

02:33 PM on 02/07/2012

Looks like the wrong person in that married died

[Carol85719]

05:01 PM on 01/25/2012

I feel sorry for this man. Obviously, he has anger but it is misdirected. I hope he gets some therapy and takes care of himself. In the mean time, I hope the media leaves him alone because he and his type do not need to be given any encouragement, just therapy.

[planores]

04:07 PM on 01/24/2012

It's nice to see that the reporter, doing the interview, actually had time to ask questions and get answers in between morris throwing rocks and yelling at the kids to get off his lawn.

[Golfer59]

11:06 AM on 01/24/2012

Sure go ahead and vomit. Hope you choke on it!!!!

[MontanaBanana]

06:59 PM on 01/22/2012

Give him a bag......personally, anyone who is injured do to a cr/a/zy person using a gun, makes me want to vomit. Sir, I'm sorry yu were injured. That's the difference between a liber and an "ulta conservative." A liberal has compassion, sounds like an ultra conservative only cares about themselves. YUCKY.

[Sal8900]

03:32 AM on 01/21/2012

If a congressperson is shot or incapacitated, they should have the right to appoint someone to complete their term. That way, there is no incentive for madmen to achieve a political seat change with an act of violence.

[Time4EverySeason]

12:07 AM on 01/20/2012

I'm amazed that anyone believes any of this...
No one was shot that day. No one died. Jared Lee Loughner is not a real person.

[myakkakat]

04:13 PM on 08/06/2012

Hitting the sauce a little early, aren't you?

[ScorpioTop]

06:08 PM on 01/16/2012

She should turn her anger towards the NRA, they made gun proliferation possible and fight against sane gun use laws.

[mike102]

05:48 PM on 01/22/2012

You have no shame whatsoever.

How about wishing this beautiful, courageous human being a full and complete recovery? How about wishing her and her family the best life has to offer, from here on out? How about expressing just a little sympathy for the victims of this madman who are no longer alive?

I came here to express my best wishes, and all you can think about is the NRA (no, I am not a member, which has nothing to do with it, I just thought I'd head you off), that's how predictable you are.

I'm surprised you didn't exploit "the children" this time around, mindless robot.

[MsMoonpieJD]

09:27 AM on 01/16/2012

Jared Lochner is the one who makes me nauseaous. As for this survivor, I will forgive him for his loss and forgive him for not playing with a full deck. I can't forgive him for his obvious sentiment: that he would be happier if Gabby were dead.

[JarrettBellin]

06:00 AM on 01/17/2012

"his obvious sentiment: that he would be happier if Gabby were dead. " ???

What do mean "obvious sentiment"? Are you some kind of mind reader?

It's very telling that you ASSUME that he wishes death on someone else. Could it be that you're the one who thinks that way, and so you expect it from others by default?

[MsMoonpieJD]

09:19 AM on 01/17/2012

Nope.

[AveragePlayer]

12:30 PM on 01/24/2012

Sounded to me like he just wanted her out of Congress, not dead.

[FlamingLibrul]

07:34 PM on 01/15/2012

I am amazed that man hasn't choked on his bitterness. He is the epitome of what is wrong with the ultra-right brand of conservatism.

"If my wife had a fault, it was she was too concerned about how other people would feel..."

Wow.

[Maliengus]

02:41 PM on 01/23/2012

He'll choke on it, it will just be little by little, day by day. The kind of hate he harbors is a sin.

[RockiesRiter]

10:13 PM on 01/23/2012

They don't call 'em the "deadly sins" for nothing.

[ywcachieve]

06:09 PM on 01/15/2012

She is looking so good. And what a wonderful husband she has. God bless them both.