Childhood and Education Journey of Gabby Giffords in Timeline
Discover the defining moments in the early life of Gabby Giffords. From birth to education, explore key events.
Gabrielle "Gabby" Giffords is an American retired politician and prominent gun violence prevention advocate. As a member of the Democratic Party, she served as a U.S. Representative for Arizona's 8th congressional district from 2007 to 2012. Her career was tragically cut short when she survived an assassination attempt in 2011, resulting in a severe brain injury. Following her resignation from Congress, Giffords has dedicated herself to advocating for stricter gun control measures.
June 8, 1970: Gabrielle Giffords Born
On June 8, 1970, Gabrielle Dee Giffords was born. She later became a politician and gun violence prevention advocate.
1993: Received Bachelor of Arts Degree
In 1993, Giffords received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Latin American History from Scripps College in California and spent a year as a Fulbright Scholar in Chihuahua, Mexico.
1996: Earned Master's Degree
In 1996, Giffords earned a Master's degree in Regional Planning from Cornell University.
2001: Practiced Judaism Exclusively
Since 2001, Giffords has practiced Judaism exclusively and belongs to Congregation Chaverim.
2004: Observed Toll of Election
In early 2005, Giffords observed that "the 2004 election took its toll on our bipartisan coalition" and that as a result "a number of significant problems will receive far less attention than they deserve."
August 2005: Volunteer Relief Efforts for Hurricane Katrina
After Hurricane Katrina struck in August 2005, Gabby Giffords volunteered in Houston, Texas, in relief efforts for hurricane victims. She wrote about her experience in the Tucson Citizen.
2005: Commentary on Arizona Challenges
In early 2005, Giffords highlighted the lack of high-paying jobs, necessary infrastructure, rapid growth, inward migration threatening the environment and straining education, healthcare and transportation, as well as other unresolved problems facing Arizona.
July 9, 2006: Featured on NPR's Weekend Edition
On July 9, 2006, Gabby Giffords was featured on NPR's Weekend Edition, discussing her love of books.
April 21, 2007: Spoke at Sahuaro Girl Scout Council Annual Meeting
On April 21, 2007, Gabby Giffords spoke at the Sahuaro Girl Scout Council Annual Meeting, the same day she hosted her third "Congress on Your Corner" in Tucson, Arizona.
September 2007: Published Report on Solar Energy Initiative
In September 2007, Gabby Giffords published a report titled: The Community Solar Energy Initiative, Solar Energy in Southern Arizona, noting that Arizona has enough sunshine to power the entire United States.
November 10, 2007: Marriage to Mark Kelly
On November 10, 2007, Gabby Giffords married U.S. Navy captain and NASA astronaut Mark Kelly.
August 1, 2008: Wrote to Congress Regarding Tax Credits
On August 1, 2008, Gabby Giffords wrote to congressional leaders regarding tax credits that were set to expire, arguing that failure to extend the scheme would be harmful to the renewable energy industry.
2008: Introduced Legislation to Increase H-1B Visa Cap
In 2008, Gabby Giffords introduced legislation that would have increased the cap on the H-1B visa from 65,000 per year to 130,000 or 180,000 per year. The bill was never voted on by the House of Representatives.
2008: Vote Against Bush's Economic Stimulus Act
In 2008, Gabby Giffords voted against President Bush's Economic Stimulus Act.
2009: Vote For American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
In 2009, Gabby Giffords voted for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
August 31, 2010: Praised Arrival of National Guard Troops on Border
On August 31, 2010, Gabby Giffords praised the arrival of National Guard troops on the border, calling it "a renewed national commitment to protecting our border communities from drug cartels and smugglers."
2010: Remarks on Arizona SB 1070 Legislation
In 2010, Gabby Giffords stated that the Arizona SB 1070 legislation was a "clear calling that the federal government needs to do a better job" but stopped short of supporting the law itself.
January 8, 2011: Shot in Head During Gathering
On January 8, 2011, Giffords was shot in the head outside a Safeway grocery store in Casas Adobes, Arizona, during a "Congress on Your Corner" gathering. Six people were killed in the shooting.
January 2011: Shot in Assassination Attempt
In January 2011, Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head during an assassination attempt and mass shooting outside of Tucson.
March 12, 2011: Informed of Fatalities
On March 12, 2011, Giffords was informed by her husband that six people had been killed in the attack on her.
April 2011: Cleared to Travel to Space Shuttle Launch
In April 2011, Giffords's doctors cleared her to travel to Florida to witness the launch of her husband's final Space Shuttle mission, STS-134.
May 16, 2011: Return to KSC for Husband's Launch
On May 16, 2011, Gabby Giffords returned to the Kennedy Space Center for her husband Mark Kelly's space launch. Kelly carried his wife's wedding ring into space, as she had taken his ring.
May 18, 2011: Cranioplasty Surgery
On May 18, 2011, Gabby Giffords underwent cranioplasty surgery to replace a portion of her skull removed after she was shot. Surgeons used hard plastic fixed with screws, which she was expected to fuse with.
June 9, 2011: Aide Announces Comprehension
On June 9, 2011, Gabby Giffords' aide Pia Carusone announced that while Giffords' comprehension was near normal, she was not yet speaking in complete sentences.
August 1, 2011: Return to the House Floor
On August 1, 2011, Gabby Giffords returned to the House floor to vote in favor of raising the debt limit ceiling, where she received a standing ovation from fellow members of Congress.
August 2011: Voted in Favor of Raising the Debt Ceiling
In August 2011, Gabby Giffords voted in favor of raising the U.S. debt ceiling.
August 2011: Return to the House Floor
In August 2011, Giffords returned to the House floor and received a standing ovation.
August 2011: Congresswoman Walking Without Cane
In August 2011, a spokesman stated that Congresswoman Giffords was walking without a cane and writing left-handed because she did not have full use of her right side.
October 25, 2011: Intensive Rehabilitation Treatments
On October 25, 2011, Gabby Giffords began intensive rehabilitation treatments in Asheville, North Carolina, staying at the North Carolina Governor's Western Residence during her treatments, which ended on November 4.
November 14, 2011: Joint Interview with Diane Sawyer
On November 14, 2011, Giffords and Kelly were interviewed by ABC's Diane Sawyer in their first joint interview since the shooting, which aired on a special edition of 20/20 in conjunction with the book's publication.
November 15, 2011: Publication of Memoir
On November 15, 2011, a joint memoir by Giffords and her husband, Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope, with co-author Jeffrey Zaslow, was published.
November 2011: Memoir Reports Return to Congress
In November 2011, Kelly's memoir, Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope, reported that Giffords would return to Congress.
2011: Sustained injuries in assassination attempt
In 2011, Gabby Giffords sustained injuries in an assassination attempt.
January 22, 2012: Resignation Announcement
On January 22, 2012, Gabby Giffords announced in a video statement that she intended to resign her seat to focus on her recovery.
January 24, 2012: Attended State of the Union Address
On January 24, 2012, Giffords attended President Obama's State of the Union address.
September 6, 2012: Pledge of Allegiance at DNC
On September 6, 2012, Giffords led the Pledge of Allegiance at the 2012 Democratic National Convention.
January 2013: Launched Americans for Responsible Solutions
In January 2013, Giffords and her husband launched Americans for Responsible Solutions, a non-profit organization and super-PAC focused on gun violence prevention, which later became GIFFORDS.
January 2013: Continued Therapy
In January 2013, Giffords still had difficulty speaking and walking, and her right arm was paralyzed, so she continued to undergo speech and physical therapy.
January 30, 2013: Testified at Senate Judiciary Committee hearing
On January 30, 2013, Gabby Giffords was a surprise witness at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on gun violence. She called for Congress to pass tougher laws on guns, saying "too many children are dying."
2013: Foundation of Americans for Responsible Solutions
In 2013, after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, Gabby Giffords and her husband founded the nonprofit organization Americans for Responsible Solutions (ARS) to support candidates who champion gun safety.
January 8, 2014: Skydiving on Anniversary of Shooting
On January 8, 2014, Gabby Giffords marked the third anniversary of her shooting by going skydiving.
2016: Struggles with Language and Vision
As of 2016, Giffords continued to struggle with language and had lost fifty percent of her vision in both eyes.
2016: Speech at Democratic National Convention
In 2016, Giffords delivered a speech in support of presidential nominee Hillary Clinton at the Democratic National Convention.
2016: Merged with Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence
In 2016, the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence merged with Americans for Responsible Solutions, changing the organization’s name to GIFFORDS.
2017: Americans for Responsible Solutions Renamed GIFFORDS
In 2017, Americans for Responsible Solutions joined forces with the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence and renamed itself GIFFORDS, in honor of its founder.
2017: Implored lawmakers to take action after Las Vegas shooting
In 2017, after the Las Vegas shooting that killed 58 and injured 546, Gabby Giffords implored lawmakers to take action, saying she "knows the horror of gun violence all too well."
2017: Organization renamed to Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence
In 2017, the GIFFORDS organization changed its name to Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.
2019: Lawsuit Against Federal Election Commission
In 2019, GIFFORDS sued the Federal Election Commission for failing to take action against the National Rifle Association for alleged campaign finance violations.
2020: Spoke at Democratic National Convention
In 2020, Gabby Giffords spoke on the third night of the Democratic National Convention, urging action on gun control. She also performed "America" on the French horn as a symbol of her recovery.
2020: Endorsement of Joe Biden
In 2020, Giffords gave a speech endorsing Joe Biden's presidential bid at the Democratic National Convention. In her speech, she described her experience picking up the French horn again as part of her music therapy.
2020: Mark Kelly Becomes U.S. Senator
In 2020, Mark Kelly, Gabby Giffords' husband, became a U.S. Senator for Arizona.
October 2021: Launch of GIFFORDS Center for Violence Intervention
In October 2021, GIFFORDS launched the GIFFORDS Center for Violence Intervention, a program focused on promoting community-based solutions to gun violence. The program began hosting an annual Community Violence Intervention Conference.
2021: Bat Mitzvah
In 2021, Giffords celebrated her bat mitzvah at Congregation Chaverim, concluding a process two decades in the making.
July 7, 2022: Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom
On July 7, 2022, President Joe Biden awarded Gabby Giffords the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her courage and persistence in fighting for change.
2022: Ongoing Aphasia and Support Group
As of 2022, Giffords continues to experience aphasia, which diminishes her ability to communicate, and she co-founded the organization Friends of Aphasia as a support group.
2022: Contribution to Bipartisan Safer Communities Act
In 2022, GIFFORDS provided research and policy suggestions that contributed to the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
2022: Documentary Chronicling Recovery and Advocacy
In 2022, Gabby Giffords's recovery and gun violence prevention advocacy was chronicled in the documentary Gabby Giffords Won't Back Down, directed by Julie Cohen and Betsy West.
2023: Grand Marshal of the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl
In 2023 Gabby Giffords was the Grand Marshal of the Rose Parade and presided over both the parade and the Rose Bowl game.
2023: Contribution to White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention
In 2023, GIFFORDS provided research and policy suggestions that contributed to the formation of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention.
2024: GIFFORDS Law Center Lawsuit Against Ghost Gun Company Polymer80
In 2024, GIFFORDS Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence settled a major lawsuit against ghost gun company Polymer80 on behalf of Philadelphia, and undertook similar litigation in other parts of the country.
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