Gabrielle Giffords is a gun control activist and a politician. She was born on June 18, 1970. Tucson, Arizona is where she was born and grown up. Her parents are Spencer J. and Gloria Kay Frazer Giffords. She graduated from Scripps College and Cornell University. She was a member of the Arizona House of Representatives from January 1, 2001 until January 8, 2003. She was then a member of the Arizona Senate from January 8, 2003 until December 1, 2005. Lastly she became a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from January 3, 2007 to January 25, 2012 until a tragedy occurred. Giffords is currently a gun control activist that was influenced by being involved in an assassination attempt, but she always had her husband by her side to support her.

First, her first influence is when Giffords was involved in an assassination attempt. On January 11, 2011, Giffords was shot in the head. She was was publicly speaking in the parking lot of a grocery store (“Giffords” 2). Jared Lee Loughner was the suspect of this shooting. Not only was she shot in the head, but about nineteen other people were injured as well (“Giffords” 2). Giffords was then rushed to the emergency room for immediate surgery. Her surgery took hours to do, and almost half of her skull had to be removed (“Gabrielle Giffords” 2). After a few days of resting, she was already showing doctors positive signs. Giffords was moved to a hospital in Texas to be closer to her husband that was working. She was in rehab recovering for about six months in order to be able to live the life she had. After her successful rehab, she is able to live the way she was with her husband back in Tucson (“Gabrielle Giffords” 3). In January 2012, Giffords ended her career as a politician, and she decided to become a gun control activist (“Gabrielle Giffords” 3). She would never give up after this tragedy: “We must never stop fighting. Be bold. Be courageous. The nation is counting on you.” ("House Democrats pushing gun control after Las Vegas mass shooting" 1). The shooting had an impact on her life,and it helped her make certain decisions.
Next, her husband was always there to support her through pretty much everything she went through; therefore, he is another influence. Giffords and her husband Mark have been through it all. He helped her with rehab and recovery when she went to Houston to see him. He was working at the Johnson Space Center preparing for shuttle launch, which Giffords did get to see (“Gabrielle Giffords” 2).  He also helped her form the Political Action Committee, a committee where they can share their story (“Gabrielle Giffords” 3). Mark was also by her side when they went to the Senate Judiciary Committee. This was where they asked for stricter gun control laws  (“Gabrielle Giffords” 3). They wrote a book together about Giffords life and what her tragedy was like (“Gabrielle Giffords” 3).  Mark was with her through the entire tragedy: “Giffords and Kelly then testify at the January of 2013 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.” (“Gabrielle Giffords” 3) Giffords has a husband that will always be there for her.

In conclusion, after her life changing experience and the help of her husband, she made an impact on gun control. She was involved in an assassination attempt, where she was shot in the head. She was rushed to emergency surgery and had months of rehab; therefore, she became a  gun control activist. Her husband influenced her by staying to support her with the recovery from the shooting. He was also there through the process of getting stricter gun control laws and helped Giffords write her book. Overall, Giffords has shown courage through her near death experience and impacting the lives of other shooting victims by her career of  a gun control activist.