by In a video that makes you want to cry, Gabrielle Giffords explained this week that she is stepping down from Congress. Certainly, on the one hand our hearts go out to her and her family. On the other hand, her resignation is a bit long in coming. Clearly unable to continue her functions in Congress, she needed to relinquish her position last year and allow someone else to move forward for Arizona.
Resignation Announced
And so, while late in coming, she has officially announced her resignation. Just a few weeks ago Arizona marked the one year anniversary of the terrible day when Giffords was shot in the head and when six other people were killed and 13 wounded.
Now, in a touching speech as part of a video message on Sunday, Giffords said, “I don’t remember much from that horrible day, but I will never forget the trust you placed in me to be your voice.”
She continued,
“Thank you for your prayers and for giving me time to recover. I have more work to do on my recovery, so to do what’s best for Arizona I will step down this week. I am getting better. My spirits are high. I will return and we will work together for Arizona and this great country.”
It was the right thing to do, certainly.
Congresswoman Giffords has struggled a great deal since the shooting to regain her speech and her motor skills. In a release that accompanied the video, her office described her as a “third-generation Arizonan…” who was “elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2006. [She] will not seek re-election this fall.”
