Gabby Giffords is One Strong Lady

[LAGC]

She's regained her speech and was able to ask for "toast" at breakfast one recent morning. It's only a matter of time before she's able to hold conversation and weigh in on her opinion of the shooting incident that nearly paralyzed her.

Regardless of which side she takes, we should all agree that she could definitely be a powerful force for or against gun control, just like how Jim Brady became a martyr after he was shot defending Reagan. Of course, I have a hunch which side she will take. I would only hope that Obama takes her opinion into account before he makes his gun control speech, as her view should certainly count for something.

What's your take?

[notesdev]

1. She has been fairly supportive of gun rights

People have apparently forgotten that she was one of the most right-wing "blue dog" Democrats in the House (which anyone can confirm with a simple Google search).

[Name removed]

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[DrDan]

2. she understands her constituency and what issues are most important to them . . . unfortunately

[Callisto32]

12. Right, why would we want people to represent their constituents?

It isn't like the U.S. is supposed to be a republic or anything.

[Euromutt]

3. I hardly think you can call James Brady a martyr

I hate to thump a dictionary to support a point, but the term "martyr" typically applies to someone who suffers (up to and including death) as a result of being a supporter of a cause. Brady didn't become a proponent of gun control until after he'd been shot. Before that, he was perfectly happy to work not only for Reagan, but also for Rumsfeld and Phylis Schlafly (fer cryin' out loud). I think you might call it something of a "jailhouse conversion." Kind of like how Smedley Butler didn't decide that "war is a racket" until after he'd been passed over to become commandant of the Marine Corps.

Oh, and by the way, Brady wasn't shot defending Reagan. Brady got shot because Hinckley couldn't aim for shit. Brady was hit by Hinckley's first shot, and all of Hinckley subsequent five shots missed Reagan entirely. The only reason Reagan got hurt was because the sixth bullet ricocheted off his armored limousine.

[rfranklin]

5. Yes, if only he had proper training...

he might have been more accurate.

[Euromutt]

8. And then we wouldn't have had two terms of Ronald Reagan

And frankly, the world would have been better off.

Not that I think "proper training" would have helped Hinckley; if you can't shoot a .22 accurately, you can't shoot accurately, period.

But even if we hypothesize that Hinckley had been more accurate, and managed to assassinate Reagan, would we today be describing Ronald Reagan as a martyr for the cause of gun control? No, I didn't think so either. So what's the rationale for describing Brady as such?

[madmax]

6. I'm going to go with #2

But, I think she'll favor more restricitons so that people like Brady can't acquire a gun as easily as he did.

At least I would hope so. I'm so happy for her she's a miracle and tough as nails.

[PavePusher]

7. Umm, you're mixing up your people.

:hangover: Got coffee? B-)

[madmax]

13. LOL I spent 8 hours in the ER

Tuesday night with food poisoning. I think I barfed up my brain cells.

Pay no attention to the ding-bat. Feeling better today :smoke:

edit: Don't eat at Chili's! :(

[PavePusher]

15. Oooo, sorry, coffee does not go well with food poisoning.

My apologies, hope you're feeling better.

[Atypical Liberal]

9. I said other.

I said "other", because I don't know what she will say.

First of all, she has, quite literally, had her brains scrambled.

But it also may have been a huge, life-altering event for her, including her outlook on life and her philosophy on firearms. No one can say what she will say.

I hope very much that she would still come out on the side of firearm ownership rights, but she may not. No matter what, even if I disagree with her opinion I will respect hers above others as she has paid for that right with her own blood.

[Name removed]

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[guitar man]

11. Other

I just hope she makes the best recovery she can, and if she ever speaks on the subject of guns again I'll respect what she has to say whether I agree with it or not. In the meantime, I'm going to personally refrain from circling like a buzzard waiting for her to say something and instead offer good thoughts and prayers for her recovery. :hug:

[RSillsbee]

16. You've been shot

As have I. Aren't our opinions just as valid as her's?

[guitar man]

17. Indeed they are

Every bit as valid.

I took a .32 ACP to the upper thigh, so it's hard to compare the wounds, but anyone that's been through it can attest to the trauma when you think you're going to die. It was quite a while before I wanted to talk about it. She will talk about it in her own good time and I will be interested to hear what she has to say .

[Name removed]

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