Former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords addresses a news conference for victims of the 2011 Tucson shooting on March 6, 2013. (Samantha Sais/Reuters)
Former Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords will receive the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award at the presidential library in Dorchester tonight.
Giffords is receiving the honor for her “political, personal, and physical courage she has demonstrated in her fearless public advocacy for policy reforms aimed at reducing gun violence,” the JFK Library said in a statement.
“Gabby Giffords has inspired the world with her bravery and her dedication to making change through the political process,” said Caroline Kennedy, President of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. “Instead of retreating following the tragic shooting that ended her Congressional career, she has recommitted herself to fighting for a more peaceful society free from hate and violence. She is a true Profile in Courage.”
Giffords was shot in the head in 2011 during an event at a supermarket in Tucson, Ariz. Six people were killed. Giffords resigned from Congress to focus on her recovery.
Since then, she and her husband founded the organizationAmericans for Responsible Solutions, which encourages elected officials to support measures to prevent gun violence and promotes responsible gun ownership.
The Profile in Courage Award has been presented annually since 1989. It is named for JFK’s 1957 book “Profiles in Courage.”
Follow Michael Naughton on Twitter @metrobosmike.
