Thread by @PeterMAmbler

📺 @GabbyGiffords just addressed the #DemocraticConvention. She's speaking not just about gun safety, but drawing a powerful metaphor b/w her nearly decade-long recovery and the fight against gun violence: One more step, one more word. One more law, one less shooting. 1/

.@GabbyGiffords continues her recovery. This is her longest speech since being shot and is the product of countless hours of practice. She says, "I found one word & then I found another... America needs us all to speak out, even when you have to fight to find the words." 2/

“Words once came easily, today I struggle to speak, but I have not lost my voice." - @GabbyGiffords 🎙️

I'M NOT CRYING YOU'RE CRYING

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.@GabbyGiffords' core message of support for @JoeBiden is this: "He was there for me. He'll be there for you."

In her darkest days, Gabby drew upon the strength, inspiration & encouragement of Joe Biden. Just like the @sandyhook families, like @fred_guttenberg & many more. 4/

On April 17, 2013, @JoeBiden sat with @GabbyGiffords in his office off the Senate floor as @senatemajldr & @tedcruz filibustered the Manchin-Toomey background checks bill. It was a profound disappointment, but Joe told Gabby to keep at it - and that moment spawned a movement. 5/

With grit, @GabbyGiffords has built a movement of over 2 million at @GiffordsCourage - D's & R's, gun owners & survivors, veterans, docs, businesses & more. We've passed 400 laws in 45 states. In '18, we beat the @NRA, changed the politics & elected the folks who passed #HR8. 6/

Speech therapy, physical therapy & advocacy aren't the only elements of @GabbyGiffords's recovery. So is music. She relearned the French Horn, so yes she's backing her own intro video on her own childhood instrument. Oh, and she's also learning Spanish - again. What a badass. 7/

The powerful narration of @GabbyGiffords' intro video comes courtesy of the talented & indelible @ReginaKing, who shared about Gabby, "Her determination to never stay silent, against all odds, should be inspiration to us all." 8/

To say @GabbyGiffords is a great inspiration is a profound truth. To herald her determination is a truth of historic proportions. For every word she speaks, there are hundreds of hours of preparation. For every step she takes, hundreds of hours of grueling therapy. 9/

All that most of us take for granted, @GabbyGiffords fights for, each & every day. To talk, to walk, to lift her right arm another half inch off her body. With no easy gains, nothing given, everything earned with shear grit. All with warmth, humor & hugs. 10/

In 2020, it comes down to this: "We must elect @JoeBiden President. Vote, vote, vote!" - @GabbyGiffords

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This is the 3rd straight #DemocraticConvention @GabbyGiffords has addressed. She just had her 50th bday. 2020 is tough, but we have great hope that in 2021 Gabby will join President @JoeBiden and Vice President @KamalaHarris in the Rose Garden to sign gun safety into law. 12/12