TUCSON, Ariz. The husband of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords addressed the man who shot her, saying in court Thursday that he may have changed her life forever but could not damage her spirit.
Rep. Giffords stood by husband Mark Kelly, her arm in a sling, as the two faced Jared Lee Loughner for the first time. Loughner, 24, pleaded guilty to the January 2011 attack in Tucson that killed six and wounded 13 others, including Giffords.
"Her life has been forever changed. Plans she had for our family and her career have been immeasurably altered," Kelly said. "Every day is a continuous struggle to do those things she once was so good at."
Loughner showed no emotion, and looked at the other victims. His mother sobbed nearby.
"Mr. Loughner, you may have put a bullet through her head but you haven't put a dent in her spirit and her commitment to make the world a better place," Kelly said.
Giffords kissed Kelly when he was done. He grabbed her hand and they walked away, with her limping.
Kelly also made a plea for gun control, saying that the "political class ignores the white elephant of gun violence," CBS correspondent John Blackstone reports. He also criticized Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer and state legislature for for ignoring the issue and claiming guns were not the problem when it comes to crime and violence.
Loughner is being sentenced to life in prison without parole after accepting a plea deal on 19 federal charges. The deal calls for the dismissal of 30 other charges and a sentence of seven consecutive life terms, followed by 140 years in prison.
Rep. Giffords stood by husband Mark Kelly, her arm in a sling, as the two faced Jared Lee Loughner for the first time. Loughner, 24, pleaded guilty to the January 2011 attack in Tucson that killed six and wounded 13 others, including Giffords.
"Her life has been forever changed. Plans she had for our family and her career have been immeasurably altered," Kelly said. "Every day is a continuous struggle to do those things she once was so good at."
Loughner showed no emotion, and looked at the other victims. His mother sobbed nearby.
"Mr. Loughner, you may have put a bullet through her head but you haven't put a dent in her spirit and her commitment to make the world a better place," Kelly said.
Giffords kissed Kelly when he was done. He grabbed her hand and they walked away, with her limping.
Kelly also made a plea for gun control, saying that the "political class ignores the white elephant of gun violence," CBS correspondent John Blackstone reports. He also criticized Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer and state legislature for for ignoring the issue and claiming guns were not the problem when it comes to crime and violence.
Loughner is being sentenced to life in prison without parole after accepting a plea deal on 19 federal charges. The deal calls for the dismissal of 30 other charges and a sentence of seven consecutive life terms, followed by 140 years in prison.