Giffords faces Loughner as husband lauds her "spirit"

Updated 2:30 p.m. ET

TUCSON, Ariz. The husband of former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords addressed the man who shot her, saying in court Thursday that he may have changed her life forever but he couldn't damage her spirit.

Giffords stood by Mark Kelly, her arm in a sling, as the two faced Jared Lee Loughner for the first time, CBS correspondent John Blackstone reports. Loughner, 24, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 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."

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Kelly described how his charismatic and outgoing wife now has difficulty talking, is blind in one eye, and is paralyzed in one arm.

"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.

The retired astronaut paid tribute to the six victims who lost their lives, including 9-year-old Christina-Taylor Green, 30-year-old Giffords aide Gabe Zimmerman, and Chief Federal District Court Judge John Roll. "Gabby would gladly trade her own life to bring back those you savagely murdered on that day," he said.

"You have decades upon decades to contemplate what you did. But after today, after this moment, here and now, Gabby and I are done thinking about you," Kelly said. Giffords then kissed her husband and they walked back to their seats.

The Associated Press reports that Loughner showed no emotion as his mother sobbed nearby.

Kelly also made a plea for gun control, accusing the "political class" for ignoring "the white elephant of gun violence." He criticized Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer and the state legislature for refusing to recognizing guns and gun laws as a major problem when addressing crime.

"The challenges we face are so great, but the leadership in place is so often lacking. In so many moments, I find myself thinking, 'We need Gabby,'" Kelly said.

Loughner was sentenced to seven consecutive life terms plus 140 years after accepting a plea deal on 19 federal charges. The deal called for the dismissal of 30 other charges. The judge said he will never set foot out of prison, Blackstone reports.

[ArtemusGman]

To: TAXED02: Maybe they ought to throw you in with this creep. You kick a LADY when she's down???

[trojanny]

Note: It's always the mentally ill who are NOT in treatment that are dangerous, not those in care. "95% of the time, you're safer living next to a [mental health] patient, than your average neighbor." - Nat'l Inst. of Heath, in "12 Myths About Mental Illness."

[joesapper]

Pay attention , is the future of this animal .


I along with most applaud the courage and strength of the victims and for their Stand to continue to be American Leaders on many levels .

Horrific ugly crimes that tried to remove the Light of the Americans Spirit , well through the strength of the Giffords and others , the Light of the American Spirit shines brighter .

Again our regards to the Families & Loved one of these crimes .

[GrammerPolice]

"Gabby would gladly trader her..."

Trader?

'and 30-year-old finance Gabe Zimmerman, and Judge John Roll.'

30 year old finance Gabe? Are we shooting for fiance (for some reason they won't let me use the Alt+0233 to make an e with and accent)

Anyway, will someone please edit this garbage before sending it out...this is CBS news for Pete's sake.

[trojanny]

I'm more interested in the points.

[hemusbull]

Well, she is the only alive victim in this shooting, who is a member of the "political class" - other words all priviliges of celebrity like media covered powerfull of the day...

[royalstar05]

Mark Kelly is a class act. Very good guy.

[ToySoldier713]

Hang him and be done with it.

How does tougher gun laws keep guns out of the hands of criminals when the black market is so rich with stolen weapons? It doesn't. Allowing an armed populace of responsible people is better then being sitting ducks

[mr-iceman-co]

Your ignorance of the facts regarding gun violence is amazing. The majority of weapons used for violent crimes are legal guns, not stolen. Your argument is in effect: BS. Facts Matter.

[CKOHOUT]

Taxed01 -- the sentence saves taxpayer's tens of millions of dollars. (for example, see what this non-liberal news source reported a couple years back: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/03/27/just-cost-death-penalty-killer-state-budgets/)

But of course, you're not even thinking about the pain and anguish of the victims and their families of having 20+ years of uncertainty, of having the wounds re-opened every time a new hearing takes place as the case for the accused winds its way through the justice system. Let's be clear -- the taxpayers made out in this case.

[Dandy_Willikers]

I feel for Mrs. Giffords, but it is sad for me to see them constantly talk about her battles. She has the best health coverage money can buy, and she will be fine. If you want to talk about tragedy how about the 6 people who actually lost their lives and the loved ones who lost them. Instead, those names are grouped into a number and never reported.

[lollyikens]

It is sad for the victims that lost their lives and their families. I feel bad for them.

There is not constant talk about her battles only when she is in the spotlight for whatever reason. She will never be the same, one arm paralyzed, lost some of her sight and has difficulty walking. She also struggles with her speach.

I know that she still has her life albeit not what she used to have and the victims families do not have their loved ones.

This whole thing is a sad and hearbreaking story.

I don't think it is appropiate to be critical of Gabby or news about her.

[evanherik-2009]

I'm curious. How do you know she will be fine? How do you know she will ever fully recover?

[taxed01]

I wonder how long the taxpayers will be sentenced to pay for his housing, food, medical care, entertainment, etc?????

[TAXED02]

HAHA! Yes and what about her's? She wasn't worth the tax dollars sent to her either. And the tax dollars that keep paying for her medical bills and retirement.

[rjack61]

Well, let's see. He's 24 now. Oh, at least 30 years.