President Barack Obama on Wednesday implored a divided America to honour those attacked in the Arizona shooting rampage by becoming a better country, and in a dramatic moment said that Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who on Saturday was shot point-blank in the head, had opened her eyes for the first time shortly after his hospital visit. Mr. Obama dramatically announced that following his bedside visit with Ms. Giffords, the target of the assassination, she “opened her eyes, so I can tell you, she knows we’re here, and she knows we love her.”
First lady Michelle Obama held hands with Ms. Giffords’ husband, Mark Kelly, as the news brought soaring cheers throughout the arena. Speaking at a memorial in Tucson, Arizona, Mr. Obama conceded that there is no way to know what triggered the shooting rampage that left six people dead, 13 others wounded and the nation shaken. He tried instead to leave indelible memories of the people who were gunned down and to rally the country to use the moment as a reflection on the nation’s behaviour and compassion.
Authorities previously said they found handwritten notes in Loughner’s safe reading “I planned ahead,” “My assassination” and the name “Giffords.” Nanos and Rick Kastigar, the department’s chief of investigations, and told the AP they also found notes with the words “Die, bitch”, which they believe referenced Giffords, and “Die, cops.” Giffords, 40, was less sedated and more responsive and her doctors said that her recovery was going as anticipated.
Back in Washington, Ms. Giffords’ House colleagues praised her and the other shooting victims and insisted that violence would not silence democracy. “We will have the last word,” declared new House Speaker John Boehner. He fought back tears as he described Ms. Giffords’ battle to recover.
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