Shot Giffords returns home for Father’s Day

Arizona Congresswoman Gab-rielle Giffords was back in her hometown yesterday, visiting Tucson for Father’s Day weekend in her first time back since she was shot in January.

Ms Giffords was released from a Houston hospital last Wednesday, five months after being shot in the head during a Tucson political event. She had been in the rehab facility since late January, a few weeks after the shooting that killed six and wounded 13.

“We’ve been dreaming of this trip for some time,” Ms Giffords’ astronaut husband, Mark Kelly, said in a news release.

“Gabby misses Tucson very much and her doctors have said that returning to her hometown could play an important role in her recovery.”

Mr Kelly said the trip “is sure to be very emotional” and hopes the news media respects their privacy.

Giffords spokesman C.J. Karamargin said the Democratic congresswoman travelled by private plane from Houston to Tucson with Mr Kelly and one of his daughters and she will spend Father’s Day weekend with her family.

According to a Twitter posting from her staff, Ms Giffords’ plane landed in Tucson last Friday evening.

“Wheels down Tucson. Gabrielle and Mark looking forward to a beautiful weekend,” the tweet said.