'We Must Do Something'

How can one not be profoundly affected by the bravery, defiance and determination of Gabrielle Giffords' recent speech before the members of the American Senate Judiciary Committee, which is currently addressing gun safety. She showed more guts and conviction during the 1m 17secs it took her to deliver her powerful message on gun control than any American government has ever been able to muster in a hundred years.

Gabrielle Giffords is a credit to her country and the tenacious fighting spirit she has showed in her fight to ovecome her injuries and confront the Gun Lobby proves, if ever proof were needed, that when the going get tough, Americans and America get going and confront challenges head on.

This speech has thrown down the gauntlet before American society and the Obama administration, but do they have the kind of courage personified by Giffords which will enable them to pick it up?