Gabby Giffords attends first gun show since being shot in head

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y., Oct. 13 (UPI) -- Former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who survived a gunman's attempt to kill her, went to a gun show in New York state Sunday to urge an end to gun violence.

Giffords, a Democrat from Arizona who was shot in the head at a constituents' event in 2011, was accompanied to the Saratoga Arms Fair in Saratoga Springs by her husband, former astronaut and military pilot Mark Kelly, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and Secret Service agents, The Saratogian reported.

In a speech that lasted under a minute, Giffords urged people not to give up finding ways to eliminate gun violence.

"Stopping gun violence takes courage. The courage to do what's right. The courage of new ideas ...," said Giffords, who speaks haltingly because of the bullet that struck her brain. "Now is the time to come together. Be responsible -- Democrats, Republicans, everyone. We must never stop fighting. Fight, fight, fight! Be bold. Be courageous. The nation counts on you. Thank you."

She punctuated her speech by concluding with a fist raised in the air, the newspaper said.

Giffords, her husband and the attorney general attended the gun show to bring attention to a voluntary agreement with all 35 gun show operators in the state that mandates a background check be conducted on every person purchasing a firearm at a gun show, The Saratogian said.