Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords speaks in Tucson, Ariz., in toughen of heritage exams for gun purchases. Giffords and her husband, Mark Kelly, lower back to the scene the place she was shot in 2011.

By means of Erin McClam, Group of workers Writer, NBC News

Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords back Wednesday to the Arizona grocery retailer the place she was shot to push Congress to expand heritage exams for gun purchases.

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“Be bold. Be brave. Please make stronger heritage assessments. Thank you very so much,” mentioned Giffords, conversing in moderation in a short appearance on the podium.

Giffords regarded at the Safeway in Tucson together with her husband, retired astronaut Mark Kelly, and with survivors and relatives of victims of the January 2011 shooting. In addition to Giffords, six people had been killed and 12 wounded.

The previous congresswoman additionally positioned a bouquet on a memorial at the supermarket.

The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to vote Thursday on a invoice that might toughen penalties for individuals who buy weapons illegally for others and to make gun trafficking a felony.

Giffords and Kelly’s team, Americans For Responsible Options, is airing TV commercials in Arizona to persuade Sen. Jeff Flake, a Republican, to back common heritage exams.

A Flake spokeswoman mentioned Wednesday that the senator opposes common background checks. She mentioned Flake helps making sure psychological well being records are better built-in into the historical past-take a look at gadget “so that those who shouldn’t have get right of entry to to weapons are barred from buying them.”

Asked about common background checks on NBC’s “Meet the Press” final month, Arizona’s other senator, Republican John McCain, said senators have been working on a bill “that I believe that almost all of us will be able to make stronger.”

Jared Lee Loughner, 24, used to be sentenced in November to seven consecutive existence sentences, plus one hundred forty years, after pleading responsible in Giffords’ taking pictures. Giffords used to be on the Safeway for a meet-and-greet with parts on Jan. eight, 2011.

It used to be now not the first time Giffords had back to the Tucson Safeway. She was there for the anniversary of her taking pictures.

The Related Press contributed to this document.

This story used to be firstly printed on Wed Mar 6, 2013 2:57 PM EST