Yvonne Wingett Sanchez

USA TODAY Network

PHILADELPHIA – An assassination attempt five years ago outside a Tucson grocery store nearly silenced Gabby Giffords.

On Tuesday, the former Arizona congresswoman used her voice to call on the nation’s leaders to push for tighter controls on gun sales.

Her appearance at the event – co-sponsored by her political action committee – followed stories by parents who lost their children to gun violence.

Giffords walked on a stage, set in the shadow of The Franklin Institute, with help and waved to a crowd that shouted, “Gabby! Gabby! Gabby!”

Several in attendance said they have followed Giffords’ comeback from a shot to the head during a constituent event at the supermarket. The near-fatal shooting forced her to resign from Congress, but since her recovery, she and her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly, have pushed for changes to gun laws through a group they formed, Americans for Responsible Solutions.

In a strong voice, Giffords told the crowd: “Stopping gun violence takes courage – the courage to do what’s right, the courage of new ideas.

"I’ve seen great courage when my life was on the line," she said. "Now is the time to come together. Be responsible. Democrats. Republicans. Everyone. We must never stop fighting! Fight! Fight! Fight!"

The crowd chanted with her as she swayed along to their rallying cries.

“Bold and beautiful,” she said of their chants.

Giffords is schedule to take the main stage of the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday night.

Wingett Sanchez writes for the Arizona Republic.