Story highlights Hillary Clinton and Gabby Giffords ask Iowans to make guns a voting issue

"Speaking is hard for me," Giffords said, a nod to the fact that she is still recovering from the near-fatal shooting

Des Moines, Iowa (CNN) Hillary Clinton urged voters Saturday to make gun control a key issue in the Iowa caucuses, pledging to take on the issue at an event where former Rep. Gabby Giffords endorsed the former secretary of state.

Giffords, the Arizona Democrat who was shot in the head during an appearance in front of a Tucson supermarket in 2011, called Clinton a "tough" and "courageous" candidate and pledged her support because Clinton "will stand up to the gun lobby."

"Speaking is hard for me," Giffords said, a nod to the fact that she is still recovering from the near-fatal shooting. "But in January 2017, I want to see these words, 'Madame President.'"

Clinton, clearly moved by Giffords' words, pledged to take on gun control as president.

"I have heard the stories, I have seen the news reports about the ones who were killed," Clinton said. "What is wrong with us? How can we continue to ignore the toll this is taking on our children and our country?"

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