Gabrielle Giffords | Photo Credits: Jewel Samad/AFP More

The Senate rejected Wednesday a proposal to expand background checks for gun buyers, as well as a ban on semi-automatic weapons, delivering a crushing blow to supporters of gun control.

One person calling for stricter gun laws was former Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head in 2011 during a public meeting with her constituents. In addition to Giffords' near-fatal injuries, six people were killed and 13 people were injured in the assassination attempt.

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Giffords wrote an op-ed for the New York Times this week, referencing last year's school shooting in Newtown, Conn. as she called for reform and slammed the legislators who voted against the measures.

"These senators made their decision based on political fear and on cold calculations about the money of special interests like the National Rifle Association," Giffords wrote. "They looked at these most benign and practical of solutions, offered by moderates from each party, and then they looked over their shoulder at the powerful, shadowy gun lobby — and brought shame on themselves and our government itself by choosing to do nothing."

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Giffords wrote that she's "furious" with the outcome and encouraged gun control supporters to make their voices heard.

"I am asking for mothers to stop these lawmakers at the grocery store and tell them: You've lost my vote," she wrote. "I am asking activists to unsubscribe from these senators' e-mail lists and to stop giving them money. I'm asking citizens to go to their offices and say: You've disappointed me, and there will be consequences."

Read Giffords' full op-ed here.