A major gun control organization on Tuesday endorsed Arizona Senate candidate Mark Kelly (D), whose wife, former Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.), retired from Congress after she was shot in the head in 2011.

The organization Brady, formerly known as the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, endorsed Kelly as one of several “leaders who will help solve our gun violence epidemic.”

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“As a survivor of gun violence, it's hard to express how meaningful it will be to add a voice to the Senate who has seen firsthand what the cost of congressional inaction looks like,” Christian Hayne, Brady's vice president of policy, said. “When elected, Mark Kelly will honorably serve Arizonans, putting their safety and the safety of the American people first.”

Kelly and Giffords have both been advocates for stronger gun reform measures since the shooting and “share a core belief that common-sense gun laws can save lives without infringing on the Second Amendment,” Brady said in the statement.

The statement also criticized incumbent Sen. Martha McSally Martha Elizabeth McSallyOn The Trail: Making sense of this week's polling tsunami The Hill's Campaign Report: Presidential polls tighten weeks out from Election Day Mark Kelly: Arizona Senate race winner should be sworn in 'promptly' MORE (R-Ariz.), who will be up running for her seat in 2020, for working to “advance the priorities of the gun industry,” saying that during her tenure in the House she co-sponsored a bill allowing “virtually anyone” to carry a concealed firearm.

McSally was appointed to the Senate seat that belonged to the late Sen. John McCain John Sidney McCainCrenshaw looms large as Democrats look to flip Texas House seat Analysis: Biden victory, Democratic sweep would bring biggest boost to economy The Memo: Trump's strengths complicate election picture MORE (R-Ariz.) after former Sen. Jon Kyl (R) vacated the seat he held briefly after McCain died.

McSally lost to now-Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) in 2018 after former Sen. Jeff Flake Jeffrey (Jeff) Lane FlakeHow fast population growth made Arizona a swing state Jeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Republican former Michigan governor says he's voting for Biden MORE (R-Ariz.) retired.

The organization also blasted Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellDemocratic senator to party: 'A little message discipline wouldn't kill us' House to vote on resolution affirming peaceful transition of power Republican lawyers brush off Trump's election comments MORE (R-Ky.) for what it calls his inaction on gun reform in the wake of mass shootings in Gilroy, Calif.; Dayton, Ohio; and El Paso, Texas. Numerous Democrats have called on McConnell to call the Senate back into session to vote on a background check measure that has passed the House.

“Now more than ever, Americans need leaders like Mark Kelly to have a seat in the Senate to fight to keep our communities safe,” the statement reads. “Brady looks forward to working alongside Kelly to bring an end to congressional inaction and restore the American way of life where no one lives in fear of being shot.”