Gabby Giffords, the former representative who survived an assassination attempt in 2011, urged members of Congress to 'have some courage' and face their constituents.

Giffords' comments on Thursday were in response to Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas, who this week invoked her near-death to justify why he is not holding in-person town halls.

The Republican is currently only speaking to constituents in telephone town halls.

Gohmert further tried to justify his decision by saying: 'At this time, there are groups from the more violent strains of the leftist ideology, some even being paid, who are preying on public town halls to wreak havoc and threaten public safety.

Gabby Giffords (pictured in 2016), the former representative who survived an assassination attempt in 2011, urged members of Congress to 'have some courage' and face their voters

'Threats are nothing new to me, and I have gotten my share as a felony judge.

'However, the House Sergeant at Arms advised us after former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords was shot at a public appearance, that civilian attendees at Congressional public events stand the most chance of being harmed or killed - just as happened there.'

But Giffords said town halls were a hallmark of her tenure in Congress.

'To the politicians who have abandoned their civic obligations, I say this: Have some courage. Face your constituents. Hold town halls,' the former Arizona Democratic congresswoman said in a statement released by Americans for Responsible Solutions.

Giffords' comments on Thursday were in response to Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas, who this week invoked her near-death to justify why he is not holding in-person town halls

GABBY GIFFORDS' RESPONSE TO REPUBLICAN LOUIE GOHMERT Town halls and countless constituent meetings were a hallmark of my tenure in Congress. It’s how I was able to serve the people of southern Arizona. I believed that listening to my constituents was the most basic and core tenet of the job I was hired to do. I was shot on a Saturday morning. By Monday morning my offices were open to the public. Ron Barber – at my side that Saturday, who was shot multiple times, then elected to Congress in my stead – held town halls. It’s what the people deserve in a representative. In the past year, campaigning for gun safety, I have held over 50 public events. Many of the members of Congress who are refusing to hold town halls and listen to their constituents concerns are the very same politicians that have opposed commonsense gun violence prevention policies and have allowed the Washington gun lobby to threaten the safety of law enforcement and everyday citizens in our schools, businesses, places of worship, airports, and movie theaters. To the politicians who have abandoned their civic obligations, I say this: Have some courage. Face your constituents. Hold town halls. Advertisement

She also pointed out how her successor in office and her former aide, Ron Barber, who was shot multiple times during the assassination attempt on her life, continued to participate in town halls.

Giffords was gravely wounded during the attack, which killed six and injured 13.

Although she resigned her seat, she remains active on the issue of gun safety and noted that she attended more than 50 public events over the past year.

The shooting made speaking difficult for her, so she generally talks only briefly, using extremely short sentences to make her point. She has little movement in her right arm and walks with a limp.

Gohmert tried to cite Giffords' shooting as a reason for him not to hold town halls - however the Democrat quickly hit back against the suggestion from the Texas Republican

Republicans have been met with protests at town halls since the election based off a number of Donald Trump's policies. Pictured is Matt Gaetz being escorted by Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office deputies as he makes his way to his car following a meeting with constituents in Milton, Florida, on Thursday

Around the country during this congressional recess week, several Republican lawmakers have faced protests and tough questions about health care and other issues.

Several lawmakers are avoiding the events, which are reminiscent of when tea party groups voiced unhappiness about President Barack Obama and his health care overhaul in the summer of 2009.

Gohmert said that when the threat of violence recedes, he'll go back 'to the civil town hall meetings I've had in the past to supplement the masses reached in our telephone town halls.'