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Gabby Giffords Headlines Gun Control Rally In Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Local gun control advocates rallied in Center City with the help of some heavy hitters from the Democratic Party. One of the featured speakers spoke softly but made her point loud and clear.

Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly headlined the rally.

Giffords was shot and seriously injured during a public appearance in Arizona 2011. Six of the 19 people fired at were killed.

She said at the rally, "I've seen great courage when my life was on the line. Now is the time to come together and be responsible, Democrats, Republicans, everyone."

CeasefirePA, the state wide gun control group based in Philadelphia, wanted to get a message across: A vocal majority in this country wants meaningful action to combat gun violence.

"Now is the time to come together....We must never stop fighting. Fight! Fight! Fight!"

Giffords resigned from her position in 2012 to focus on speech and movement recovery while advocating for tightened gun legislation.

Former governor Ed Rendell was also present at the rally.

Rendell said, "We want action! And we want action now!"

The advocacy group called 'Mothers In Charge' vowed the 2nd amendment can be upheld in conjunction with what they call common sense gun laws.

"I'm tired of burying babies," said Paula Henderson, who lost her son to gun violence.

But with so much talk of discord in the Democratic party, there were no Bernie chants or jeers when Hillary Clinton's name was mentioned.

Tim Jimenez contributed to this report.

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