Rep. Carolyn McCarthy is trying to keep the momentum going for stricter gun control, praising the new effort by former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, Mark Kelly, who announced a new political action committee and website dedicated to the cause.

McCarthy, D-N.Y., is sponsoring an updated assault weapons ban, and is a long-time advocate for restrictions on guns.

On the second anniversary of the shooting of Giffords at a Tucson shopping mall, McCarthy said, "Today Gabby and Mark have joined a long line of Americans fed up with our country’s failure to tackle gun violence and working to do something about it.

"Gabby has always worked to bridge partisan divides to unite and serve her fellow Americans, and has emerged from a miraculous recovery to continue that difficult work.  Mark is a national hero, a combat veteran and astronaut who’s risked his life to protect our nation across sea and space.

“Both are gun owners and patriots dedicated to helping the nation see that responsible and reasonable policies can save lives in America without conflicting with the rights afforded by our Constitution."