'Too many children are dying, the time to act is now': Brave Gabby Giffords makes emotional plea to Senate on gun violence

The former Congresswoman was shot at point-blank range in the head in 2011 when a gunman opened fire as she met constituents in Arizona

She slowly read short sentences from a piece of paper, saying: 'We must do something. It will be hard but the time is now'

Giffords spoke before husband Mark Kelly and NRA chief Wayne LaPierre  at Senate Judiciary hearing

Giffords' husband Mark Kelly said: 'Gabby's gift for speech is a distant memory' but that they attended 'not as victims but as Americans'