Former Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly. (File)

TUCSON, Ariz. (February 11, 2013)—A political action committee formed by former Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, former astronaut Mark Kelly, began airing a TV ad Monday calling for action on gun-control measures.

The commercial shows images of the aftermath of four mass shootings, and includes an on-camera appeal by Giffords for congressional action.

Giffords is recovering from a head wound suffered in a January 2011 shooting in Tucson.

The ad specifically calls for universal background checks of gun purchasers.

Americans for Responsible Solutions says the ad is airing in Washington and in home districts and states of congressional leaders in San Francisco, Cincinnati, Las Vegas and Louisville, Ky.

Group spokeswoman Jen Bluestein will only say the cost of the airtime tops $100,000.