MONTCLAIR - Committed to protecting other Americans from gun violence, former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords of Arizona campaigned this morning with Mikie Sherrill, the Democratic nominee for Governor.

On January 8, 2011, a gunman shot Giffords in the head at a “Congress on Your Corner” constituent event in Tucson. He killed six others. The Congresswoman resigned her seat in January 2012 to focus on her recovery.

Today, New Jersey welcomed her to the trail of the toughly contested gubernatorial contest, where she stood at the side of Sherrill in the New Jersey congresswoman's hometown.

"Confronted with paralysis and aphasia, I responded with grit and determination," Giffords told a crowd assembled here in the backyard of Assemblywoman Alixon Collazos Gill and Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill. "I put one foot in front of the other. I struggled to speak.

"But I have not lost my voice," she added. "America needs all of us to speak out, even when you have to fight to find the words I'm also in a second fight - the fight to end gun violence."

Attendees at this local canvassing event included Democratic State Party Chairman LeRoy Jones, state

Senator John McKeon (D-27), Essex Commissioner Leonard Luciano, East Orange Mayor Ted Green, Morris County Democratic Committee Chair Darcy Draeger, and Akeem Cunningham, the Essex-based regional campaign director for Mikie Sherrill's coordinated campaign.

Said Sherrill of her ally Giffords' travails:

"In fighting through that, she's become the voice for so many. Truly amazing."

The congresswoman running against Republican Jack Ciattarelli said she wants to continue taking her affordability message to the people of New Jersey.

But at this particular event, Sherrill noted, "because of our special guest, I want to put it in the context of gun safety legislation."

The state has some of the nation's toughest gun laws.

As we've seen gun violence going up across the country - as we've seen unacceptable political violence, Camden had a summer without a single shooting," Sherrill said. "In this state, we want to protect pour kids and our families. We are making sure that our legislation protects people and yet the Supreme Court keeps trying to undermine our gun safety legislation."

She threw a couple of jabs at Ciattarelli.

"He just wants judges who agree with him - and where I come from is the Department of Justice - not the department of whatever I say goes."

WATCH SHERRILL'S SPEECH HERE:

Chairman Jones spoke of the stakes in this election.

"We have to make sure we maintain our democracy," he said. "We have to hold true to our freedoms and ensure that justice is not just a word - it's what we live by. We are all soldiers to make sure we come out and send a message loud and clear. ...While Mikie Sherrill is that symbol of truth, justice and the American way, while Mikie's name is on the ballot, you are on the ballot, your children are on the ballot, New Jersey is on the ballot."