Tucson shooting survivors' ad demands 'more courage' from Obama and Romney

A new commercial from a mayoral gun-control coalition is demanding more leadership from both President Barack Obama and his presumptive Republican election challenger, Mitt Romney.

"Our leaders gave us a moment of silence," said the ad, which debuted Sunday morning during both NBC's Summer Olympics coverage and other networks' talk shows.

The commercial features three survivors of the 2011 mass shooting in Tucson, Arizona, that killed six people and nearly killed Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ). "But they haven't given us a plan."

The man accused of the crime, Jared Loughner, is expected to plead guilty this coming week. Two of the people featured in the ad, retired U.S. Army Colonel Bill Badger and Patricia Maisch, helped disarm Loughner during the attack.

The ad is part of a campaign by Mayors Against Illegal Guns, the bipartisan mayoral group co-founded by New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, calling on both candidates to offer concrete plans to curb such shootings no matter which one wins the November election. It connects the issue to last month's massacre at an Aurora, Colorado movie theater by saying 48,000 people will die from gun-related violence during the next presidential term - the equivalent of three Aurora shootings a day.

"We need less silence and more courage," the ad says.

In a statement, the group's co-chair, Boston mayor Thomas Menino said the group hoped it would amplify its demand for gun control.

"The moment of silence has lasted too long," Menino said. "It's time for real specifics on how we can prevent the gun violence that will claim 48,000 lives in the next presidential term if no action is taken."

Last week Bloomberg's administration announced he would host a fundraiser for Massachusetts senator Scott Brown (R-MA), citing Brown's opposition to letting concealed gun permits be applicable in other states. Brown was found to oppose a federal ban on assault weapons, and had earned an "A" grade from the National Rifle Association. Bloomberg has also suggested police officers should go on strike if the public does not support gun-control legislation.

The group posted the ad on YouTube, and it can be seen below:

[h/t Gawker]