By Catalina Camia, USA TODAY

A PAC supporting Jesse Kelly in the race to replace Gabrielle Giffords in Congress has sent an e-mail using an image of the Republican candidate holding an assault rifle.

Giffords resigned in January, about a year after she was shot in the head in a Tucson rampage that left six people dead. The Arizona Democrat's district director, Ron Barber, was also wounded and is running against Kelly in the June 12 special election.

National Public Radio reports Move America Freedom PAC sent an e-mail that includes an image of Kelly, from his 2010 campaign against Giffords, with the rifle in his hands. The PAC supports former members of the military and Kelly served with the Marines in Iraq. The same image of Kelly with the assault rifle is on the MAFPAC's homepage, which touts its endorsement.

A Glock 19 semi-automatic pistol was used in the Tucson rampage.

"While we applaud the former Congresswoman's recovery, this race is not about Gabby Giffords. We want to give the people of Arizona a new voice that reflects their values," the PAC's e-mail says, according to NPR.

Kelly campaign spokesman John Ellinwood said the Republican is concentrating on the economy in his race against Barber and is "focused on lowering taxes, growing the economy, and lowering gas prices using American energy."

The Pima County (Arizona) Republicans in Giffords' district were criticized last year for holding a raffle of a Glock pistol.

USA TODAY