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Father of murdered Virginia journalist calls for gun control on day of action TV reporter's father tells rally 'we can, we must, we will' prevail on guns
(about 3 hours later)
Andy Parker, whose daughter Alison Parker was shot dead live on air in Virginia last month, on Thursday attended a Capitol Hill rally in support of a “day of action” organised by gun control groups. Andy Parker, whose daughter Alison Parker was shot dead live on air in Virginia last month, on Thursday addressed a Capitol Hill rally in support of a “day of action” organised by gun control groups.
Related: Father of Virginia reporter shot on air reaffirms push for gun controlRelated: Father of Virginia reporter shot on air reaffirms push for gun control
Alison Parker died with her cameraman, Adam Ward, when they were shot by a former employee of their news station, WDBJ7. Their interviewee, Vicki Gardner, was wounded but survived.Alison Parker died with her cameraman, Adam Ward, when they were shot by a former employee of their news station, WDBJ7. Their interviewee, Vicki Gardner, was wounded but survived.
“After my daughter Alison was tragically killed two weeks ago, I said on national television that we have to do whatever it takes to fix this country’s gun violence problem,” Andy Parker said in remarks released before the rally, which was organised under the banner of a National #WhateverItTakes Day of Action by Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. Parker told the rally “we can, we must, and we will” prevail over opponents of new background check legislation, such as the National Rifle Association (NRA).
“I know that weakening the stranglehold of the gun lobby won’t happen overnight,” Parker added. “I know, too, that passing background check laws won’t prevent all acts of gun violence from taking place. “Too many members of Congress remain in the pocket of the gun lobby,” Parker said. “That has got to change.”
“But we must keep the pressure on our lawmakers until they do the right thing. And if they won’t, find their replacement.” The governor of Virginia, Terry McAuliffe, and the state’s two US senators, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, also spoke. The three Democrats urged Congress to revisit a failed 2013 vote on legislation that would have required background checks for online gun sales and purchases at gun shows.
Politicians scheduled to attend Thursday’s rally included the governor of Virginia, Terry McAuliffe, and the state’s two US senators, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine. All three are Democrats. “Can’t we at least take a first step in terms of background checks?” Warner said.
“More than 30,000 people are killed by firearms in this country every year,” said Warner. “The cycle of tragedy, followed by outrage, followed by inaction has become too familiar. McAuliffe said he had sent a package of gun-related legislation to the Republican-held Virginia legislature, where it died in a senate committee. The proposals had sought to renew the state’s one-per-month limit of handgun purchases, require background checks at gun shows and ban guns from those under restraining orders.
“We simply cannot accept this as the status quo, and we must not be content at the unwillingness of Congress to enact reasonable reforms to prevent it. We must take action.” “I am sick and tired of gutless politicians who are scared of the NRA,” McAuliffe told the rally.
McAuliffe said: “Our state continues to mourn the loss of Alison Parker and Adam Ward, but we also need to stand up and do something to make these tragic events less likely. The 2013 federal proposals were sponsored by Pat Toomey, a Pennsylvanian Republican, and Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia. They were made after a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at an elementary school in Sandy Hook, Connecticut.
Thursday’s rally was was organised under the banner of a National #WhateverItTakes Day of Action by the advocacy groups Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.
In remarks released before the rally, Parker said: “After my daughter Alison was tragically killed two weeks ago, I said on national television that we have to do whatever it takes to fix this country’s gun violence problem.”
Related: One year after the Isla Vista massacre, a father's gun control mission is personalRelated: One year after the Isla Vista massacre, a father's gun control mission is personal
“Six states have passed background check laws since the [December 2012] tragedy at Sandy Hook, and Virginia should be the next state to join the list. “I know that weakening the stranglehold of the gun lobby won’t happen overnight. I know, too, that passing background check laws won’t prevent all acts of gun violence from taking place.
“It’s time for the general assembly to act – Virginians are tired of partisan ideology blocking commonsense steps to prevent gun violence.” “But we must keep the pressure on our lawmakers until they do the right thing. And if they won’t, find their replacement.”
A number of relatives of those killed by gun violence – and survivors of shootings – were also due to attend the event. A number of relatives of those killed by gun violence – and survivors of shootings – also attended the event.
Among them were Richard Martinez, whose son Christopher Michaels-Martinez died in the Isla Vista shootings of May 2014; relatives of victims of the Aurora cinema shooting of July 2012; and relatives of those killed in the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting. Among them were Richard Martinez, whose son Christopher Michaels-Martinez died in the Isla Vista shootings of May 2014; relatives of victims of the Aurora movie theatre shooting of July 2012; and relatives of those killed at Sandy Hook elementary school.