On the holiday commemorating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Virginians, including nearly 200 members of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, rallied and met with legislators to ask for new and stronger gun laws. Nearly 450 people attended what state officials called the largest gun reform gathering at the state capitol in more than 20 years. Speakers at a vigil honoring gun violence victims included Lt. Governor Ralph Northam and Attorney General Mark Herring.
Moms carried American flags while waiting in line outside of the capitol — but all sticks had to be removed from the flags before entering the building due to safety concerns. However, guns — including semi-automatic rifles — are allowed inside the state capitol and even allow Virginians to get into an express line.
“The tide has begun to turn. It is up to moms to push for common-sense gun reforms to ensure that dangerous individuals do not have access to guns and to stop the erosion of Virginia’s gun laws,” said Luisa Caro, communications lead of Virginia chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Mothers are living by the words of Dr. King, ‘our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.’”
