Moms Demand Action gather at state house as part of national rally for gun legislation

(WIBW)
Published: Aug. 17, 2019 at 10:05 PM CDT
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Governor Laura Kelly joined parents of gun violence victims at a rally outside the capital Saturday.

All over the country, Moms Demand Action groups have been gathering to demand action on gun legislation from the senate during recess.

The Kansas chapter marched around the state house and heard first hand from those impacted by gun violence.

"We can have great respect for the 2nd amendment, and still institute common sense changes," Kelly said.

Kelly showed her support for the activist group and pushed for congress to make change.

"Law abiding gun owners are not the problem,” Kelly said. “Responsible gun owners see the recklessness of policies that don't acknowledge the true threat and danger when guns fall into the wrong hands."

The groups are pushing for the Senate to vote on a background checks bill that has already passed through the House of Representatives.

13 NEWS reached out to Kansas Senators Jerry Moran and Pat Roberts and did not get a response.

On Moran’s website, his position on gun legislation reads, “While much needs to be done to prevent violent crime in our nation, more restrictions on responsible law abiding firearm owners are not the answer.”

Roberts said in an interview in 2018, “It's more than gun control. But I think we're ready as a congress to actually pass something and I think it's going to be better background checks.”

Latonya Boyd of Topeka lost her daughter Tyesha McNair to gun violence in 2009.

She know uses her story and memory to help push for change.

"I can tell you that was the hardest thing for me to do is to tell my two-and-a-half-year-old granddaughter that her mother was never going to come back,” Boyd said. ”Lawmakers, you need to put yourself in our shoes, the ones who have lost our loved ones to gun violence.”

The House and Senate are adjourned until September 9th.

House Democrats have called for the senate to reconvene to vote on the background check bills.