WASHINGTON, DC — On the morning after the sixth annual National Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence at St Mark’s Episcopal Church in Washington, DC, a press conference demanding the United States Congress act on preventing gun violence took place in the Hart Senate Office Building on December 6.

A livestream video was offered online for those around the world to witness lawmakers, gun violence prevention groups, loved ones of victims, and survivors advocate for congressional change.

At the start of the conference, more than 50 individuals from 21 states came forward to speak about their reason to “honor with action.”

Parents, siblings, children, cousins, nephews, aunts, uncles, godparents, and coworkers all came out to share the names, photographs, and stories of those who died as a result of gun violence.

Some of those honored died decades ago, others just this year; some were from nationally covered mass shootings, while some had committed suicide by a firearm; and some were from urban communities, while some mentioned were from Sandy Hook.

Showing their support for the social movement to “honor with action” were US Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal and US Representatives Elizabeth Esty and Mike Thompson. They were joined by Newtown resident Po Murray, chair of the Newtown Action Alliance and the Newtown Foundation, along with members of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, States United to Prevent Gun Violence, Women’s March, Giffords, and the Junior Newtown Action Alliance.

“During the last six years,” Ms Murray said, “there have been more than 600,000 gun deaths and injuries and over 1,800 mass shooting incidents. This is just a small fraction of the grief that we are seeing across this nation. Americans stand united in support of ending gun violence, and it is time for Congress to take action.”

The previous day, letters signed by more than 80 organizations and allies of the gun violence prevention coalition — representing seven million Americans — were delivered to every member of Congress.

“We are collectively imploring Congress to pass a set of comprehensive laws that will help to steadily reduce gun suicides, unintentional shootings, gun homicides, mass shootings, and gun injuries in America,” Ms Murray explained.

In a call to action, she encouraged all Americans to contact their elected representatives to demand they protect the nation by supporting common sense gun laws.

Local Lawmakers

During Senator Blumenthal’s speech, he cited the importance of measures like universal background checks and banning assault weapons, high capacity magazines, bump stocks, and 3D guns as ways to prevent gun violence.

He declared that he is dedicated to supporting and reintroducing a red flag statute to Congress, which is known in the Senate as an “extreme risk prevention protection statute.” It entails that someone who is identified by police or their family as a danger to themselves and others should not be able to possess or purchase a firearm.

“I’m here to honor with action, but I would like to say next year when we come here that we honored with action,” Senator Blumenthal said. “Let no one doubt that you are making a difference.”

Following Senator Blumenthal, Ms Murray introduced another “superhero” from Connecticut, Senator Murphy.

“This is a social change movement of epic proportion,” Senator Murphy stated, “and no social change movement of any significance or consequence in this country has succeeded overnight. It takes years and years, both setbacks and small victories…”

However, every single day that they are growing the movement politically and people share their stories, he said, they are winning the fight against gun violence.

Representative Esty shared that there have been big victories on the state and federal levels with voters electing “champions” for gun sense. She feels confident that come January, there will be significant positive change.

“If we can put a man on the moon, we can darn well figure out how have our children safe in schools, in churches, in playgrounds, at work, at country music concerts, in bars, [and] in their homes,” she said. “I know we are going to make progress… This is America; we figure out what is wrong and how to fix it.”

Looking out to those affected directly by gun violence, Representative Esty said, “Your voices are being heard… you have not been crushed or held down. You have not been consumed by hate. You have been inspired by the love you have for your family members and [for] making sure no one has to go through what you have gone through.”

Youth Advocates

In addition to representatives Sean Kirkendall from Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, Kim Russell from the Women’s March, Lydia Kuykendal from Giffords, and Dakota Jablon from the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence speaking at the conference, youth working to end gun violence were in attendance and acknowledged for their dedication to the cause.

“You continue to inspire me when I lose hope,” Ms Murray said. “I want you to keep fighting and build a coalition among yourselves and do the work that is necessary to make this country safer for you and your children.”

Newtown High School students and Junior Newtown Action Alliance Co-Chairs Tommy Murray and Jackson Mittleman were present at the conference.

“For the past six years, we’ve been coming down to DC to honor the victims of gun violence as well as lobbying Congress and communicating with the people in power,” Tommy said. “We think that one of the most important things we can do now is communicate with people in power because they are the ones that can actually get something done.”

He introduced the Junior Newtown Action Alliance’s new initiative called Hello Congress, which Jackson explained is a way to help students fighting for their lives all over the country to speak up and make sure their voices are heard.

“We believe that students speaking up and representing their will to not be gunned down in school and in their everyday life is incredibly important,” Jackson said. “That is why, with the Hello Congress initiative, we are encouraging students to meet with their legislators — whether it’s your State Capital, your town government, or the federal government — let your voice be heard.”

To register for a meeting with state and federal legislators, visit newtownactionalliance.org/hellocongress.

The conference was livestreamed Thursday, December 6, at 10 am. Its video titled “Lawmakers Join Victims and Survivors of Gun Violence Call for Congressional Action” on Senator Chris Murphy’s YouTube Channel, can be viewed here.