HARTFORD--State leaders are continuing their long-running push to curb gun violence in Connecticut, and nationwide.
Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy met with families of victims of gun violence on Friday amid their continued effort to get Congress to pass additional gun control measures.
Murphy spoke at the Democratic National Convention this week on the very topic, along with Erika Smegielski, the daughter of Sandy Hook Principal Dawn Hochsprung, who was killed during the Sandy Hook tragedy.
"I walked on that stage, angry. Angry about the fact I had to be there and talk about this issue," Murphy said on Friday.
But while local families appreciate the push to take guns out of the hands of terrorists and expand background checks, they say that doesn't go far enough to address the deeper issues.
Sam Saylor, who lost his son to gun violence in Hartford four years ago, said this is an everyday issue, not just one that should pop up after mass tragedies.
"When people are becoming courageous enough to shoot police officers, this thing is getting totally out of control," Saylor said.
He is speaking out to honor his son, and prevent future tragedy. "I've never been able to go home again after my son died and I want to honor his life by speaking up for the lives that have yet to be saved and those that are falling."
Another resident, Lebert Lester, agreed. He said that the lack of economic resources is leaving people homeless and leading people to lives of crime, whether it be through drugs, guns or other violence.
"These press conference aren't going to do anything for us unless they begin to put things in action and they must look at the totality of the situation," Lester said. "The urban violence has many more bodies falling than the mass violence."
