More than 100 stage gun control sit-in at Southfield City Hall
SOUTHFIELD,. Mich. (WJBK) -
Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence staged a sit-in on the steps of Southfield City Hall - joined by more than 100 people on this Independence Day - demanding action on proposed gun control policies.
"We need to declare our independence from gun violence in America," said Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-Southfield).
Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence staged a sit-in on the steps of Southfield City Hall - joined by more than 100 people on this Independence Day - demanding action on proposed gun control policies.
Brenda Hill with Mothers of Murdered Children was one of several sharing emotional stories about their own experience with gun violence.
"Since my son was killed there's been over 3,000 people killed in Detroit from gun violence,” she said. "And the mothers in San Bernardino and the Mothers in Sandy Hook and the mothers in Aurora feel like I feel every day."
It is those mass shootings - the most recent at the Orlando nightclub Pulse that have many clamoring for laws that could keep those on terror watch lists from purchasing guns.
Democratic lawmakers staged a sit in to try to force a vote in June - but to no avail.
Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence says she'll be back in DC on Tuesday and plans to keep fighting.
"We're going to start this debate again and I just wanted the people here to come together and say we stand," she said.
Or in this case - they sit and show their support.
"I'm a business owner in downtown Detroit and enough’s enough - who has to get killed next," said Tony Stovall, Hot Sam's Clothing store.
"We don't need assault weapons, we don't need this insanity to continue," said Gail Barber, attending the sit-in.
"We're not trying to take anybody's weapons," said Rep. Robert Wittenberg (D-Oak Park). "We want to make sure weapons don't get into the wrong hands."
Detroit native singer-songwriter Kem echoing those sentiments - telling the crowd he's a registered gun owner who supports the Second Amendment.
"I'm not lending my voice to a conversation about banning guns," he said. "I'm lending my voice to a conversation about having more regulation.
"We will protect second amendment rights but common sense gun control is needed in this country."