Families Affected By Gun Violence Hold Sit-In Inside Capitol

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- An emotional sit-in on Capitol Hill. Families affected by gun violence were asked to leave the US Capitol after rallying inside the rotunda, asking Congress for tougher gun legislation. It's a hot-button issue that's sparked a huge debate.

Meghan McCorkell has more on the demonstration.

Tuesday's protest came on the heels of last month's historic sit-in on the House floor.

They lost loved ones to gun violence and Tuesday, family members held a sit-in at the US Capitol rotunda, calling on Congress to take action.

"My daughter was killed here in Washington DC," said one. "Head shot off with an AK-47."

It's a pain Maryland mother Daphne Alston knows all too well.

"I would never have thought in all my dreams I'd lose one of my children to violence," Alston said.

But nearly eight years ago, her son Tariq was shot in the head at a party. His killer was never caught.

"I hope that they're able to stop people from getting guns," she said.

In 2015 alone here in the city of Baltimore, gun violence was up 75% with more than 900 people shot.

Last month, Democrats staged a sit-in on the House floor, calling for a vote to increase background checks.

"What is wrong with a background check to make a determination who these people are that should not be able to purchase guns," said Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger.

But Republicans say stricter laws won't help.

"Anyone who thinks that we're going to solve the war on terror through passing another gun control law is simply delusional," said Congressman Andy Harris.

As for Alston, she agrees laws can't solve everything.

"So many of them illegal guns and they've probably been used in murder after murder after murder," she said.

She co-founded Mothers of Murdered Sons to try and make a change.

"I have nieces and nephews and grandchildren. I don't want this kind of world for them so I fight for them," she said.

And she'll keep fighting in memory of her son.

Lawmakers returned to Capitol Hill Tuesday where the gun control debate is expected to fire up once again.

In 2013, the state of Maryland had 578 firearms deaths.