Wichitans to rally for gun control in sympathy with father of slain TV reporter
Victims of gun violence and at least two state legislators will gather Thursday in Wichita to call for stronger gun control, part of a national event sparked by the father of a television reporter recently murdered on live TV.
The event, called the “Whatever It Takes” Day of Action, draws its name from the words of Andy Parker, whose daughter Alison, a reporter for WDJB-TV in Roanoke, Va., was killed on live TV by a disgruntled former co-worker two weeks ago.
Following the slaying, her father pledged to do “whatever it takes” to end gun violence. On Thursday, he’ll join Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe and the state’s two senators on Capitol Hill to demand that Congress take action.
Sympathy demonstrations like the one in Wichita are being planned across the country.
Wichita demonstrators will gather at 5:30 p.m. at the Parents of Murdered Children Memorial in Riverside Park, near the corner of 10th and Bitting.
State Rep. Gail Finney, D-Wichita, said she’ll be attending mainly to advocate for stronger background checks on gun purchases. She said too many mentally ill people are able to bypass current background check requirements.
With all the mass shootings that have happened in the past couple of years, “A lot of people are afraid to go to public places – things you take for granted, going to church, going to the movies, going to school,” Finney said.
She said she was afraid herself to go to the theater to see “Straight Outta Compton,” a biographical film about the rap group N.W.A.
“It shouldn’t be that way in America,” she said. “And if the American people don’t start speaking up about it, it’s just going to get worse.”
Finney said Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau, D-Wichita, will also be participating in the event.
Other participants include the Rev. Michelle Reed and members and supporters of the Everytown Survivor Network and the Kansas chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, according to a news release.
Reach Dion Lefler at 316-268-6527 or dlefler@wichitaeagle.com.
This story was originally published September 9, 2015 at 5:57 PM with the headline "Wichitans to rally for gun control in sympathy with father of slain TV reporter."