RICHMOND, Va.—
In Richmond, state lawmakers paused to honor Martin Luther King on Monday.But the holiday also brought the debate over gun violence.
Familiar arguments could bring a different result.
Members of the Virginia Citizens Defense League wore slogans, and sidearms, as they rallied for gun rights in Capitol Square.
"And they'll say things like well look what happened at Virginia Tech. That's why you people shouldn't have guns," said Dennis O'Connor of the Virginia Citizens Defense League. "And we look at those kind of massacres, those kind of horrible things and say that's why we should have guns."
A few hours later, supporters of the Virginia Center for Public Safety were lying on the ground to bring attention to the victims of gun related violence.
"If the idea that more guns in more places in our country made us safer, the United States of America would already be the safest place in the world," said Colin Goddard, a Virginia Tech student who was wounded on April 16th.
Supporters of gun rights, and advocates for gun control, have been frequent visitors to Capitol Square, but with the power shift in the State Senate, both are wondering if this year might be different.
"I think we've got a better chance of getting a fair hearing for all the bills that are up for consideration," said Al Steed, a gun rights advocate from Bedford County.
Lori Haas, the mother of an injured student said: "It's a confusing state right now I think for some people, but we are still determined to do what we can to save lives."
No matter what happens in the General Assembly this year, both sides say they're determined to carry on.
