“Almost 13 years ago, Feb. 7, my life changed,” said Bobbie Woods, with Mamas Against Violence.

Woods and a handful of other gun violence survivors recounted losing loved ones at the Gun Violence Prevention event. It was held at South Bend’s Sinai Synagogue on Sunday.

“The worst thing for a parent is for their child to die,” said Charla Opfer — her son, Nathan Hall, shot and killed in 2014. “The second worst thing is for their child to die and be forgotten.”

Lawmakers also took the mic, prescribing solutions to an “epidemic” of nationwide gun violence.

“We have all kinds of problems, but this is insanity what people are living in. This has to be curtailed,” said Dr. Fred Ferlic, member of the South Bend Common Council.

Ferlic presented a new resolution coming before the council in Spring 2016. It calls for stiffer background checks on firearms; particularly, the resolution aims to keep guns out of the hands of: terrorists, felons, domestic abusers and the severely mentally ill.

“All types of people who shouldn’t have guns are able to buy easily. That’s where a lot of the danger comes from,” said Sinai Synagogue’s Rabbi Michael Friedland.

Echoing Ferlic was Jo Broden, who will assume Ferlic’s District 4 seat next year.

“Let’s get this resolution done, and let’s lead!” said Broden.

If the resolution passes the common council, State Sen. John Broden will present it before lawmakers in Indianapolis.

Source: WNDU