LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Kileen Kapri-Kohm is a mom demanding action.
"Every day I send my child to school and in the back of my mind I'm wondering whether or not he's going to come home safely," Kapri-Kohm said, "and that's unacceptable."
Kapri-Kohm was one of dozens of mothers, students and other community members who came together to rally for gun legislation. Kapri-Kohm said she has been personally impacted by gun violence - her brother committed suicide. She said red flag laws, if they had been in effect, may have prevented him from taking his own life.
"If we are a nation of laws then our laws need to reflect the best ability to protect people's lives and there's absolutely no reason why assault weapons, semi-automatic weapons should be in the hands of the general public," said Kapri-Kohm.
Congressman Steven Horsford is a longtime advocate for gun reform. His father was shot and killed one block from his childhood home. He says there are issues Congress needs to deal with and there are common sense solutions.
"It's preventable," Horsford said. "It's preventable by passing comprehensive background check legislation to prevent those who shouldn't have access to a gun. It's preventable by passing the assault weapons ban. It's preventable by providing more resources and funding to mental health."
Horsford said he wants the House-passed universal background check bill to be taken up by the Senate.
"We want Mitch McConnell to just listen to the will of the American people. Over 90 percent of the American people support comprehensive background check legislation. This is a no brainer," said Horsford.
But while many people at the rally would like to see Congress take action on gun reform - they came out to exercise their own civic power. And encourage others to do the same.
"Even if you don't have time to get out and march or to be involved with politics, you can make phone calls. You can call your politicians. There's apps you can use to contact your politicians. Get involved," said Kapri-Kohm.
