Cleveland activist and mother seeks action in Washington to end gun violence

CLEVELAND - More than 1,300 children and young adults have been killed since 1990 in Cuyahoga County.  One of them was Christopher Martin, the youngest son of community activist Judy Martin.

Christopher was shot and killed in a carjacking at East 76th Street and St. Clair Avenue nearly 19 years ago.

"We're at war in this country," Judy Martin said.

She was one of more than 100 people who've been personally affected by gun violence that went to Washington this week hoping to change things.

It was part of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns' Demand a Plan campaign for common-sense gun law reforms that will help end gun violence.

"It's way beyond time for change," Martin said. "I don't think any one of us care if you own a gun. I don't care. But be responsible with it.”

“And I believe that the people that sell guns and that make guns need to be more responsible about how they're being sold, who they're being sold to, and we need to fix the background check system. We need to fix that so that a person with mental problems is not able to buy a gun."

In addition to background checks, the group wants to get military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines off the streets, and make gun trafficking a federal crime.

For more information log onto http://www.demandaplan.org/