The Collin County Parents Against Gun Violence, boarded a bus to demand change. After rallying Mother’s Day weekend, they’ve come to the capital on business.
“We’re going to stay in that one room and they are all coming to us,” said community organizer Ann Bacchus. “We’re here because of the mass murder that happened in Allen.”
As a mother, Ann Bacchus sprang into action, creating the organization the day after the mass shooting at Allen’s premium outlets.
“We want to make sure every representative that comes in this room knows we are real people,” Bacchus said.
“We’re hurt, we’re disturbed, we’re shaken,” said Pastor Irvin Barrett. “And we wanted some face-to-face contact to let you know we’d like to see change.”
The group has five demands for lawmakers:
- Universal background checks
- A 30-day waiting period
- Raising gun ownership age to 21
- Red flag laws
- Safe firearm storage
“What are we going to do about this?” questioned Allen resident Dr. Kavita Doddamane. “It’s a pandemic everywhere.”
Legislators assured the advocates they are fighting, but not everyone is on board.
“No partisanship, but it has everything that it should be,” said state Sen. Roland Gutierrez. “It should to protect our kids. Yet the people that are supposed to protect our kids the most here refuse to do so.”
Dr. Kavita Doddamane has lived and worked in Allen for more than two decades. She says these shootings impact everyone.
“Look at us, we are all from Collin County,” said Dr. Doddamane. “We are all parents. We are all affected. All of us, we are lucky until we aren’t.”