Several hundred volunteers for groups seeking tougher laws on guns marched on the White House and the Capitol in a demonstration at least partly inspired by the shooting in El Paso, Texas.
Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action, told The Associated Press that volunteers from her group and Students Demand Action marched Saturday to make a point to federal lawmakers. The groups, wearing their traditional red T-shirts, are pushing for Senate action on a background checks bill for people wanting to buy a gun that passed the House earlier this year.
Amber Gustafson, a volunteer leader for the Moms group, said they were already at a national meeting in Washington when they heard about El Paso. They decided to take their protest to the White House.
Gustafson said they work with groups at all levels of government, but "we need a federal remedy."