Gun-Control Advocates Hold Sit-In At Fox Theatre In Redwood City
REDWOOD CITY (KPIX) -- Advocates of stricter gun-control laws held a sit-in on Monday, right across from a Fourth of July festival in Redwood City.
U.S. Representative Jackie Speier took part, saying she wanted people to declare independence from the gun lobby.
"We're going to create a freedom from fear of violence and gun violence," Speier told a group of about 50 who participated in the sit-in at the Fox Theatre in downtown Redwood City.
Speier said she would no longer participate in moments of silence for mass shooting victims, instead planning to read a list of victims' names in Congress every month.
When it comes to the gun debate, it's hard to find someone more uniquely qualified than Congresswoman Speier. She survived being shot multiple times in Jonestown, Guyana.
The sit-in went largely unnoticed by most of the July 4 festival-goers in the square. Ricky Smith, a gun-owner who spoke to KPIX, staunchly defended his right to own guns but he also admitted he might support a "no-fly, no-buy" restriction.
"Yes, I believe that's right, same thing with felons. But, if you are a law abiding citizen, we should be able to do what we want," Smith said.
The sit-in lasted about an hour. The debate goes on.