As the tragic shooting in Newtown Friday has shifted national attention to the issue of gun control, the subject is nothing new for Charlie and Mary Leigh Blek, who lost their son to gun violence in 1994. They joined HuffPost Live Monday to discuss their work promoting "responsible gun policy." Charlie recounted to host Alicia Menendez his role as a keynote speaker on the steps of the Denver Capitol following the 1999 Columbine school shooting, and that the shooting should have been be "a tipping point" for gun control. However, the string of shootings that have followed and the lack of national legislation addressing gun violence has him fed up.
"Being two decades down the road, I don't need to hear condolences or sympathies per se, I'd like to see an action item... we need to take some action," said Mr. Blek. He continued, "The bottom line is that we need to be able to tell our children that it will not be the same, but together we will work our way through this, and there are things we can do that others will not have to walk in our shoes."
Also joining the discussion were Farah Miller, HuffPost Parents Editor; Rich Minor, Radio Host in Danbury, CT; and Steve Small, a 25 year resident of Newtown, CT.