Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/101651
REMEMBERING NEWTOWN Vigil participants gather at the Federal Building on Orange Avenue in downtown Sarasota. Photo by Norman Schimmel SARASOTA VIGIL PARTICIPANTS SEEK STRICTER GUN CONTROLS Staff Reports About 70 people gathered in front of the Federal Building on the evening of Dec. 27 for a vigil in memory of the 26 victims of the Newtown, CT, shootings and to call for new federal laws restricting the sale of assault weapons. The letter to Buchanan, also dated Dec. 27 and signed by Young, says, ���In the wake of so many tragic deaths of the innocent due to gun violence, we ��� urge you to affirmatively vote for pending gun control legislation that will be introduced ��� during the next session Sponsored by the Alliance Against Gun Vio- of Congress.��� lence in Our Communities, the event included The letter adds, ���For too long the nation has the release of a letter to U.S. Rep. Vern Buprotected the right of civilians to possess chanan, R-Longboat Key, urging him to supweapons and ammunition which have a high port action in Congress in the wake of mul- capacity for the rapid and random mass killing tiple mass murders in recent years in which of men, women and children.��� assault rifles have been used. It points to the use of such weapons in the Interim Minister Mike Young of the Unitarian murders at Columbine High School in ColoUniversalist Congregation of Venice was the rado in April 1999; Virginia Tech University in speaker for the rally. Blacksburg, VA, in 2007, where 32 people were