On Friday people in Torrington held a vigil and prayed for those who died in Orlando.
Of the 49 shooting victims, it was Kimberly Morris that hits home for people here.
KJ, as she was known, was a bouncer at the gay nightclub and grew up in Torrington.
“It was her energy. She had such a likeness about her. She was always happy. She was always willing to help everybody,” says Shawn Brighenti, one of the event organizers.
Among those who spoke at the vigil was Senator Chris Murphy.
He was just back from Washington D.C, where he launched a nearly 15 hour filibuster about gun control earlier this week.
“I want to make sure that people here know how much love we have for KJ’s friends and how we’re not going to rest until we make changes that make sure this doesn’t happen again,” says Senator Murphy.
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The senator and others admit it will not be easy to change gun laws including expanding background checks and preventing those on the terror watch list from getting a gun license.
“We have now an agenda, a mandate, and an obligation to do the right thing and act,” says Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut.
They are not giving up with votes on those measures scheduled next week in the U.S. Senate.
“I thought if Sandy Hook doesn’t change us what will? So here we are three and a half, four years later. Maybe this is the tipping point. I hope,” says Robin Turpin of Harwinton.
As for the gun-related votes in Washington next week, Senator Murphy says he’s planning for victory, though realizes many people consider it a long shot.
There’s fierce opposition from gun supporters who consider the measures an attack on the second amendment and say there are better ways to fight terrorism.
