Mpls. Gun Control Rally: 'We Have A Serious Gun Problem'

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The call for gun control has been growing since the Newtown school shooting.

On Wednesday, a woman who lost her sister in that shooting brought the call to Minnesota.

"Unfortunately mass shootings like the one we had in Newtown opened our country's eyes to the fact we have a serious gun problem across this country," said Carlee Soto, whose sister Victoria, a teacher, died in the Newtown shootings.

Soto, the son of the Accent Signage owner, and one of the survivors from that Minneapolis office shooting all spoke at a rally Wednesday in downtown Minneapolis.

"She loved Sandy Hook more than anything. That was her dream job," Soto said. "She wanted to be a teacher since the age of 3 and it didn't surprise us when we found out she died shielding her kids."

It's been seven months since Soto lost her sister in that mass shooting. And now she's trying to turn her own emotions into action.

"Background checks are quick and easy and they will help save lives, who could oppose something so sensible?" Soto said.

Her message was part of the No More Names tour. John Souter, one of the survivors from the Accent Signage shooting, spoke up, too.

"I'm simply here to add my voice to the message that we need common sense background checks for those wishing to purchase guns," he said.

Sami Rahamim, the son of Accent Signage owner, said he didn't become active in the gun control movement until after Sandy Hook, until he traveled to New York and met those families.

Now he has that bond with Soto, and so many others.

"We're in it together," Rahamim said.

The national tour will hit 25 cities urging congress to pass a law requiring background checks for gun sales.

WCCO called the NRA's national headquarters for a response and they did not return our call.