New Yorkers Gather To Memorialize Shooting Victims And Call On Legislators To Take Action

NEW YORK(CBSNewYork) -- Crowds gathered in Union Square and Brooklyn on Saturday night to grieve for the victims of the  shooting that left 26 children and adults dead at a Newtown, Connecticut elementary school.

One woman who attended the vigil and identified herself as Ashley, told 1010 WINS reporter Gary Baumgarten that she was there to send a message of peace.

"I really just wanted to send encouragement, and peace, and gentleness to everyone," she said.

For some, the vigil was about more than just mourning. An invitation to the Union Square event called on attendees to take action.

"We cannot continue to allow unchecked access to weapons that can so easily inflict so much agony on so many families and we must deal with mental illness in this country in a more effective way," it said.

A candlelight vigil is also planned for 8 P.M. on Sunday at Waterfront Park in Dobbs Ferry. Organizers plan to use the vigil as a call to elected officials to enact stricter gun control legislation.

In Westchester County, Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner called on the County Executive and Board of Legislators to ban gun shows from the County Center, and to force them to deal with private venues instead.

A gun show is scheduled at the center for February 3, 2013; Feiner acknowledged that the vast majority of gun owners are "honest, decent, law-abiding citizens", but was concerned that the show could allow a dangerous person to obtain a firearm.

In the past County Executive Andrew Spano had banned gun shows at the County Center following the shooting at Columbine High School; the ban was revoked after Spano left office.

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