Watch: Hand in Hand Hoping to End Gun Violence

Columbia, S.C. (WOLO) — Among the hundreds hand in hand at the state house on Thursday, Melody McFadden knows from experience the devastating consequences of gun violence.

She tells ABC Columbia, “These young men pulled out guns and three people died that my niece, Sand Barnwell, Devonte Dantzler and Jaime Williams were all killed.”

McFadden and the others at the state house say they know what needs to be done to end these untimely deaths.

Alicia Rahiem explains, “We want background checks so that individuals cannot buy a gun for a family member hand it off and they go out and commit a crime.”

Under current law, if the FBI does not return a background check within 3 days gun dealers can sell firearms at their own discretion.

“There are so many illegal guns on the street and so many people that are buying guns because of the loopholes that are not closed,” says McFadden.

It was through one of these loopholes that confessed Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof obtained a gun.

“The people who were killed at the AME church in Charleston, if we didn’t have that loophole that person would not have been allowed to buy a gun,” says Thomas Brown.

While some argue that strict gun regulations are a violation of the 2nd amendment, those in favor say that’s far from the truth.

Brown adds, “I’m not against people owning guns but I am against the wrong people owning guns.”

Those in favor of the tighter regulations say they’re standing together to stop tragedy.