Vigil held for CO theater massacre victims

SOUTHINGTON, Conn. (WTNH) -- It was a tragedy that rocked the nation and Tuesday folks in Connecticut paused to remember the victims of the movie theater shooting in Colorado.

They held a rally in Southington, calling for an end to violence across the country.

"I don't know whether to say saddened or sickened first," said Alex Vivian.

22-year-old Vivian was thousands of miles away in Connecticut when the bullets started flying in Aurora, CO.

He was so deeply affected by the movie theater shooting that he organized a vigil to remember the victims and try to make a change, and get politicians to rethink assault weapons.

"The main message is peace," said Vivian. "Whatever your views on assault rifles, I really hope that everyone comes out to support the victims of the tragedy, that is what the real point is."

While they are calling it a rally for peace, they want to bring it home to Connecticut, even though it didn't happen here. So they personalized it by putting a face and biography to each one of the names of the victims, and then lined them up on the church steps. That way you can come get to know a little about the victims and make it real and personal.

"Especially the six-year-old, it is gut-wrenching," said Joan Jansen, "and I just wish the politicians of today would get smart and do something about it."

"I actually went to see the movie that day, it was terrible," said Zack Niles, "the whole movie, I thought about if it was me and to see all the death and the six-year-old really affected me."

Tuesday night's vigil was not just for the victims in Colorado, but for all the victims of gun violence across the country.

"It is not only this tragedy, but all of the tragedies that I have seen in the 22 years I have been alive," said Vivian, "that finally enough is enough."