One person is killed by guns every 40 hours in Iowa.
That's according to several local citizens who are re-activating a group in support of stricter gun control laws. It's called Quad Citians for Responsible Gun Laws. Members held a press conference on Tuesday, March 5th, 2013.
The group was formed in 1994 as a response to a rash of gun violence in Rock Island, but is now re-forming to send a message to Senator Chuck Grassley.
On Thursday, March 7th, 2013, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee will consider legislation that would require universal background checks for all gun sales as well as ban hundreds of military-style assault weapons.
Davenport Mayor Bill Gluba was one of 25 members asking for Senator Grassley to pass the legislation so that the full U.S. Senate can vote on it, but Grassley has said in the past that he is not in support of President Barack Obama's recommendations.
"It's time for Congress to act," Mayor Gluba said Tuesday night. "They got to stand up to the gun peddlers, stand up to the NRA, stand up to the manufacturers and say 'enough is enough.' Let's have some sensible, reasonable gun restrictions in this country."
"This problem will never be solved by a gun issue," Senator Grassley said in December 2012. "We got a cultural problem here. We got a mental health problem here."
Quad Citians for Responsible Gun Laws says 88% of Iowans feel that stronger background checks are necessary. That's according to a poll conducted by the Des Moines Register and published on February 9th, 2013.
However, do residents in the Iowa Quad Cities agree? News 8 stopped people on the street to see how they feel about President Obama's recommendations. You can hear their opinions by clicking on the video link above.
In the Illinois Quad Cities, gun owners have the chance to speak with state lawmakers during their annual lobby day on Wednesday, March 6th, 2013. A bus will be leaving from Moline to Springfield at 7:00am. There is a new pick-up spot this year. Click here to find more information.
Also in Illinois, Senators Dick Durbin and Mark Kirk says they will introduce a bi-partisan bill to crack down on gun trafficking and straw purchases. The bill would target people who buy guns legally and provide them to people who can't legally own them. That bill will also be considered by the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday.