As US midterms approach, moms hit the trail to preach gun control

With a stack of pamphlets under her arm, Dawnee Giammittorio -- who has been a gun control activist since her sister-in-law was shot dead -- goes door-to-door in northern Virginia, hoping to help flip control of Congress back to the Democrats.

Giammittorio is canvassing in a state that is traditionally conservative but gradually turning to purple, and even blue, as urbanisation brings a more diverse population, especially in the areas outside Washington.

"If we want the Congress to do something, we are going to have to change the people," Giammittorio said in the runup to the November 6 midterm elections.

"We have ineffective gun laws."
"We have gun laws that are not really designed to keep people from getting guns."
Survivors of the attack have become vocal activists, spearheading the "March