VIRGINIA SHOOTING
A picture of slain journalists Alison Parker and Adam Ward is seen next to candles at a memorial outside of the offices for WDBJ7 in Roanoke, Virginia August 27, 2015. Parker, 24, and Ward, 27, were shot dead on Wednesday during a live segment for the CBS affiliate in Roanoke, Virginia, at a local recreation site about 200 miles (320 km) southwest of Washington. Another woman was wounded. The suspected gunman, 41-year-old Vester Flanagan, later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities said Reuters/Chris Keane

Celebrities including Jamie Foxx, Jason Bateman, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Paul Rudd have spoken up against gun violence and the lack of gun control regulations in the U.S. in a video that remains as highly relevant today as it did when it was first released in 2012.

The one-minute video featured A-listers from the television, film and music industries, such as Beyonce, Jessica Alba, Michelle Williams and Reese Witherspoon, "demanding a plan" after a string of gun-related deaths in different parts of the country, some of which involved children. According to statistics culled by EveryTown.org, there have been at least 94 school shootings since the Newtown, Connecticut shooting on Dec. 14, 2012, or about one shooting per week. At least one person died in 32 percent of these incidents.

The campaign resurfaced on Upworthy in light of the recent deaths of two journalists in Virginia, who were gunned down on live TV by a disgruntled former employee. 24-year-old reporter Alison Parker and 27-year-old cameraman Adam Ward of CBS-affiliate WDBJ7 were shot by Vester Lee Flanagan II, aka Bryce Williams, while interviewing Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce executive director Vicki Gardner. Parker and Ward were killed in the incident. Lee turned the gun on himself after being chased by the police. He also died in a hospital. As for Gardner, she was wounded, but is now in stable condition after her surgery at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

The tragedy sparked discussions on gun control laws in the U.S. Every state has a different set of gun control policies and there exists a wedge between groups that are against guns and those who believe everyone should have the right to own one. Comedian and TV host Ricky Gervais blew off steam on Twitter, calling those with slanted arguments on gun ownership "morons," writes The Independent. In one of this tweets, he said that the "angriest, most unstable people want everyone to have guns." One commenter argued that cars should be banned, too, if guns were to be banned, to which Gervais responded "A moron."

In a video on CNN, Andy Parker, father of Alison Parker, called on authorities to step up efforts to quell irresponsible gun use. He said that he and his family will not rest until people with mental issues are totally banned from purchasing guns. He noted that the National Rifle Association will likely argue that his daughter and Ward would have been safer had they also been carrying guns themselves.

"It wouldn't have made any difference. How many Alisons is this going to happen to before we stop it?" Mr. Parker said in the CNN report.

Another CNN video hosted by Don Lemon brought together Andy Parker, Lonnie Phillips and Richard Martinez, all of whom had children who died in gun-related incidents.

Demand A Plan to End Gun Violence

Anguished fathers support Andy Parker

Source: YouTube/CNN

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