Slain reporter's parents decide that guns are to blame for the crime

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It’s been less than a week since murder set their lives onto a new course, into roles they never wanted to take on and into a battle they never planned to fight. But only five days in, Andy and Barbara Parker — the parents of slain television journalist — speak about gun control with a passion as if they’d spent their lifetimes fighting for it.

“You can’t change the world in a day,” Barbara Parker told CNN. “But we cannot be intimidated, we cannot be pushed aside.” On Wednesday, Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward — two journalists for WDBJ in Roanoke, Virginia — were killed on live television by a disgruntled former employee.

In the days since, Andy Parker has emerged as perhaps the world’s most visible advocate for gun control, making numerous appearances on numerous networks and even holding a news conference. On Sunday, both of the Parkers spoke to CNN’s Poppy Harlow, telling her that ending gun violence has become each of their lives’ missions — and the grieving parents pledged to be as unrelenting and as feisty as their daughter in achieving it.

“Alison would be really mad at me if I didn’t take this on,” said Andy Parker. “And I promise you, these people are messing with the wrong family. We are going to effect a change.”

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