By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Alexandra Burgos lives on through her parents’ work. Rafael and Milagros Burgos attended a Moms Demand Action rally on the Capitol steps in Springfield Tuesday. 

“Alexandra was a beautiful, loving individual,” said Rafael Burgos. “She was eighteen years old, going to college, had everything going for her. Unfortunately, on October 19, 2014,” Milagros Burgos completed the sentence as only a spouse who has told the story so many times can. “She was stopped by a stray bullet.”

Alexandra’s death is a cold case. Her parents are pushing for a law that would require such cases to be reopened every three years.

Also under consideration is “Karina’s Law,” named for a woman gunned down in Chicago, allegedly by her estranged husband. The law would do more to suspend gun ownership from domestic batterers.

“We are a group that represents Democrats, Republicans, gun owners, non-gun owners.” said Sheri Williams, Illinois co-lead of Moms Demand Action. “We’re called ‘mothers and others,’ so it’s not just about moms. We are pro-Second Amendment. We’re not about removing guns from responsible gun owners. It’s about keeping them safely secured in their homes.”

The other side gets its say Thursday: Illinois Gun Owners Lobby Day.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].