ALEXANDRIA, Va. (WUSA9) -- As the Senate considers proposed gun legislation, gun control supporters are keeping the pressure on.

Rallies were held across the country on Saturday, including one in Alexandria, which has been traditionally hostile to more gun laws. 

Peter Reed, who lost his daughter, Mary, in the Virginia Tech massacre, spoke to the crowd on stage. 

"Stand up to independence and vote for background checks to save lives. i say to the world you may be one person, but to one person, we may be the world," Reed said.

The vigil was modest but the emotions were very real.

"I have not forgotten. We have not forgotten," he added. "And I know that none of you will ever forget."

He was joined by several hundred gun control activists from Virginia who pulled for gun control measures.

"We need to do something about this. we need to take action as individuals and as moms," said an attendee.

The residents of Greenspring Retirement Community in Springfield, Va. got a special visit this morning when George Allen, Republican Senate nominee in Virginia, paid them a visit on Tuesday.

The stop is part of his Virginia Voices tour. During his visit, Allen listened to the ideas, concerns and views the retirement community ha s about Washington.

Some of the concerns expressed were: less access to doctors under Medicare, living on a fixed income in this economy, and energy costs that drive up fuel and food costs. 

“This election is important to me because I’m worried about the direction of our country and what kind of America my grandchildren will inherit,” said Thomas P. Harrison, resident at Greenspring.

Allen’s visit to Greenspring Retirement Community is one of many meetings with seniors whose voices are not being heard in Washington, according to a press release.