. >> reporter: lori bennet is not accustomed to events like this.s her first demonstration. >> newtown just tore my heart out. i honestly didn't feel this emotional since 9/11. >> reporter: marching behind a banner that says, "when we stand together, we stand a chance." many demonstrators targeted the nra with their signs and other held up names of fun violence victims. across the street a counter- demonstration. dick heller was there. >> it's a dangerous city when people are disarmed. >> reporter: both rallies come a day after vice president joe biden hit the road to promote the president's law for new firearms law. several high-powered speakers addressed the crowd, but the perhaps the most powerful testimony came from a survivor of the 2007 massacre at virginia tech. >> be need to challenge my politician who think it's easier to ask an elementary schoolteacher to stand up to a gunman with an ar-15 than it is to ask them to stand up to a gun lobbyist with a checkbook. >> reporter: the independent firearms owners association president says gun viole