Dozens of people gathered outside the Nassau Legislative Building in Mineola Tuesday evening at a vigil for the victims of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida last week.

Some in attendance called for stricter gun control laws after a gunman killed 17 students and teachers at the school.

Amara Jafar, 12, came to the vigil and joined a group of schoolchildren holding signs and demanding action to stop gun violence.

Local lawmakers from both parties also attended the vigil, although they called for different solutions. Democrats like Ellen Birnbaum and Nassau Executive Laura Curran said Congress should pass stricter gun safety laws. 

"Tougher background checks and a ban on the kind of assault rifles that killed so many people down in Florida," Curran said.

Meanwhile, Republicans Rose Walker and Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino focused on community togetherness and healing.

"It's a time to be introspective," Saladino said. "A time to look at all the influences of society from violent video games to the movies our children have access to -- and the many aspects of violence each and every day."

For her part, Amara also has ideas.

She says she wants "more intense background checks and maybe courses to help people learn how to use a gun properly."