Two men who lost relatives at Sandy Hook elementary school have urged New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte to change her position on a gun control measure that would expand background checks.  Neil Heslin and Gilles Rousseau spoke at a news conference held by advocacy group Granite State Progress that has criticized Ayotte for voting against a key part of President Barack Obama’s push to curb gun violence.

The measure would have required criminal and mental health background checks for people buying guns online or at gun shows. 

Heslin's 6-year old son was killed and Rousseau's daughter was a teacher at the school.

Rousseau said he tried unsuccessfully to talk to Ayotte at a town hall meeting she held in New Hampshire. He said he realizes background checks might not have prevented his daughter’s death, but believes the checks are the most effective way to stop felons, domestic abusers, the mentally ill and other dangerous people from getting guns. 

Ayotte was recently confronted at a town hall meeting by a woman whose mother was principal of the school.