Father of slain journalist speaks at JMU

Three years after Alison Parker was murdered on live television, her father has made it his mission to end gun violence in America.

On Thursday, Andy Parker spoke to a group at James Madison University about his book, "For Alison: The Murder of a Young Journalist and a Father's Fight for Gun Safety."

"It's hard to put the unimaginable into words," said Parker. "But I spent two years doing exactly that: imagining the unimaginable."

Alison, a JMU graduate and former WHSV intern, was a reporter at WDBJ in Roanoke when she was shot and killed, along with photojournalist Adam Ward, while doing an interview on live television.

After Alison's death, her father vowed to do "whatever it takes" to ensure life-saving firearm policies are put in place.

"It's the most devastating thing that can happen to a a parent," said Parker. "I turned tragedy into something constructive. It's been quite the journey."

Aside from gun violence, the book explores other topics like internet trolls and Google.

You can watch WHSV's Emmy award-winning documentary on the changes to gun laws, the mental health system, and employer actions that followed the killing of Alison and Adam

.