JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) pushed for tougher legislation Monday as it held its first-ever candlelight vigil inside of the Capitol’s rotunda in response to deaths caused by drunk driving.

“This is to bring awareness to the dangers of impaired driving,” said Tabitha Perkins, Missouri executive director of MADD. “Impaired driving is just not alcohol; impaired driving is also drugs.”

Those who took part in the vigil had at least one family member killed in an impaired-related crash. They held pictures of their loved ones close to their chests during the event.

“When the (crash happened), we lost all our power,” said Jennifer Neldon, who lost her daughter Grace in a drunk-driving crash almost two years ago. “This gives me a sense of power back.”

A parent’s worst nightmare anyone could imagine, Neldon shared with FOX 2 about the fatal crash.

“(Grace) was doing all the right things,” Neldon explained. “She was on her way home, in her own lane; going under the speed limit with her seatbelt on and completely sober. And somebody who was not took her life in an instant.”

Another mother’s horrific tale recounted being in a horrific car crash that killed her 15-month-old baby, as well as her husband.

“The lady who killed my family may have taken them, but I refused to let her take our dreams and ambitions that we once had together,” Destiny Klimaszewski said. “I am here trying to bring change, fight for justice and make all of our goals and dreams still come true.”

Perkins said they always bring together law enforcement at these types of events because of the impact drunk driving has on their lives as first responders to crashes as well as being the enforcer of such violations. She also said their relationship is focused on supporting one another.

“They are our boots on the ground,” Perkins said. “And they’re the ones that are impacted when they first see the scene.”

One law many of them would like to see implemented is a social hosting law.

“I would like to see social host laws in Missouri, because right now we don’t have any,” said Neldon. “It means that if an underage person is drinking at a homeowner’s house,  there would be consequences, either civil or legal.”

Neldon says 32 states have similar laws on the books, but not in Missouri. 

Another measure, Senate Bill 672 sponsored by St. Louis County Republican Senator David Gregory, would create the Alexander Whalen Safe Highways Act.

The proposal, parts of which have been adopted in other states, would create an integrated warning system that issues alerts if there is a wrong-way driver on a busy road, highway or interstate.

The system, in theory, detects a vehicle that has entered a wrong-way point as it is driving in the opposite direction. The alert can then go to emergency personnel, dedicated and specialized signage, and even emergency alerts for drivers who are in the area.

A bill being pushed by MADD that could end up making it to the governor’s desk is the amended version of House Bill 87, which sets forth sweeping enhancements to those found guilty of driving under the influence. 

The bill already passed out of the House and is currently going through the Senate committee process.

Meanwhile for Klimaszewski, she just wants punishments that fit the crime.

“This is 110% preventable and we need change,” she said. “Punishments just aren’t harsh enough, and until we have some accountability, nothing’s going to change.”