Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-11th) has invited Annandale resident Peter Read, father of Virginia Tech shooting victim Mary Read, to be his guest Tuesday night at President Obama’s State of the Union Address.

Read and other family members who have suffered losses due to gun violence will join Connolly in the House Gallery to view the speech, according to a release from Connolly's office. Congressman Jim Moran (D-8th) has also invited a family member, a brother of a Virginia Tech shooting victim, to tonight's speech.

Connolly has criticized the Fairfax-based National Rifle Association (NRA)'s policies and has been very vocal in his advocacy for more gun control in the United States. In December, Connolly co-wrote a letter urging Congress to support a $200 million gun buyback program in a fiscal cliff deal, arguing the program could help reduce the number of guns on the streets.

“I don’t frame the issue as 'me versus the NRA,'” said Connolly in an interview with The Hill earlier this month. “My community has been affected by mentally ill people who’ve gotten a hold of guns and I think my constituents expect that prudent measures be taken to prevent these tragedies in the future.”

Six of the students killed in the April 2007 Virginia Tech massacre, including the shooter, lived in the 11th congressional District. The 11th congressional District is also home to the national headquarters of the NRA.