The protest, one of about 80 taking place in 33 states, came on the one-year anniversary of the Virginia Tech shootings. Organizers wanted to draw attention to what they believe are lax gun laws.

Th plan was for 32 participants to lie on the ground for three minutes, acknowledging the 32 victims of the shooting. But nearly twice that many participated in Chapel Hill, including one young boy and a chocolate labrador retriever.

Organizers of the protest said they wanted to shed light on the ease of acquiring guns at gun shows.

Those participating acknowledged the recent violent deaths of students at three Triangle campuses. They read the names of those killed at Virginia Tech as well as the names of local murder victims Denita Smith, a student at N.C. Central University; Abjihit Mahato, a graduate student at Duke University; and UNC student body president Eve Carson.

"We have our own very poignant and very real sense of grief and sorrow and anger as result of the murder of one of our own," UNC Chancellor James Moeser said. Moeser spoke at the event but did not lie down.

Other "lie-ins" were taking place today at Duke, Winston-Salem State University, UNC-Wilmington and UNC-Charlotte.

Some lie-ins are coordinated by friends and families of those killed at Virginia Tech and elsewhere. Bu some gun rights advocates say the protests are inappropriate.