NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A Nashville woman is trying to turn the loss of her fiancé into something positive.

Video: Slain Man's Fiance Campaigns For Tougher Law

Chris Caris was killed almost six months ago along with Josh Cole at a west Nashville Bellacino’s restaurant.

Their death may soon lead to tougher prison sentences for those who violent crimes, thanks to Caris’ fiancée.

In her job at the Legislature, Marianne Purcell stays busy looking over different bills. But Caris’ memory gives her pause.

"I cry daily. There's not a day that goes by that I don’t have a moment where I have to stop and cry," she said.

Almost six months ago Caris, 33, and Cole, 18, were shot to death while working at the Bellacino’s, which Caris managed.

She said that one night destroyed every dream for her future. But instead of letting bitterness take over she chose to take action.

"I choose not to stay in the angry emotion. I choose to say, 'What can we do to make it better?'" she said.

With that goal in mind, she said she started looking at the state's gun laws and found that oftentimes, violent criminals were getting out of prison after serving only 30 percent of their sentences.

She's now working to change that.

"If you commit a crime with a gun, it's an automatic 10-year sentence. If you pull the trigger, it's an automatic 20-year sentence," she said.

Those convicted would not be eligible for parole until they had served 85 percent of their sentence.

"We want to let these guys out there know who are committing these crimes. We're going to get strict on this," said Purcell.

Purcell said she knows the budget is tight this year and that increasing prison stays comes with a price tag. But she wants to plant the seed now in the hopes that her plan will bloom in the years to come.

"At least we can say that some really great things came out of a horrible situation, and that is comforting for me," she said.

The bill has already passed the Senate and House judiciary committees and will go next to the finance committee. Purcell said she is willing to negotiate so she can get the bill passed either this year or next year.