Mayors Against Illegal Guns Releases First Ad Featuring Newtown Family Members Demanding Political Leaders Pass Commonsense Reforms
More than 120 Events Taking Place Across the Nation – and The White House – to Drive Largest Day of Advocacy in U.S. History to Address Gun Violence; www.DemandAction.org /March28
NEW YORK, March 28, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- North Carolinians gathered today in Charlotte, Durham, Greensboro and Raleigh as part of the National Day to Demand Action to end gun violence as President Obama met with gun violence survivors, law enforcement officials and mothers at the White House to urge Congress to reform U.S. gun laws. Mayors Against Illegal Guns also released the first television ad featuring family members of those killed at Sandy Hook calling on political leaders to support sensible reforms like comprehensive and enforceable background checks. The ad can be viewed here: www.DemandAction.org/Newtown-Families.
In Charlotte, Rev. Dr. Dwayne A. Walker and Suzanne Rallis, head of Charlotte Moms Demand Action, held a press conference. In Durham, Mayor Bill Bell, Chapel Hill Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt, Carrboro Mayor Mark Chilton, Morrisville Mayor Jackie Holcombe and gun violence survivor Effie Steele held a press conference. In Greensboro, Mayor Pro Tem Yvonne Johnson held a press conference while in Raleigh, gun violence survivor Kim Erickson Yaman and Jen Geurin Ferrell, founder of Forward Americans, held a candlelight vigil.
"Since I witnessed the 1991 University of Iowa shooting, it's been 21 years and a whole generation of trying to bring people together to address gun violence," said gun violence survivor Kimberly Yaman. "There has to be something more we can do than just training our children and grandchildren to hide in bathrooms, like they live in a war zone. For me, this is now the second generation of living with the danger of shooters in schools and public institutions, and I don't see how we can possibly tolerate another generation of this. The responsibility for protecting our children lies with us."??
"There are two things that I am adamant about in this debate: we need an assault weapons ban, and we need in-depth background checks," said Greensboro Mayor Pro Tem Yvonne Johnson. "I don't have any problem with law-biding citizens buying guns to hunt with, but the process to purchase guns has to be strengthened so we can keep guns out of the hands of people who shouldn't be getting them."
The National Day to Demand Action – organized by Mayors Against Illegal Guns in conjunction with Organizing for Action, Americans for Responsible Solutions and other groups – will feature hundreds of mayors, law enforcement officials, faith leaders, gun violence survivors and family members who want Congress to take immediate action to strengthen our background check system and reduce gun violence. The day is expected to be the largest gun violence advocacy event in history and is part of the largest field campaign in U.S. history to address gun violence. The coalition recently announced that it is hiring dozens of organizers and opening campaign offices in ten states, including in North Carolina.
In addition to the National Day to Demand Action, the bipartisan coalition is also broadcasting television ads demanding action from U.S. Senators, including in North Carolina. The Senate is expected to take up gun violence prevention legislation when it reconvenes in the second week of April. The ads can be found here: www.demandaction.org/recessads
A partial list of major events taking place across the country is available here.
About Mayors Against Illegal Guns
Since its inception in April 2006, Mayors Against Illegal Guns has grown from 15 mayors to more than 900 mayors from across the country. We have more than 1.4 million grassroots supporters, making us the largest gun violence prevention advocacy organization in the country. The bipartisan coalition, co-chaired by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, has united the nation's mayors around these common goals: protecting their communities by holding gun offenders and irresponsible gun dealers accountable; demanding access to trace data that is critical to law enforcement efforts to combat illegal gun trafficking; and working with legislators to fix gaps, weaknesses and loopholes in the law that make it far too easy for criminals and other prohibited purchasers to get guns. Learn more at www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org
Contact:
Mayor Bloomberg's Press Office (212) 788-2958
Mayor Menino's Press Office (617) 635-4461
Contact:
Alex Katz: akatz1@cityhall.nyc.gov or 617-721-3779
SOURCE Mayors Against Illegal Guns
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