MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA TEAM UP WITH NEW YORKERS AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE AND THE MILLION MOM MARCH TO RELEASE NEW VIDEO DEMONSTRATING BROAD SUPPORT FOR NY SAFE ACT
Three Organizations Calling for Stronger National Gun Laws
New York, NY (February 28, 2013) – Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense In America, New Yorkers Against Gun Violence (NYAGV) and the Million Mom March New York chapter released a new video today in which New Yorkers discuss their personal experiences of losing loved ones to gun violence. In addition to releasing the video online, volunteers will be hand-delivering the video to state legislators in Albany today.
The video was created to demonstrate the broad support for the NY SAFE Act, proposed by Governor Cuomo and passed in a bipartisan vote in the Legislature, which was the first statewide gun control legislation passed in the nation following the mass shootings in Sandy Hook, CT in December.
“Millions of New Yorkers agree that Governor Cuomo and the New York State Assembly did the right thing when they acted decisively to strengthen our state’s gun laws in the wake of the Newtown tragedy,” says Kim Russell, gun violence victim and member of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “The people of New York clearly support these common-sense measures to keep our families and communities safe. New York should be a model for action on the federal level.”
According to the Siena Research Institute, nearly two-thirds of New Yorkers support the law passed in January.
“We are proud to live in a state where our elected leaders have had the courage to pass common-sense legislation to keep our communities safe from gun violence. The NY SAFE Act is about keeping guns out of dangerous hands, while protecting the rights of law-abiding gun owners,” says Leah Gunn Barrett, executive director of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence.
Since Newtown, more than 2,300 Americans – including at least 123 teens and 42 children – have died because of gun violence. At least 75 of those deaths took place in New York State.
About Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense In America
Much like Mothers Against Drunk Driving was created to change laws regarding drunk driving, Mothers Demand Action for Gun Sense in America (www.momsdemandaction.org) was created to build support for common-sense gun legislation. The nonpartisan grassroots movement of American mothers is demanding new and stronger solutions to lax gun laws and loopholes that jeopardize the safety of our children and families. In just two months, the organization has tens and thousands of members with more than 80 chapters across the United States.
About New Yorkers Against Gun Violence
Established in 1993 by Brooklyn mothers galvanized by the senseless shooting death of a teacher in Prospect Park, NYAGV (www.nyagv.org) has grown to include members in 27 counties throughout New York State. The mission of the organization is to reduce gun violence through legislative advocacy and education designed to encourage action, influence opinion and lead to policy change.
About Million Mom March
The Million Mom March started in 1999 as a grassroots movement and is now affiliated with the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence (www.bradycampaign.org). Million Mom March chapters work locally to educate people about the dangers of guns, honor victims of gun violence and pass sensible gun laws, believing that all Americans, especially children, have the right to live free from the threat of gun violence.
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