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News release

Moms Ask Congress to “Have a Heart, Pass Common Sense Gun Laws”

February 11, 2013
Gun Control

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

Concert and Rally on Capitol Hill to be Followed by Delivery of Petition Signatures and Valentines Urging Congress to Act on Gun Laws
On a day usually associated with candy hearts, red roses and romance, America’s moms will call on Congress to “have a heart” and pass common sense gun laws. MomsRising, the online and on-the-ground grassroots organization with more than 1.1 million members, will hold a special event at:
 
11am, Thursday, February 14
Lutheran Church of the Reformation
212 East Capitol Street, SE*
 
WITH
Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director and Co-Founder, MomsRising
Lori Haas, Virginia Organizer of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence
(whose daughter was shot during the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting and survived)
Pam Simon, former aide to U.S. Representative Gabby Giffords
  
Other Survivors TBD
 
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (NY)
Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT)
 
 
The event will feature performances by the internationally renowned World Children’s Choir, led by Artistic Director Sondra Harnes, and the first-person stories of survivors of gun violence.
 
Following the event, Rowe-Finkbeiner and area moms will proceed to Capitol Hill to deliver MomsRising's petition with more than 150,000 signatures urging the National Rifle Association (NRA) and Congress to stop blocking common sense gun regulations, and valentines from people across the country urging Congress to pass gun laws that include:
  • Universal background checks for all gun purchases, including gun shows and on the Internet.
  • An assault weapon ban, which also limits high capacity magazines.
  • A federal gun trafficking statute with real penalties to stop the illegal sales of guns between state-to-state and international jurisdictions.
Later that same day, MomsRising will be joined by One Million Moms for Gun Control in delivering valentines to Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy (NY) at:
 
1:30pm, Thursday, February 14
2346 Rayburn House Office Building
 
Earlier this year, MomsRising helped to collect nearly 300,000 signatures on a petition urging Walmart to stop selling high-capacity magazines and assault weapons, like the Bushmaster AR-15 which killed 20 children and six teachers at Sandy Hook. The organization joined several other nonprofits in delivering those petitions to the Walmart in Newtown, Conn.
 
The critically acclaimed World Children's Choir, led by Artistic Director Sondra Harnes, has been singing for peace and serving as a voice for children's interests since 1990. Members of the group range in age from four to 17.
 
*MomsRising’s use of space at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation does not indicate endorsement or sponsorship by the church.
 

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.