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News release

Police Escort Moms Advocating for Common Sense Gun Regulations Out of NRA HQs

March 14, 2013
Gun Control

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

NRA Refuses Petition Signed by 150,000 Asking NRA President David Keene To Support Common Sense Gun Regulations
WASHINGTON, DC -  Today, police escorted a group of Washington, D.C.-area mothers, children, and families out from their protest at the National Rifle Association’s Headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia after the group, led by MomsRising.org, tried to deliver a petition with 150,000 signatures to NRA President David Keene asking the organization to defend families and stand up for common sense gun reform.
 
“We were hoping that the NRA leadership would meet with us because moms across the country are concerned about gun safety, and so is the American public.  Even the NRA's own membership supports some tightening of gun laws with 74% of NRA members supporting universal background checks,” said Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, executive director for MomsRising.org. “But today, the NRA has demonstrated that they don’t want to listen, that they don’t want to hear from families, and that they don’t want to have a productive conversation to make America’s families safer.”
 
 
Concerned citizens and mothers from across the Washington-area travelled to the NRA headquarters in Fairfaix today, on the three month anniversary of the tragic shootings in Newtown to deliver a petition, with more than 150,000 signatures addressed to NRA President David Keene, calling on NRA leadership to support common sense gun safety laws. MomsRising.org members, were joined by members of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense, the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, Million Mom March, Reston-Herndon Alliance to End Gun Violence! and other concerned citizens.
 
With even a majority of its members, other gun owner organization and gun manufacturers supporting some of the laws being proposed to reduce gun safety (such as background checks), the NRA’s leadership has vehemently opposed any new gun regulations. MomsRising.org is urging the NRA leadership to reconsider its opposition to common sense gun safety laws supported by the majority of Americans. MomsRising.org, joined by the other groups in attendance at the action specifically urged the NRA to support 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.
“With more than 30 people killed by guns each day, moms have had enough of this devastation. We not only need to be heard by our nation's leaders, we must also hold accountable all who stand in the way of common sense solutions,” said Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner.  
 
MomsRising.org sent a letter requesting a meeting with NRA President David Keene to talk about their concerns and deliver the petitions prior to the action today.
 
  
“The Reston-Herndon Alliance To End Gun Violence holds a monthly vigil on the 14th of each month to remember the victims of Newtown and all others who have suffered from gun violence,” said Joanna Simon, Reston-Herndon Alliance To End Gun Violence. “We are working closely with other groups to pass the current gun legislation.”
 
"The Million Mom March is united in our belief that Congress must take swift and decisive action to address gun violence. The overwhelming majority of Americans support universal background checks and a ban on assault weapons and high capacity magazines,” said Martina Leinz, President of Million Mom March of Northern Virginia. “Congress must listen to these voices and put the interests of public safety and public health above the narrow interests of the NRA."  
 

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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.