On December 14, 2012, the Sandy Hook community in Newtown, Connecticut experienced a calamity that shook the world. Twenty children between the ages of six and seven as well as six staff members were fatally shot while attending school. The Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was committed by a boy Adam Lanza who was documented as having the developmental disorder Asperger’s syndrome, and as a teenager suffered from depression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder. His disorders were a recipe for mass murder.
On December 15, 2012 Moms Demand Action for Better Gun Sense in America was established. Stay-at-home mom Shannon Watts organized by starting a Facebook page. The organization number of members grew at a fiery speed. Women and men as well knew that together we can make a change at the local, state and national levels for gun violence prevention as the focus. Over the past five years Moms Demand Action gained unstoppable momentum to become the strongest opposition that the gun lobby has ever seen. We believe in the rights to bare arms. We have an issue with gun laws that are in place. We also have an issue with the statistics that are ignored when it comes to gun violence.
The Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting was the fourth deadliest mass shooting by a single person. Conversations as to why he had access to semi-automatic firearms and magazines sparked across the United States. Lanza was documented as having the developmental disorder Asperger’s syndrome, and as a teenager suffered from depression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder with access to fire-arms used in combat. We then realized that the laws across the United States varied as to how you qualify to obtain a gun. Moms Demand Action also sparked the conversations about play dates with children. The safety conversations we do not have. Parents often have children visit their home and their child may also visit their friend. “Do you have a fire-arm?” is a question many parents never thought of asking.
“Every 36 hours, a child unintentionally fires a gun and kills or injures himself or someone else. And that doesn’t include the number of suicides–and even some homicides–that occur when kids have access to unsecured guns. The Be SMART campaign asks parents and all responsible adults to prevent these tragedies by following five simple steps: Secure guns in homes and vehicles; Model responsible behavior around guns; Ask about the presence of guns in other homes; Recognize the risks of teen suicide; and Tell your peers to Be SMART. Since 2015, Moms Demand Action volunteers have spreading the message about responsible storage in their communities.” [excerpt from Moms Demand Action online]
Westchester County Moms Demand Action Chapter met at the Yonkers Library located at One Larkin Center to celebrate five years of making a change. Since its founding in 2012, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America continues to push back in opposition of the gun lobby and educating the masses to rally for common-sense laws and policies to make our country sound. Thanks to Westchester County Executive George Latimer who supports common-sense gun laws. He signed an executive order Tuesday, January 2, 2018 that bans gun shows on all Westchester county-owned properties. The act was one of Latimer’s first move as executive. He believed that the Westchester County Center was the wrong venue for a gun show.
Take a look at just a few victories over the five years:
* November 5, 2013: Virginians elect a Governor with gun sense
* February 21, 2014: Iowa ”Stand Your Ground” Bill Dies in Committee
* July 2, 2014: Target asks customers to leave their guns at home in response to Moms Demand Action campaign
* May 30, 2014: Sonic and Chili’s ask customers to leave their guns at home in response to Moms Demand Action petition
* January 14, 2015: Michigan Governor Rick Snyder vetoes dangerous gun legislation pushed by NRA
* June 4, 2015: Gun lobby attempt to undo background checks law is defeated in Iowa
* May 2, 2016: Campus carry is vetoed in Georgia
* November 9, 2016: Gun Sense Victories in the 2016 Elections
* New Hampshire’s Kelly Ayotte, who repeatedly voting against expanded background checks, loses her Senate seat; Gun Sense champion Maggie Hassan is elected
* Gun safety ballot measures prevail in Nevada, Washington state and California
* Gun Sense Voters support elected officials who will stand up to the gun lobby and take action to protect New Mexico families and communities from gun violence
* In Kansas, State Representative Janice Pauls, who was backed by the gun lobby, is defeated and gun sense candidates are elected to the state legislature.
* September 27, 2016: Missoula City Council passes a city ordinance that requires criminal background checks
* March 16, 2017: Lucy Mcbath, mother of slain teenager Jordan Davis, applauds introduction of new legislation to help fight hate crimes
* November 7, 2017: Every candidate endorsed by Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America won his or her race.
Americans are dying. Now is the time to demand Congress take action to prevent gun violence in America.
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Westchester County Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America up and coming events:
Saturday, February 3, 2018 ~ The Hoodie March with Jack & Jill Foundation at Sts. Phillip AME Zion Church 14 North Street., Nyack, NY [11:30am to 1:00pm]
Wednesday, March 21, 2018 ~ Moms Demand Action Lobby Day in Albany, NY
Sunday, March 25, 2018 ~ Woodlands Community Temple 50 Worthington Road., White Plains, NY
Saturday, June 2, 2018 ~ Moms Demand Action March Across Brooklyn Bridge “Wear Orange”
#momsdemandaction #thabump #bettergunsense #stoptheviolence
With Love ❤
Cynthia
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