Everytown Gun Sense Voter Roadshow Stops In Portland To Boost Support For Endorsed Candidates

PORTLAND, Maine, Oct. 14, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Everytown for Gun Safety's Gun Sense Voter roadshow stops in Portland today as part of the organization's campaign to build a constituency of Americans who will vote on gun safety this November and in future elections. Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a project of Everytown for Gun Safety, will join the Maine chapter of Moms, local gun violence survivors and other gun safety advocates to mobilize support for U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Everytown-endorsed candidate in Maine.  Judi Richardson, whose daughter, Darien, died after being shot by a masked intruder in her Portland apartment in 2010, will join the roadshow stop to help galvanize support.

"This is the first time we're mobilizing moms in this country to turn out and vote specifically on gun violence prevention," said Shannon Watts, Founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, who in recent weeks has visited states where gun violence prevention is a key issue in the election, including Maryland, California, Oregon, Illinois, Minnesota and Washington state, where voters will be taking an up-or-down vote on the only background checks ballot initiative in the country.  "We've taken the fight to Congress, to statehouses, to corporations, and now we're bringing this issue to the voting booth.  Moms and women are going to vote to keep our communities safe from gun violence, in this election and in all elections ahead." 

Everytown endorsed U.S. Senator Susan Collins, who voted for the Manchin-Toomey Amendment (S.AMDT.715) to S. 649, the Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of 2013, which would require background checks for guns sold online, at gun shows, and through classified ads.  Despite bipartisan support, the Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act did not pass and these deadly loopholes remain in federal law.

"The handgun that was used to shoot Darien was sold without a background check at a gun show.  With these loopholes, we are opening the door for criminals," said Judi Richardson in a video released by Everytown today endorsing Senator Collins.  "This fall I'm supporting candidates who have gun sense."

About Everytown for Gun Safety

Everytown for Gun Safety is the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country with more than two million supporters and more than 38,000 donors including moms, mayors, survivors, and everyday Americans who are fighting for public safety measures that respect the Second Amendment and help save lives.  At the core of Everytown are Mayors Against Illegal Guns and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a grassroots movement of American mothers founded on the day after the Sandy Hook tragedy.  Learn more at www.everytown.org and follow us @Everytown

About Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America

Much like Mothers Against Drunk Driving was created to change laws regarding drunk driving, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America was created to build support for common-sense gun reforms. 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. Since its inception after the Sandy Hook Elementary mass shooting, Moms Demand Action has established a chapter in every state of the country and is part of Everytown for Gun Safety along with Mayors Against Illegal Guns. Everytown is the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country with more than two million supporters and more than 38,000 donors including moms, mayors, survivors, and everyday Americans who are fighting for public safety measures that respect the Second Amendment and help save lives.  For more information or to get involved visit www.momsdemandaction.org. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MomsDemandAction or on Twitter at @MomsDemand.

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SOURCE Everytown for Gun Safety; Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America