Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense In America Launches Mother's Day Campaign Honoring Gun Violence Victims

INDIANAPOLIS, May 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America today launched a Mother's Day campaign, focused on honoring gun violence victims and their families. The campaign includes a series of videos featuring victims' thoughts on Mother's Day, as well as the release of a Mother's Bill of Rights, laying out moms' basic rights to protect their children from gun violence (http://momsdemandaction.org/mothers-day/).

Moms Demand Action is partnering with the Children's Defense Fund to release a series of videos featuring mothers whose lives have been changed by gun violence. Participants in the videos include Rep. Carolyn McCarthy and Sarah Brady, and others who have been affected by gun violence (http://www.youtube.com/user/MomsDemandAction/videos).

"People are so nice to the mother of a murder victim. With great empathy they say, 'No one should lose a child, it's unnatural. And they're right; it is the worst thing that can happen,'" said Julie Butcher, whose son Mathew was shot and killed during a robbery at his workplace in Los Angeles in 2010. "Yet I'm optimistic and inspired by moms – the passion and anger of many moms – working together now to encourage sensible gun policies. And in Matthew's memory I commit on this Mother's Day to do everything I can to help make sure no other mom or dad loses their child to gun violence."

Moms Demand Action also has created a "Mother's Bill of Rights" that defines the inalienable right of American mothers to protect their children from harm. The Mother's Bill of Rights begins: "We have the right to know our children are safe from gun violence, from the moment they leave our arms in the morning until they return home later in the day. But the rights of American mothers are under attack by criminals, the gun lobby, and legislators who are unable to stand up for common-sense gun reforms. The right of mothers to protect our children shall not be infringed."

This Mother's Bill of Rights, available in both English and Spanish, will be read at local events across the country sponsored by Moms Demand Action, from Los Angeles to the Bronx, Oklahoma City to Savannah, Georgia. For event dates and locations, go to: http://momsdemandaction.org/mothers-day/.

As part of the Mother's Day campaign, Moms Demand Action is encouraging moms to create eight paper flowers on behalf of the eight children shot and killed in America every day. The paper flowers will be sent electronically and delivered in-person to members of Congress, asking legislators, "You can have our flowers this Mother's Day; give us our rights," along with a copy of the Mother's Bill of Rights.

"In a country where eight children are shot and killed every day, it is imperative that our leaders hear directly and frequently from American mothers," said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. "Congress continues to turn its back on common-sense gun laws that would make our children and families safer. But American moms will not be intimidated by powerful gun industry lobby groups. We will not wait for one more horrific mass shooting for legislators to wake up and finally pass needed laws that will save children's lives."

Flower-making instructions can be found at http://momsdemandaction.org/mothers-day/. Photos should be emailed to [email protected], or Tweet and Instagram the photos using the hashtags #momsrights and #momsdemandaction.

In addition, Moms Demand Action is working with the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and its Million Mom March and Brady Chapters; Women's Donor Network; MomsRising; and Voices Against Violence on a Mother's Day Week of Action May 6 through 10. Together, the organizations are asking Americans, particularly mothers, to make their voices heard with their elected officials in support of common-sense gun reforms.

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 (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 five months, the organization has more than 100,000 members with more than 90 local chapters in 40 states across the country.

The Children's Defense Fund
The Children's Defense Fund Leave No Child Behind^® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities.

SOURCE Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America