Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America Participates In President's Remarks On Gun Violence Prevention

Grassroots Movement Mobilizing Moms to Pressure Congress to Support Stronger Gun Laws Via Moms Demand Action Week and Easter Egg Drop

WASHINGTON, March 28, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Members of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America were invited today to the White House to attend and participate in President Obama's remarks regarding the need for new and stronger gun laws in America, along with law enforcement officials, victims of gun violence and others.

Several members of Moms Demand Action accompanied the President on-stage, including Katerina Rodgaard, a dance teacher whose student, Reema Samaha, 18, was shot and killed in the massacre at Virginia Tech. Rodgaard is a member of Moms Demand Action. 

"I will never forget Reema's presence in my classes and her enthusiasm for dance.  After losing Reema and then witnessing the horror at Sandy Hook, I vowed to act to protect my right to feel safe in this country, and the rights of all of our children to be safe; rights that are worth fighting for," said Rodgaard. "I was never an activist, but I've found a voice with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and I am honored to help other mothers fight for stronger gun laws."

During his remarks, made just a week before Congress reconvenes after recess and is expected to vote on several gun violence prevention bills, the President said, "If you're a mom like Katerina who wants to make this country safer, a stronger place for our children to learn and grow up, get together with other moms like the ones here today and raise your voices and make yourselves unmistakably heard."

Moms Demand Action Week, April 1 – 5  

Moms Demand Action is planning several initiatives prior to Congress's return from recess to pressure legislators to vote for new and stronger gun laws, including "Moms Demand Action Week," Mon., April 1 through Fri., April 5.

During "Moms Demand Action Week," members will hold in-district meetings with their Congressional representatives, and Tweet, call and e-mail their elected officials throughout the week. The week is being held in honor of the April 4 birthday of Ana Marquez-Greene, a Sandy Hook Elementary first grader murdered by an assault weapon at Sandy Hook Elementary. She would have been 7 years old. 

"President Obama reinforced the importance of mothers banding together, 80 million strong, to demand action on common sense gun laws, and empowered our millions of concerned moms to take action leading up to the Senate vote on legislation that will make our children and families safer," said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action.

Delivery of Kinder Surprise Eggs to Major Cities 

In addition, Moms Demand Action is delivering Kinder Surprise Eggs to news media and public venues across America leading into Easter long weekend. Kinder Surprise Eggs are a chocolate egg banned by the American government in the interest of child safety due to a choking hazard. 

A note delivered with each of the Kinder Surprise Eggs reads: "Does it make sense that it's easier to buy an AR-15 assault weapon than this chocolate Easter Egg?", with a call to action to share the message and contact Congress. 

"It doesn't make sense that a chocolate Easter egg is regarded as more hazardous to our children's safety than an assault weapon. The majority of Americans support common sense gun laws. And as Congress prepares to return to Washington, we need to put this reality into a context that people can understand," said Watts.

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 over 3 months, Moms Demand Action has garnered tens of thousands of members with more than 80 chapters across the United States.

SOURCE Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America