Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense In America To Sponsor "Moms Demand Action Week" To Pressure Congress To Pass Stronger Gun Laws

INDIANAPOLIS, April 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America announced today a week-long campaign starting Mon., April 1, 2013, to mobilize moms across the country to demand Congress pass new and stronger common-sense gun laws.

"Even after the Sandy Hook Elementary mass shooting, Congress continues to let a vocal minority of gun industry lobbyists dictate our nation's gun laws," said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. "If common sense gun laws are not passed this session by Congress, American mothers will bring the fight to their state legislatures and the 2014 mid-term elections. We will not forget which members of Congress stood down when our children most needed them to stand up."

During "Moms Demand Action Week," Moms Demand Action members will pressure Congress every day via in-district meetings, Tweets, calls and emails to their elected officials. All of these actions are being taken in memory of Ana Marquez-Greene, one of the 20 first graders brutally murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012. Ana would have turned 7 years old on April 4.

"The grief is getting worse, not better, as the days go by," said Nelba Marquez-Greene, Ana's mother. "However, a warrior has arisen within me. I believe that love wins. Our love for our children and families must win. How is it possible that we are struggling to pass stronger gun laws after a man entered the sanctity of an elementary school and murdered 20 children and 6 educators? Mothers must band together and insist that Congress take action on common-sense legislation that the vast majority of Americans supports."

"I am every American mother. And I ask mothers and families across the country, in Ana's memory during her birthday week, to encourage Congress to advocate for legislation that will result in meaningful changes to our gun laws and mental health system," said Marquez-Greene.

During Moms Demand Action Week, moms will be encouraged to take a copy of Marian Wright Edelman's children's book "I Can Make A Difference" into meetings with their Congressional representatives. Marquez-Greene purchased the book after her daughter was killed and now reads it with her son Isaiah. She feels the book honors her daughter Ana, an avid reader, and all of the children killed by gun violence who won't get to grow up to make a positive difference in America.

"The mothers of America must unite and demand change. If you are a mother, you are Ana's mother. We are all Ana's mother," said Marian Wright Edelman, a lifelong advocate for the protection of children and president of the Children's Defense Fund. "For too long, America has made access to guns more important than the rights of our children to live safe and full lives. As a result, gun violence has become an American crisis, threatening every community: rural, urban and suburban. We can't afford to wait for every American family to be affected by gun violence before we act."

On Mon., April 1 – April Fool's Day – moms across the country will write "No Joke, Moms Vote; Moms Demand Action" in chalk on sidewalks in front of their homes, in parks, or in public spaces. Members will email, Tweet and post photos of the drawings to their specific Congressional representatives. For the rest of the week's activities, go to www.momsdemandaction.org.

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