National Gun Victims Action Council and Newtown Victims & Clergy for Corporate Responsibility Call for Immediate Boycott of Hallmark

CHICAGO, May 30, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Hallmark's Chairman Donald Hall, Jr.'s response to a letter from victims of gun violence and clergy asking that Hallmark publicly support Universal Background Checks (a background check for every gun sale) was, "We do not get involved in divisive issues." (Hallmark Letter).

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/65360-ngvac-national-gun-victims-tell-and-compel-we-re-done-asking/

In conversations with Steve Dorell, Hallmark's Head of Public Affairs, Elliot Fineman, CEO of NGVAC pointed out that Hallmark bans guns in their corporate headquarters to protect their CEO and senior management, and yet have deliberately chosen to not require Hallmark Gold Crown® stores to ban guns.

Additionally, Hallmark spokeswoman Linda Odell has publicly stated "...The company has no intention to support anti-gun initiatives" (what we call protecting public safety).

"Clearly Hallmark is involved in this divisive issue.  Not choosing is also a choice. Further, Hallmark pays its eight lobbyists over $500,000 per year to pass laws related to postage, radio, TV and taxes.  To say Hallmark does not get involved in divisive issues is an utter fiction." said Fineman.

Polls show that 90% of Americans, including 74% of NRA members, 91% of gun owner households (The Washington Post April 3, 2013) and 91% of veterans want Universal Background Checks (POLITICO April 11, 2013).

UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS WOULD REDUCE GUN HOMICIDES BY 2,000 LIVES PER YEAR.

This number is calculated by NGVAC based on a study by Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy re: the increase in gun homicides when Missouri repealed their background check law and extrapolation of published data from the Center for Disease Control, and the FBI's Annual Uniform Crime Report.

"Given these poll results, refusing to support Universal Background Checks is a disgrace and an incredibly ill-thought-out business decision," said Fineman.

"We can no longer let Hallmark or corporate America stand on the sidelines ignoring their ethical and moral responsibilities. By refusing to support Universal Background Checks, Hallmark has turned its back on gun victims, clergy and the American people," said Rev. Matthew Crebbin, Senior Pastor of Newtown Congregational Church and co-chair of NVCCR.

Rabbi Praver of the Newtown Synagogue advised, "Ideally we wanted Hallmark to partner with us leading the country towards Universal Background Checks, but they refused to meet with us. We decided it was time to take the gloves off.  You're either for Universal Background Checks or you are not, there is no being neutral—too many lives depend upon it."

ACTIONS BEING CALLED FOR BY NGVAC and NVCCR

Do Not Buy Hallmark Cards For Father's Day. Instead give a custom designed NGVAC Shattered Heart™ Father's Day card that you can download for free or send electronically (Shattered Heart™ Father's Day Cards)

Currently Over 5000 Fathers Lose Their Lives To Gun Homicides Each Year. This number is based on NGVAC analysis of published CDC and FBI data. Note, this does not count the number of fathers who have lost their children to gun violence and can no longer celebrate Father's Day.

Call On Sponsors To Stop Sponsoring The Hallmark Channel.  By Facebook posts, tweets, emails, letters and calls, tell sponsors of the Hallmark Channel that you do not support companies that sponsor companies that do not support what 90% of the American people want—universal background checks for gun sales.  (Key Hallmark Channel Sponsors)

Tell them you do not want them sponsoring the Hallmark Channel until Hallmark publicly and proactively supports universal background checks. Urge the sponsors to also publicly support universal background checks so they too can be working towards reducing the gun violence epidemic we have because we do not have sane gun laws like universal background checks.

Post your feelings on Hallmark's Facebook page and Twitter account. Send emails to Don Hall Jr., Hallmarks CEO saying that you do not accept their hypocritical excuse that they do not want to get involved in divisive issues, that this is a lack of leadership integrity and represents the worst of what corporate America can be.

SOURCE National Gun Victims Action Council