Pennsylvanians Call On Congress To End Gun Violence As Part Of National Day To Demand Action

Mayors Against Illegal Guns Releases First Ad Featuring Newtown Family Members Demanding Political Leaders Pass Commonsense Reforms

More than 120 Events Taking Place Across the Nation – and The White House – to Drive Largest Day of Advocacy in U.S. History to Address Gun Violence; www.DemandAction.org/March28

NEW YORK, March 28, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvanians gathered today in Easton, Lower Merion, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh as part of the National Day to Demand Action to end gun violence as President Obama met with gun violence survivors, law enforcement officials and mothers at the White House to urge Congress to reform U.S. gun laws.  Mayors Against Illegal Guns also released the first television ad featuring family members of those killed at Sandy Hook calling on political leaders to support sensible reforms like comprehensive and enforceable background checks.  The ad can be viewed here: www.DemandAction.org/Newtown-Families

The National Day to Demand Action – organized by Mayors Against Illegal Guns in conjunction with Organizing for Action, Americans for Responsible Solutions and other groups – will feature hundreds of mayors, law enforcement officials, faith leaders, gun violence survivors and family members who want Congress to take immediate action to strengthen our background check system and reduce gun violence.  The day is expected to be the largest gun violence advocacy event in history and is part of the largest field campaign in U.S. history to address gun violence.  The coalition recently announced that it is hiring dozens of organizers and opening campaign offices in ten states, including in Pennsylvania. 

In addition to the National Day to Demand Action, the bipartisan coalition is also broadcasting television ads demanding action from U.S. Senators, including in Pennsylvania.  The Senate is expected to take up gun violence prevention legislation when it reconvenes in the second week of April.  The ads can be found here: www.demandaction.org/recessads

A partial list of major events taking place across the country is available here.   

Statements from Participants at Today's Events in Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh City Councilman Bill Peduto
"John Shick couldn't pass a background check because his mental illness made him a danger to those around him, so he bought handguns in a parking lot in a state that doesn't require background checks for private sales. Last year, he came back to Pennsylvania and used those guns to shoot six people. As a nation, we cannot allow this to continue. We urge Senator Toomey to vote to require background checks for all gun sales in every state."

Pittsburgh City Controller Michael Lamb
"Background checks for private sales aren't an 'inconvenience' – they're a necessity. They protect the public and help keep guns away from criminals and the mentally ill.  This loophole needs to be closed immediately."

Norristown Chief of Police Willie G. Richet
"We know that most criminals get their guns through private transfers, and we know that the background check system has rejected about two million prohibited purchasers. But in most states, people who fail background checks can still buy guns in private sales. We have to fix that by requiring comprehensive, enforceable background checks for all gun sales."

Chairman of Montgomery County Board of Commissioners Josh Shapiro
"We strongly urge Senator Toomey to support legislation that requires background checks for each and every gun sale. These checks are already mandatory for purchases made at gun stores. Private sales should be held to the same standard."

CeaseFirePA Executive Director Shira Goodman
"Expanding background checks to cover every gun sale, every time is the simplest, most common sense measure our elected officials can take to make our communities safer. Background checks work: to date, the system has prevented more than two million prohibited purchasers from buying guns.  The only people who have reason to fear the expansion of the background check system are those who know they cannot pass a background check -- and everyone agrees that these are the very people who should not have access to guns."

CeaseFirePA Western PA Coordinator Rob Conroy
"These candidates have come together with one voice to call on Senators Toomey and Casey for common sense, logical gun laws. Comprehensive, enforceable background checks are the best way to ensure that guns stay out of the hands of dangerous criminals."

About Mayors Against Illegal Guns

Since its inception in April 2006, Mayors Against Illegal Guns has grown from 15 mayors to more than 900 mayors from across the country. We have more than 1.4 million grassroots supporters, making us the largest gun violence prevention advocacy organization in the country.  The bipartisan coalition, co-chaired by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, has united the nation's mayors around these common goals: protecting their communities by holding gun offenders and irresponsible gun dealers accountable; demanding access to trace data that is critical to law enforcement efforts to combat illegal gun trafficking; and working with legislators to fix gaps, weaknesses and loopholes in the law that make it far too easy for criminals and other prohibited purchasers to get guns.  Learn more at www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org

Contact: Mayor Bloomberg's Press Office (212) 788-2958
Mayor Menino's Press Office (617) 635-4461

CONTACT
Alex Katz: akatz1@cityhall.nyc.gov or 617-721-3779

SOURCE Mayors Against Illegal Guns