Statement on President's Press Conference from One Million Moms for Gun Control

INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- We applaud President Obama and his administration for quickly proposing comprehensive legislation that will help protect American families, and we call on Congress to pass these common-sense measures designed to address the epidemic of gun violence in America.

In particular, One Million Moms for Gun Control supports the administration's proposal to ban assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition clips, as well as proposed universal background checks for all gun purchasers. We call on lawmakers to also consider regulating and tracking ammunition, as there is currently no system in place to do so.

One Million Moms for Gun Control will now apply pressure to members of Congress to move quickly to pass these measures. We call on House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to bring the proposed bills to the floor for a vote in both houses of Congress, leaving partisanship aside in the interest of American families. This legislation must be passed – not debated or diluted. We will not allow special interests to obscure the issue: the safety of America's children and families are our priority.

The legislation proposed today by President Obama will enhance the safety of our children in cities, in rural areas, and in the suburbs. Gun violence has become a public health crisis in the United States. Too many American families have been destroyed by gun violence, and mothers will no longer tolerate continued inaction by Congress on sensible gun laws.

It wasn't money that defined the outcome of the 2012 presidential election, but the collective power of women and mothers. The same will be true for the upcoming 2014 midterm elections. As mothers, we organize, cajole and protect. We are organizing ourselves to effectively cajole Congress into passing sensible gun laws NOW to protect our families. The momentum is with us, and we are in this for the long haul at both the federal and state levels.

Like Mothers Against Drunk Driving helped change lax laws in the 1980s, One Million Moms for Gun Control will not rest until common-sense gun laws are put in place at both the national and state levels. We are the wave of change. In just one month alone, our organization has established 75 chapters across the United States. Our growing social media presence on Facebook, Twitter and the Internet combined with our ability to mobilize moms to act both virtually and in-person will help ensure our success.

Shannon Watts, Founder of One Million Moms for Gun Control
www.onemillionmomsforguncontrol.org  
https://www.facebook.com/OneMillionMomsForGunControl

SOURCE One Million Moms for Gun Control