Million Moms to Focus on the States

San Francisco -- February 14, 2001 - Building on the success of last year’s Mother’s Day event, the Million Moms will converge on state capitols across the nation, demanding state and local legislators work towards sensible gun laws.

The mothers and others will be rallying in state capitols and major cities across America on May 13, 2001 calling for common sense gun legislation. On May 14, 2001 they will be paying a visit to local lawmakers.

"Last Mother’s Day, the Million Mom March was born, but our work has just begun. In the past year, America has seen more school shootings, more guns in schools, more workplace carnage and more gun violence on our streets," said Mary Leigh Blek, National President of the Million Mom March. "We believe the way to change attitudes and laws is to do it at the grassroots level. A march on Washington calls attention to an issue, but real change begins at home, in our cities and states."

Last year’s Mother’s Day events brought together over 750,000 people on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. and in 73 other cities across the country to call for sensible gun laws to protect our children. Those efforts marked the turning point in America’s infatuation with guns. Since that time, the Moms have actively supported legislation and candidates throughout the country and helped make sensible gun laws a mainstream issue at the state and local level.

Plans for May 13 include state capitol rallies from Honolulu to Boston, and events in many towns and cities. Along with Mother’s Day rallies on the steps of state capitols, Moms will host bell ringing in memory of those lost to gun trauma, speakers, kids' art, entertainers, picnics and legislative letter-writing. On Monday, May 14, Moms will meet with local lawmakers to discuss sensible gun legislation.

Meeting with elected officials, Moms will discuss proposals to fight the scourge of interstate gun trafficking, repeal concealed carry laws, mandate trigger locks on handguns and require gun show background checks.

"The Million Mom March has grown into a grassroots movement, with over 240 chapters across the country," said Andrew McGuire, Executive Director of the Million Mom March. "It provides a voice for the once silent majority of Americans who no longer want our nation’s children to grow up in fear of having their lives cut short by gun violence."

"This will be a celebration, a remembrance and a call to action. If you marched last year, do it again," said Blek. "If you didn’t, join us this year. We need to cry out in one loud voice that we love our children more than the gun lobby loves its guns."