Park Slope Moms Demand Action at Today’s Rally Against Gun Violence

By On · 9:17 am · Events, Neighbors, News · 1 Comment

moms demand action via fb

Community members, advocates, and activists are rallying in Harlem this afternoon as part of a Massive Mobilization Mobilization Against Gun Violence. The groups are joining to show support of Governor Cuomo’s NY SAFE Act, the recently-passed legislation which limits ammunition capacity, bans military-style assault weapons, and requires mental health and criminal background checks for those purchasing firearms. Their hope is to emphasize the need for similar legislation at the federal level.

The rally– which will feature Rev. Al Sharpton and Tony Bennett among its guest speakers– is sponsored by New York Voices Against Gun Violence, a broad coalition which includes Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. The group has a strong base in Park Slope, and one of those moms reached out to tell us why the organization and rally are so important to her:

My name is Candace Reid and I live and work from home in Park Slope. I am VP of Broadcast Accounts for a Marketing Agency in Los Angeles and mother of a 17 year old and a 5 year old. Aside from hosting Obama call-a-thons in my living room I have never been an activist.

Newtown was my enough moment.

I said to friends that I was going to figure out how to get involved and fight this fight. I started following everything I could online and found Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. 200 of us from 30 different states ran from meeting to meeting last Wednesday on Congressional Hill. Those of us from NY felt we were preaching to the choir as our Representatives agree and stand behind our tenets wholeheartedly.

Our tenets are-

1.)Ban assault weapons and ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds.
2.)Require background checks for all gun and ammunition purchases.
3.)Report the sale of large quantities of ammunition to the ATF [Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives], and ban online sales of ammunition.

We are here now, and we are in it for the long haul [...] We are Moms. Passionate, multitaskers, loud when we have to be…we know how to get things done.

Whether you’re a mom or not, you can support the cause by joining the rally today at 4:30 p.m., at the Harlem State Office Building (163 West 125th Street), or by signing the petition online.

Photo via Moms Demand Action

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  • jen

    all emotion and no logic. so typical of many who are generally quite bright and cerebral in other areas of their life. none of the goals mentioned would have stopped the tragedy in Newton. Sadly, people don’t understand that one can readily purchase guns from a private party or steal them if they want to commit a heinous act. These feel good measures don’t accomplish much except for targeting folks who are law abiding citizens. one thing that could have pushed lanza’s mother to lock up her guns more securely is if that was a provision in her homeowner’s insurance policy. this can be verified with random spot checks as is regularly done with other provisions. btw, google semi-automatic nail gun rifle. one can make a very deadly weapon at their local hardware store capable of inflicting a lot of damage. check out the anarchist cookbook too. where does it end? should the tens of thousands of americans of japanese descent have had a means of protection against the tyrannical govt that put them in internment camps during wwII?