News media contact: Joretta Purdue · (202) 546-8722 · Washington
These are just two reasons why a large number of people are expected to gather in the nation’s capital on Mother’s Day, May 14, to participate in the Million Mom March.
What began as a grass-roots effort by a few mothers has grown into a nationwide campaign. Its slogan is "We’re Looking for a Few Good Moms," but organizers welcome the efforts of anyone who is concerned about protecting children.
The Women’s Division of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries is supporting the event as part of its ongoing Children’s Campaign. The division is bringing some of the conference mission social action coordinators to Washington for the march, and it is also encouraging United Methodist Women throughout the nation to participate in local events.
The United Methodist Board of Church and Society has endorsed the initiative. Board executive Frances Jett encourages United Methodists to participate. She cites a statement included in the United Methodist Book of Resolutions by the 1992 General Conference that says: "As Christians who are deeply concerned about human life, we intend to do something about the unregulated access to guns in this shooting gallery called America. We call upon the church to affirm its faith through vigorous efforts to curb gun violence."
The march is dedicated to educating children and adults throughout the country about the life-threatening dangers guns pose for children. The call to participate includes mothers, grandmothers, stepmothers, godmothers, foster mothers, future mothers and all others willing to be "honorary mothers" in the crusade.
In addition to educating people about gun violence, the crusaders are asking Congress for what they term "common sense gun control legislation." The women favor laws or regulations requiring cooling-off periods and background checks to prevent hasty purchases; the licensing of handgun owners and registration of all handguns; safety locks for all handguns and the limiting of individual handgun purchases to one a month. They also ask for "no-nonsense enforcement" of gun laws.
The campaign seeks product safety standards for guns and ammunition, background checks of all gun shop employees, prompt investigation and prosecution of gun dealers frequently identified as sources for guns used in crimes, liability on the part of manufacturers and dealers for security against theft of guns and ammunition, and restriction of gun dealing to commercial retail facilities in compliance with all laws and regulations.
The mothers are also calling on corporate America to provide toys and other rewards for programs that offer goods and services in exchange for guns that are turned in. The women stress that they want the guns destroyed by the proper authorities so that the weapons are not recirculated in society.
The United Methodist Building on Capitol Hill will be open for advocacy preparation by participants who visit their representatives and senators on the day after the march. Participants are being encouraged to make advance appointments with their legislators.
For more information about the event, contact Jett at fjett@umc-gbcs.org or (202) 488-5658, or Susie Johnson in the Women’s Division’s Washington Office, (202) 488-5660. The Million Mom March has a World Wide Web site at www.millionmommarch.com and a toll-free number, (888) 989-MOMS (6667)
Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, New York, and Washington.