March 29, 2004

Gun safety activists from all over the country will reunite for the Million Mom Mother's Day March to Halt the Assault in Washington, DC May 9 to urge Congress to pass common sense gun laws, beginning with a renewal of the Assault Weapons Ban. Unless Congress acts, the nation's landmark ban will expire on September 13 of this year.

The main element in the weekend plans is a public gathering on Mother's Day, May 9, at the West Front of the Capitol. The day will begin at 10 a.m. with an interfaith service to honor those lost to gun violence, followed by a roster of speakers and entertainers who will address the crowd throughout the afternoon. Information booths and other visuals will be scattered throughout the area.

"Four years after the first Million Mom March, we're still losing 30,000 Americans a year, and 8 children a day, to gun violence. That's unacceptable," said Million Mom March spokesperson Shikha Hamilton. "We're going back to Washington to fight for our children's safety and demand that Congress keep military'style AK47s and Uzis off of our streets and out of our neighborhoods."

The gathering comes at a pivotal time. Earlier this month, the U.S. Senate reversed course and voted down an NRA'sponsored immunity bill that would have exempted negligent gun sellers from civil liability. Mayors Michael Bloomberg of New York City, Richard M. Daley of Chicago, James K. Hahn of Los Angeles and Scott L. King of Gary contributed to a national chorus of voices, which included The U.S. Conference of Mayors, opposing the immunity bill in an opinion piece that appeared in the New York Times.

The Senate also approved amendments to renew the Assault Weapons Ban and close the gun show loophole, which need new legislative vehicles with the defeat of the immunity bill.

The vote on immunity and the gun safety amendments has signaled the reemergence of a national debate on gun violence. To keep the pressure on the President and Congressional leaders, a grassroots Coast-to-Coast Halt the Assault Tour will kick off at the Mother's Day event. The Tour will take the message of gun safety, and the need to protect the Assault Weapons Ban, to communities nationwide. It will stop in Boston for the Democratic National Convention and culminate in NYC for the Republican National Convention.

A Lobby Day will directly follow the Mother's Day rally. On Monday, May 10, the Million Mom March will personally deliver thousands of signed postcards to members of Congress, calling on them to reauthorize the Assault Weapons Ban and strengthen our nation's gun laws.

"We are deeply disappointed that Congress hasn't made progress — and is instead trying to turn back the clock on the progress we-ve made," said Mary Leigh Blek, President Emeritus of the Million Mom March. "We are resolute, and we won't rest until our children are safer," said Blek.

For more information, go to the Mother's Day March to Halt the Assault website at www.mmm2004.com or call toll-free 888-989-MOMS.