Gun Violence Survivors, Faith Leaders, And Local Activists Gather In Concord To Hold Senator Ayotte Accountable For Voting Against Tough-On-Crime Background Checks Bill

NEW YORK, June 17, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Tuesday, June 18th, Mayors Against Illegal Guns will hold a rally in Concord, New Hampshire to hold Senator Kelly Ayotte accountable for voting against bipartisan legislation proposed by NRA A-rated Senators Pat Toomey and Joe Manchin that would have closed loopholes that make it easy for criminals and other dangerous people to get guns. The rally is part of the "No More Names: National Drive to Reduce Gun Violence" – a 25-state national bus tour over a period of 100 days aimed at urging America's leaders to support common-sense gun policies. Survivors of gun violence, faith leaders, and local activists will come together to voice their continued support for comprehensive and enforceable background checks, and they will call on Senator Ayotte to support these common-sense, life-saving measures. As part of the rally, participants will also read the names of thousands of victims of gun violence.

It remains far too easy for criminals, domestic abusers, the seriously mentally ill, and other dangerous individuals – people who know they can't pass a background check – to skirt the law and obtain guns by purchasing them online or at gun shows, where background checks are not required under federal law. The Manchin-Toomey bill would have closed this dangerous loophole by extending background checks to commercial gun sales. But Senator Ayotte voted to block this sensible legislation, despite the fact that 89 percent of Granite Staters support background checks for all gun sales.  

Every day, 33 Americans are murdered with guns in this country. "No More Names: National Drive to Reduce Gun Violence" is part of Mayors Against Illegal Guns' ongoing, national effort to continue raising awareness to the issue of gun violence in America – and most importantly, to urge elected officials to act on behalf of the people they represent.

What: "No More Names: National Drive to Reduce Gun Violence" rally holding Senator Kelly Ayotte accountable for opposing tough-on-crime background checks bill that would help save lives

Who: 

• Judy Stadtman, Co-Founder of Project for Safer Communities NH
• John Cantin, Veteran, Survivor of Gun Violence, Father of Gun Violence Victim
• Revered Stephen R. Silver, First Congregational Church of Lebanon
• Rabbi Robin Nafshi (Will Read Names)
• Reverend Kate Atkinson (Will Read Names)

Where:  City Plaza
             107 N. Main Street
             Concord, New Hampshire

When:   Tuesday, June 18^th
             Rally Time: 5:00pm-7:00pm
             Reading Time: 9:00am-9:00pm

*Judy Stadtman, Reverend Stephen Silver, and John Cantin will be available to speak with media throughout the day. For interview requests in advance and on-site, please contact Stacey Radnor at 202-870-6668.

About Mayors Against Illegal Guns

Since its creation in April 2006, Mayors Against Illegal Guns has grown from 15 members to more than 950 mayors from across the country. We have more than 1.5 million grassroots supporters, making us the largest gun violence prevention advocacy organization in the country.  The bipartisan coalition, co-chaired by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, has united the nation's mayors around these common goals: protecting communities by holding gun offenders accountable; demanding access to crime gun trace data that is critical to law enforcement efforts to combat gun trafficking; and working with legislators to fix weaknesses and loopholes in the law that make it far too easy for criminals and other dangerous people to get guns.  Learn more at www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org

MEDIA CONTACTS

Alex Katz: [email protected] or 212-788-7617
Stacey Radnor: [email protected] or 202-870-6668
Lizzie Ulmer: [email protected] or 269-271-2331

SOURCE Mayors Against Illegal Guns

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