Media Call: New Gun Violence Prevention Group 'Everytown For Gun Safety' Unites Mayors, Moms And Millions Of Americans On New Paths To Victory: State Capitols, Corporate Responsibility, Voter Activation

NEW YORK, April 16, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Almost a year after a minority of the U.S. Senate blocked legislation to require comprehensive gun background checks despite near-unanimous public support, a new organization launching today will unite millions of Americans who will work together to end gun violence and counter the Washington gun lobby: Everytown for Gun Safety.  A press release announcing this new organization was just released, which can be found here.

At its center, the organization will house Mayors Against Illegal Guns, founded by former New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and former Boston Mayor Tom Menino, and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a grassroots movement of moms that was founded the day after Newtown. Everytown will ask Americans to join the fight to reduce the gun violence that kills 86 Americans every day and affects every town – big cities and small towns alike.  This means continuing to press for change in Washington and moving beyond Congress to bring the fight for common-sense gun policies to state capitols, corporate boards, and state and federal elections – fields of play formerly occupied almost solely by the gun lobby.  Supporters of Everytown will back candidates and legislation that will save lives, donate to the group's efforts and take action to raise awareness for important issues like guns in schools, domestic violence, child access to guns, suicide and the other ways that gun violence affects all Americans.

Former Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced in a New York Times article published today that he plans to spend at least $50 million this year to reduce gun violence through Everytown's educational and advocacy efforts and through personal expenditures.

The organization also announced the launch of the Gun Sense Voter campaign today that will, for the first time, mobilize one million Americans to vote on guns and its aim to grow its ranks to 2.5 million supporters this year by addressing the ways that gun violence touches Americans including child access to guns, domestic violence, guns on campus and suicide.  The group released the first video in a series called, "Scenes from Everytown: Stop the Violence" that illustrates the dangers of child gun access – it can be viewed here.

Who:              
John Feinblatt, President of Everytown for Gun Safety
Shannon Watts, Founder of Moms Demand Action

When:            
Wednesday, April 16 at 12:00 PM EDT

Call Details:  
Email [email protected] for dial-in information

About Everytown for Gun Safety

Everytown for Gun Safety is a movement of Americans fighting for common-sense policies that will reduce gun violence and save lives.  Everytown is the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country with more than 1.5 million supporters including moms, mayors, survivors, and everyday Americans who are fighting for reforms that respect the Second Amendment and protect people.  At the core of Everytown are Mayors Against Illegal Guns, founded in 2006 by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Boston Mayor Tom Menino, and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a grassroots movement of American mothers founded on the day after Newtown.  Learn more at www.everytown.org and follow us @Everytown

CONTACTS
Erika Soto Lamb: [email protected] or 646-580-5281
Stacey Radnor: [email protected] or 202-870-6668

SOURCE Everytown for Gun Safety

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