Sister Of Newtown Victim, State Senator Malek, Mayor Engen, Gun Owners, And Local Advocates To Gather In Missoula To Urge Senator Baucus To Support Common-Sense Background Checks

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Mayors Against Illegal Guns

Jul 24, 2013, 10:16 ET

Baucus Voted Against Bipartisan Background Checks Bill That Would Keep Guns Out of Wrong Hands, Even Though 79 Percent of Montanans Support Background Checks for All Gun Sales

July 25th Rally is Part of "No More Names: National Drive to Reduce Gun Violence" Bus Tour; www.NoMoreNames.org

***MEDIA AND EVENT ADVISORY***

MISSOULA, Mont., July 24, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Thursday, July 25th, the sister of a victim of the Newtown massacre, State Senator Sue Malek, Mayor John Engen of Missoula, gun owners, survivors of gun violence, former law enforcement officials, and other advocates will hold a rally in Missoula, as 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. Participants will come together Thursday to voice their continued support for comprehensive and enforceable background checks, and they will urge Senator Max Baucus to reconsider his position on this life-saving measure and take another look at bipartisan background checks legislation.

The event in Missoula on Thursday follows the "No More Names" event in Helena, Montana on Tuesday, July 23rd.

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. Bipartisan legislation sponsored by NRA A-rated Senators Joe Manchin and Pat Toomey would have closed this dangerous loophole by extending background checks to commercial gun sales. But Senator Baucus voted to block this sensible legislation, despite the fact that 79 percent of Montanans 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 prioritize the safety of the people they represent.

What:            Rally to support common-sense gun laws and urge Senator Max Baucus to take another look at life-saving background checks that help keep guns out of the wrong hands

Who:              

  • Carlee Soto, sister Victoria was killed in Newtown massacre
  • Sue Malek, Montana State Senator, SD-46 (D)
  • John Engen, Mayor of Missoula
  • Marian Bradley, President Montana National Organization for Women
  • Micah Helser, Suicide Prevention Coordinator, Missoula City/County Health Dept.
  • John Moffatt, retired Vice Principal, survivor of school shooting at Lewistown High School
  • Janet Lyon, sister was shot and killed by husband
  • Claire Kelly, grandmother and a gun owner
  • Deputy Chief Scott Swanson (ret.), Santa Rosa P.D., California (MT resident)

Where:            Library Mall
                       32 Campus Drive
                       Missoula, Montana 59812

When:             Thursday, July 25th at 12:30 p.m. MT: Press Conference

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

CONTACTS
Alex Katz: [email protected] or 617-721-3779
Stacey Radnor: [email protected] or 202-870-6668
Kayla Keller: [email protected] or 281-682-6212

SOURCE Mayors Against Illegal Guns

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