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(Washington,
D.C.) The Brady Campaign and the Brady Center to Prevent
Gun Violence and the Million Mom March announced today
that the organizations would merge on October 1.
Leaders of both groups heralded the alliance as a
"win-win" opportunity for two strong groups that
share the common goals of educating the public about gun
violence and mobilizing support for sensible gun laws.
Sarah
Brady, Chair, and Michael Barnes, President, of the Brady
Campaign and the Brady Center, together with Donna Dees-Thomases,
Chair, and Mary Leigh Blek, President, of the Million Mom
March, revealed the merger at a news conference in
Washington, D.C. They were joined by a host of MMM members from throughout the
East Coast.
"This
alliance sends a clear message that the gun control
movement is uniting and targeted," said Sarah Brady.
"For many years, we have been successful in passing
effective legislation, while increasing public awareness
of the scourge of gun violence.
Today's announcement is an exciting next step in
further raising an army of supporters that will enable us
to continue to effect change in Congress and in state
Legislatures."
Donna
Dees-Thomases said: "Nearly 30,000 people die in the
United States Each year from gun injuries - almost twice
the number of drunk driving deaths. By combining our
experience, talent and resources, we are better positioned
to secure national policies that adequately address the
epidemic of gun trauma in this country."
The
Million Mom March (MMM) will be known as the "Million
Mom March, United with the Brady Campaign and the Brady
Center." MMM
chapters will continue to exist, with autonomous
decision-making capability, under the guiding principles
of the Brady Campaign and Center (formerly known as
Handgun Control and the Center to Prevent Handgun
Violence). A
primary goal of the merger is to foster the strong
grassroots culture of the MMM while providing assistance
from the national level.
A
total of three seats will be added to the Board of
Trustees for the Brady Campaign and the Brady Center to
accommodate a voice for the MMM. Two
of the seats will be on the Brady Campaign and the Brady
Center, respectively.
A third seat will go to a leader of the MMM,
elected each year for a rotating term.
"The
Million Mom March, started by mothers and survivors of gun
violence, has grown into an impressive national grassroots
movement - with 230 chapters across the country - and a
household name in less than two years," said Michael
Barnes. "It
is no secret that there is strength in numbers, and the
combined membership of our organizations is sure to be a
powerful force for common-sense gun legislation. Poll after poll, including one we released earlier this
month, has shown that Americans want these measures.
This alliance will help make that happen."
On
June 14, the Brady Campaign released a national poll
conducted by the Opinion Research Corporation
International showing that Americans overwhelmingly
support responsible gun control measures, including 83
percent who support closing the "gun show
loophole" by requiring criminal background checks on
all gun purchases at such shows.
In addition, 84 percent of the respondents believe
in requiring that all guns be sold with childproof safety
locks, and 73 percent believe that a law should be passed
that would prevent individuals from buying more than one
handgun a month.
This
legislative agenda is shard by the Brady Campaign and the
Million Mom March. "This alliance demonstrates our
philosophy that cooperation is critical to reducing gun
violence in America," said Mary Leigh Blek.
"We have always worked closely with the Brady
Campaign and other groups. Today's announcement will only
strengthen this partnership.
Our goal is to unite, play to our strengths, and
advance our shared mission of safer American homes,
schools, and communities."
The
merger will be effective on October 1.
Additional details on implementation and structure
will be available closer to that time.
Background:
The
Brady Campaign and Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence:
For more than 25 years, the Brady Campaign has been the
nation's largest national, non-partisan organization
leading the fight to prevent gun violence with hundreds of
thousands of dedicated members across the country.
The Brady Campaign works to enact and enforce
sensible gun laws, regulations and Public policies through
grassroots activism, electing pro-gun control public
officials and increasing public awareness of gun violence.
The Brady Center works to reform the gun industry
and educate the public about gun violence, and works to
enact and enforce sensible regulations to reduce gun
violence including regulations governing the gun industry.
The
Million Mom March: Founded
in 1999, the MMM is a national grassroots, chapter-based
(230 chapters in formation across the country)
organization dedicated to preventing gun death and injury
and supporting victims and survivors of gun violence.
The
Million Mom March focuses on education and advocacy
through grassroots activity across the country, seeking
responsible limits on gun access and use.
On Mother's Day 2000, more than 750,000 people
marched on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. and tens
of thousands of others marched in towns across America, to
demonstrate their support for sensible gun laws.
MMNassau@optonline.net
www.millionmommarch.org
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