After spending 10 years living in London – a place where the police do not carry guns – I returned to New York City and through a friend, was introduced to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, and participated in a number of their fund raisers. Through Brady, I met Donna Dees Thomases, founder of the Million Mom March (MMM), which took place on Mother’s Day 2000 to promote tighter restrictions on guns.
About 24 hours after watching the devastating news reports of the horrific murders of 20 first graders about 20 miles from my home in Katonah, in a very similar community, I decided to stop crying and try to do something.
I reached out to Donna and asked her how I could start or join a Northern Westchester chapter of Million Mom March. She replied by saying I was the new leader of their Northern Westchester chapter!
My next question to Donna was whether it was open to everyone despite the “Mom” part of the name. She said yes, that it is "only limited to like-minded people" and that the word "Mom" scares politicians because they know women can organize!
My first connection to other like-minded parents came through the Katonah Parents Facebook page – where people had begun posting about what we, as a community could do for improved security at our own schools. So that is where I began, by telling the other members that I was starting this group and I immediately got people volunteering to join.
On Sunday, I set up two Facebook pages – one that is a closed group and currently consists mostly of Katonah parents, but it is open to everyone in Westchester, and a public page for Million Mom March Northern Westchester Chapter. The link for the public page is: www.facebook.com/mmmnw and the link for the group, where people can request to join us, is https://www.facebook.com/groups/473986759313799/
We have 40 members already.
Million Mom March works with the Brady Campaign, a nationwide network of grassroots volunteers who work for sensible guns laws to protect you, your family, and your community.
I am currently trying to help spread the word about a Million Child March on Dec on Feb 17 being organised by another New York parent and to find out how our group can assist Brady and MMM. I have signed their pledge to march, which can be found at www.kidsmarch.org
Million Child March also has a public Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/1millionkidstoDC
I’m currently trying to reach out to our new Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney. Please visit our page, like it, share it, and join it!
And by the way- 52% of the country supports stricter gun laws. So, your wrong John.
I will spend the rest of my life fighting this fight to end the gun violence and even repeal the second amendment if necessary. Thank You
Only the bad guys carry hand grenades also.
There's an option to email the chapter and they will forward it to me and I will contact you by email or telephone.
"Yes, certain UK police have guns, but most of them do not. Not sure how bringing guns into our schools is an answer" First of all, I never wrote about guns in schools. Read my comment again. Second, Please get your facts straight before you start making emotive comments that you WANT to support your agenda. This was a tragic incident and many of us are angry and stunned but you don't help the "cause" but reporting things that simply are NOT true. Stick with facts please.
It's a minor point but as times goes on many of the "unknowing" will attempt to make that comparison with America. The simple fact is that the UK Police are in fact armed. The difference between the UK and America is that the "society" in the UK tolerates FAR LESS than the manure we tolerate in America. BTW, the police carry "Billy Clubs" and aren't afraid to use them if necessary and the UK population supports their police more than we do. BIG DIFFERENCE HERE.
Please understand that many of us support you but I'm really NOT sure what the point is about armed police officers in the UK has to do with anything. That's how you started your blog. So are you saying to disarm the police in America or was that just a bad example to use? BTW, I also worked there so I'm reporting on what I saw.
I was wondering "if" that will also include the criminals & their addresses out there? NO......we DO NOT do that because that's "profiling."
All the best to all.
Assault rifles seem like a horrible thing until you need one. Shotguns are more lethal but we won't ban those. Sandy Hook happened by handguns but we want to ignore that. So when a mob of ruthless men is attacking your house to get what you have, your children are inside and there is no help because anarchy has set in so you are left to defend your family, good luck talking/tweeting/petitioning your way out of being looted and murdered. Maybe you can shoot those 20 people with your 10 round clip. Hope they are magical bullets!