***Founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and Gun Violence Survivors Available for Media Interviews from Kentucky on Thursday and Friday; Screening of “Under the Gun” Documentary to Take Place Saturday in Louisville***
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – As the National Rifle Association prepares to hold its annual meeting and before presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump addresses the convention, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and the Everytown Survivor Network, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety, are launching an effort demanding that political candidates and elected officials do more to #MakeAmericaSafeAgain.
“As the counterweight to the Washington gun lobby, moms and survivors will be in Louisville to represent the movement of Americans who oppose the NRA leadership’s extremist agenda to have guns everywhere, for anyone, with no questions asked – and to call on political leaders to join us in our efforts to Make America Safe Again,” said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “The NRA’s leadership does not speak for us – the majority of Americans, including gun owners and NRA members, who support the Second Amendment and believe that with that right comes a responsibility to keep guns out of dangerous hands. We are putting political leaders on notice: To Make America Safe Again, they must buck the gun lobby’s agenda and work to save lives from gun violence. They can stand with us or they will face the consequences in November.”
Throughout the convention weekend, volunteers and gun violence survivors will be available for interviews from Kentucky, including:
- Shannon Watts, founder, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
- Connie Coartney, volunteer, Kentucky chapter, Moms Demand Action
- Pamela Bosley, whose 18-year-old son, Terrell, was shot and killed outside a church in Chicago in 2006. Pamela is a member of the Everytown Survivor Network.
- Sandy and Lonnie Phillips, whose daughter, Jessica Ghawi, was murdered during the Aurora movie theatre shooting in July 2012. Sandy and Lonnie are members of the Everytown Survivor Network and founders of the non-profit, Jessi’s Message, in memory of their daughter.
- Haley Rinehart, whose four-year-old son shot himself in the head after getting ahold of a loaded, unsecured gun at a relative’s house. Haley is a member of the Everytown Survivor Network.
On Saturday at 11 AM, the Kentucky chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America will present a screening of the EPIX Original Documentary UNDER THE GUN, executive produced and narrated by Katie Couric and directed by Stephanie Soechtig. Before the screening at Spalding University in Louisville, local faith leaders will hold a vigil to remember and pray for victims of gun violence and their loved ones. Immediately after the screening, a panel discussion including gun violence survivors featured in the documentary will take place.
