Volunteers Spend Day at Capitol Urging Lawmakers to Reject Senate Bills 1159 and 1122 – Two Bills That Would Threaten Public Safety by Encouraging Guns in More Places and Preventing Local Government from Requiring Background Checks for All Gun Sales
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Volunteers with the Arizona chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and members of the Everytown Survivor Network, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today came together at an advocacy day at the Arizona State Capitol to oppose Senate Bills 1159 and 1122, two dangerous pieces of legislation that would threaten public safety. SB 1159 would unnecessarily incentivize business owners to allow guns. SB 1122 would seek to prevent state and local officials from keeping guns out of the hands of felons and domestic abusers.
STATEMENT FROM ANNIE LAMOUREAUX, VOLUNTEER CHAPTER LEADER WITH THE ARIZONA CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTON:
“Unfortunately, many of our elected officials continue to ignore public opinion, research and common sense. How do our elected leaders respond to gun violence here at home? They respond by introducing gun lobby-backed bills that will put our communities in danger. Both Senate Bills 1122 and 1159 fly in the face of common sense and are promoted by the gun lobby. With more than 90 people shot and killed and hundreds more injured every day in this country, we know gun violence is a public health issue. There is one common factor, easy access to firearms. I strongly urge our representatives to vote no on SB 1122 and SB 1159 because this is not the Arizona we want to live in.”
STATEMENT FROM MARY REED, A MEMBER OF THE EVERYTOWN SURVIVOR NETWORK WHO WAS SHOT WHILE PROTECTING HER DAUGTHER AT REP. GABBY GIFFORDS’ CONGRESS ON YOUR CORNER MEETING ON JANUARY 11, 2011:
“No parent should have to use their body as a shield between their child and flying bullets. And although my daughter and I will forever be haunted by that moment, we are both alive while more than 90 people die every single day from gun violence in this country. I am choosing to use my voice to speak about about policies that can actually make a difference and change this horrific statistic. The only way we can make significant progress is if our elected officials stand up to the gun lobby; and Senate Bills 1159 and 1122 are dangerous pieces of gun lobby-backed legislation that help perpetuate the gun violence in our state. I urge our elected representatives to vote no on SB 1159 and 1122.”
STATEMENT FROM DEBORAH PARKER, A MEMBER OF THE EVERYTOWN SURVIVOR NETWORK WHOSE DAUGHTER WAS SHOT AND KILLED WHILE SITTING OUTSIDE ON A PORCH AT A BIRTHDAY PARTY:
“My daughter was murdered by two men who never should have had guns. With the gaping loopholes in our current system, felons and domestic abusers can easily purchase a gun on the internet or at gun shows without a background check. Senate Bills 1122 and 1159 are reckless pieces of legislation that continue to promote the gun lobby’s ‘guns everywhere’ agenda that currently plagues our state. I hope our representatives will vote no on SB 1122 and 1159 and instead introduce legislation that focuses on keeping guns out of the hands of violent offenders.”