This Session, Volunteers Helped Override Two Callous Vetoes on Gun Safety
Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action Volunteers are Available for Interviews
ANNAPOLIS — The Maryland chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both a part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, released the following statements celebrating the passage of several gun safety bills as the session comes to a close. This session, volunteers helped override two callous vetoes from Governor Larry Hogan on life-saving gun safety legislation such as background checks on all gun sales and police reform.
“This session has demonstrated once again the power of the gun safety movement,” said, Melissa Ladd, a volunteer with Maryland Moms Demand Action. “Even in a year like no other, we sent texts, called, emailed, tweeted and testified at every turn to make sure that these bills not only passed — but also had such widespread support that not even a veto could stop them. We are grateful to our lawmakers and community partners, especially those who have been courageously leading on these issues for years.”
“With over 720 people dying and over 1,700 people wounded by guns every year in our state, it is a relief to see our lawmakers taking this public health crisis so seriously,” said Sarah Toriola, a volunteer with Glen Burnie High School Students Demand Action in Maryland. “We know there is no one solution to end all gun violence, but we have seen that background checks on all gun sales and policies that address police violence can help prevent future tragedies.”
This session, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers and supporters took over 4,200 digital actions, in addition to numerous tweets, in support of gun safety laws such as police reform and requiring background checks on all gun sales.
On Thursday, lawmakers passed critical police reform legislation which was vetoed by Governor Hogan. However, volunteers helped urge a veto override by the legislature this weekend — making sure the life-saving police reform legislation will soon become law. Earlier this year, the Maryland chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action helped pass legislation to require background checks on all gun sales. After Governor Hogan vetoed the bill last May, volunteers immediately called for a veto override — which happened in February.
In January, more than 300 volunteers with Maryland Moms Demand Action gathered on a new virtual platform for their annual advocacy day. Additional information on gun violence in Maryland is available here, and Everytown’s Gun Law Navigator — which shows how Maryland’s gun laws compare to those of other states — is available here.