A mother who lost her two children to gun violence and a young man from Evanston who saw his brother shot and killed joined Schakowsky and her colleagues at the press conference.  Also in attendance were Donna Dees-Thomases, founder of the Million Mom March, and Rita Mullens, Republican Mayor of Palatine.

“Mothers are united against gun violence and soon the whole country will find out that mothers are more powerful than the gun lobby and its leader, motion picture Moses.  The National Rifle Association with its high powered lobbyists and out of control leaders, Charlton Heston and Wayne LaPierre, are no match to mothers committed to protecting their children,” Schakowsky said.

Schakowsky said that it is inexcusable for Congress to delay passing sensible gun safety legislation that would require the sale of child safety locks with each handgun, close the gun show sales loophole, and ban the importation of large capacity ammunition clips.  She urged immediate action on these measures.
 
“As mothers and grandmothers, the safety of our children and grandchildren are nonnegotiable.  As Democrats and Republicans, we must look past our differences and work to pass gun safety legislation.  A bullet does not have a party affiliation,” Schakowsky added.
 
On May 14th, at the Lakefront, the Chicago Million Mom March will be held simultaneously with the Million Mom March in Washington, D.C. Twelve states and numerous  cities will be holding marches on that day.  The Million Mom March was organized by Donna Dees-Thomases, a New Jersey mother, following the shooting last August at a Granada Hills, California day care center.