Next Monday the Senate will return from vacation and is expected to take up the gun control bill. Several Republicans have already threatened to filibuster. But they may be underestimating the political power of one important group: mothers.
“Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America” was founded the day after the Sandy Hook massacre and now has 90,000 members, with more than 80 chapters in 38 states. They have one message to Congress: Pass common sense gun control legislation.
“Our dream law is pretty straight forward, and it’s very common sense,” Kim Russell, the national chapter coordinator, explained on Monday’s show. “We want a ban on assault weapons, we want a ban on ammunition magazines of more than 10 rounds. Large quantities purchased of ammunition and guns, we want reported to the ATF. No online sales of ammunition. And we want strong gun trafficking laws. We want this to be a federal crime with stiff federal penalties.”
These mothers have marched on Washington, organized rallies to demand action on gun violence, and repeatedly emphasize that they are not going away. “This is about our children. They are our greatest resource," Russell said. "If we let our children down, then as President Obama said, shame on us.”