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Mum's Not the Word at Million Mom March

by Lori A. Cascone

Dream scenario: A million moms converge on the Washington Mall, bearing signs and chanting messages about gun control. Members of Congress perk up their ears and scribble furiously on their legal pads about stronger licensing laws, childproof handguns, and strict background checks of prospective gun owners. When asked why they're suddenly so intent on tightening up gun-control laws, the congressmen reply, "Because they said so."

If you can't get your kids to clean their rooms and do their homework "because I said so," do you think lawmakers are going to buy that line? If you're shaking your head "no," you may be in for a big surprise. The "Million Mom March" on Sunday, May 14, may just do the trick.

Making Sense of Senseless Killing
Legislation that would require child-safety locks on guns and background checks before permitting gun purchases at trade shows passed the Senate a year ago. These laws, however, have been languishing in the House for months. To Donna Dees-Thomases, this is unacceptable.

Created by the New Jersey mother of two, the Million Mom March was introduced on Labor Day, 1999, as a not-for-profit organization that pushes for "common-sense laws." The group does not advocate banning guns; it pushes for laws that require gun owners to be responsible for their weapons and know how to handle them safely.

The group's members — "moms from all walks of life" — enforce a goal to spur legal action. This is evident in its message: "We want Congress to create a meaningful gun policy in this country that treats guns like cars. Licensing and registration — it's only common sense."

Specifically, members endorse the following:

License Handgun Owners and Register All Handguns

Sensible "Cooling Off" Periods and Background Checks

Safety Locks for All Handguns

Limit Purchases to One Handgun Per Month

No-Nonsense Enforcement of Gun Laws

Enlistment of Help from Corporate America

Recruitment

Apparently, President Clinton agrees. In the CNN.com article on May 8, " 'Million Mom March' Organizers Hope to Spur Congressional Action on Gun Legislation", the president says he hopes the Mother's Day event will prompt Congress to act.

And in the May 11 article on washingtonpost.com, "Reno Lauds Million Moms, Urges Tough Gun Laws", the attorney general also urges Congress to pay attention to Sunday's event by passing tougher laws.

The NRA Pushes for Education
So where does the National Rifle Association stand in all of this? This week, the pro-gun organization embarked on an ad campaign that advocates gun-safety education. According to CNN.com's article on May 10, "NRA Counters 'Mom March' With New Ads", in television and newspaper ads, the NRA says it will spend $1 million to educate children about gun safety, and it asks viewers to match it. The money is to be used to bring the NRA's Eddie Eagle gun safety program, or its equivalent, to every American school.

However, the article says, some gun-control groups feel the Eddie Eagle mascot doesn't convey an effective message. One spokesman is quoted as saying the mascot never says guns can kill — it only tells kids to stay away from them and tell an adult if they see one.

Well, if the eagle doesn't fly, the Million Mom March group hopes its mission on Sunday will: to educate children and the country about the life-threatening danger of guns.

So even if the traditional "mom" saying, "because I said so," doesn't hold water in many households anymore, it may do wonders in the voting booths come November. According to "Don't Mess With the Moms," in the May 15 edition of Newsweek.com, the day after the march, Dees-Thomases will announce a new group that will keep the moms' network intact. Imagine what that'll do come election time.