Heads up, Michiganders.
Among other things, the old 750,000 MMM lie.
http://gr.mlive.com/news/index.ssf?/news/stories/20000818gmillion1105803.frm
Moms pushing tighter laws for guns will walk bridge
By Dave Murray
The Grand Rapids Press
Area leaders of the Million Mom March say a Labor Day stroll on the Mackinac Bridge will help make sure their gun control message remains on the minds of voters and politicians during the campaign season.
Michigan organizers say they plan to join the thousands of people who make the holiday trek to raise awareness of their cause and maybe pick up supporters.
Organizers say they know they will not attract the 750,000 protesters who crammed the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on Mother's Day. But Susan Brown, coordinator for the East Metro Million Mom March chapter, says she has heard from groups in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota who intend to participate.
"People thought that we were only a one-time event, and that after Mother's Day we'd fade into the moonlight," she said. "That's not going to happen. Local chapters are organizing all over the country and we will continue to press for our goal of ending gun violence."
Joy Livingston, a mother of three from Plainwell, said marchers plan to gather on the St. Ignace side of the bridge at 6 a.m. and start walking an hour later.
"We can't hold banners, those are the rules," she said. "But we'll have poster boards and other signs to get our message out."
Livingston was the Michigan coordinator for the May event, and believes the march had an impact on the 2000 election landscape.
"I think people at first thought we were a big joke," she said. "But 750,000 moms can't be wrong. We want to let the politicians know we're still here, we're going to vote and we're more fired up than ever."
Among the changes the marching moms are calling for:
-- Cooling-off periods and background checks for anyone who wants to purchase a handgun.
-- Licensing handgun owners and registering all handguns.
-- Safety locks for all handguns.
-- Limiting purchases to one handgun per month.
-- Stricter enforcement of laws on the books.
Brown said she expects more than 1,000 people to join the Labor Day event.
She said she was looking for a way to come up with a major event during the fall, but could not dedicate the amount of time needed to pull off a spectacle the size of the march on Washington.
Brown credits her baby sitter, Pat Holmquist, with the idea of the bridge walk. Now, she is recruiting and organizing marchers and reserving hotel rooms.
For more information about the walk, e-mail eastmetrommm@home.com
Copyright 2000 Michigan Live Inc.
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"The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside
the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light." (Romans 13:12)
Among other things, the old 750,000 MMM lie.
http://gr.mlive.com/news/index.ssf?/news/stories/20000818gmillion1105803.frm
Moms pushing tighter laws for guns will walk bridge
By Dave Murray
The Grand Rapids Press
Area leaders of the Million Mom March say a Labor Day stroll on the Mackinac Bridge will help make sure their gun control message remains on the minds of voters and politicians during the campaign season.
Michigan organizers say they plan to join the thousands of people who make the holiday trek to raise awareness of their cause and maybe pick up supporters.
Organizers say they know they will not attract the 750,000 protesters who crammed the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on Mother's Day. But Susan Brown, coordinator for the East Metro Million Mom March chapter, says she has heard from groups in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota who intend to participate.
"People thought that we were only a one-time event, and that after Mother's Day we'd fade into the moonlight," she said. "That's not going to happen. Local chapters are organizing all over the country and we will continue to press for our goal of ending gun violence."
Joy Livingston, a mother of three from Plainwell, said marchers plan to gather on the St. Ignace side of the bridge at 6 a.m. and start walking an hour later.
"We can't hold banners, those are the rules," she said. "But we'll have poster boards and other signs to get our message out."
Livingston was the Michigan coordinator for the May event, and believes the march had an impact on the 2000 election landscape.
"I think people at first thought we were a big joke," she said. "But 750,000 moms can't be wrong. We want to let the politicians know we're still here, we're going to vote and we're more fired up than ever."
Among the changes the marching moms are calling for:
-- Cooling-off periods and background checks for anyone who wants to purchase a handgun.
-- Licensing handgun owners and registering all handguns.
-- Safety locks for all handguns.
-- Limiting purchases to one handgun per month.
-- Stricter enforcement of laws on the books.
Brown said she expects more than 1,000 people to join the Labor Day event.
She said she was looking for a way to come up with a major event during the fall, but could not dedicate the amount of time needed to pull off a spectacle the size of the march on Washington.
Brown credits her baby sitter, Pat Holmquist, with the idea of the bridge walk. Now, she is recruiting and organizing marchers and reserving hotel rooms.
For more information about the walk, e-mail eastmetrommm@home.com
Copyright 2000 Michigan Live Inc.
------------------
"The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside
the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light." (Romans 13:12)
And the MMM will be coming from Indiana, Illinois and Ohio, as well. There is definately something being planned, although it's in the early stages. MCRGO is also making plans, I believe.