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Health & Fitness

Making Lemonade from Lemons

Members of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America will join with Mayors Against Illegal Guns when the No More Names Bus Tour rolls into Boston’s historic Faneuil Hall, Wednesday, August 28.  Moms Demand Action will hold a lemonade stand next to the No More Names bus to pressure Congress to pass background check legislation when they return in the fall.

 “Congress gave America lemons in April when the Senate failed to pass common-sense legislation that would have expanded background checks on all gun sales. Moms were disappointed by the Senate’s failure to act, but we were not deterred, and we’re making lemonade out of the lemons we were given,” said Molly Malloy, Chapter Leader for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America Massachusetts Chapter.  “Our lemonade stands are our way of taking a stand: American moms demand new and stronger gun laws, and we’re not going away. Congress must act to protect our children and families from gun violence.”

 The Moms Demand Action Lemonade Stand in Boston will be open at 10:00 am near the Sam Adams Statue, just prior to the Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG) “No More Names” Bus Tour Press Conference and reading of the thousands of names of gun violence victims since the Newtown massacre.  MAIG founding member Mayor Thomas Menino, Senator Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Michael Capuano will be among the elected officials invited to stop by for a glass of lemonade to support the grassroots efforts of area Moms who demand Federal and State action to improve gun laws.  Moms Demand Action invites the public to come to the lemonade stand to show support as well.

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 The MAIG No More Names bus tour is a 100-day initiative traveling across the country since June to support common-sense gun violence prevention measures. These events bring together elected officials, gun violence survivors, faith leaders, gun owners, law enforcement, and community members.

 In addition to Boston and another Massachusetts event at the Cape Cod Chat House in Dennis on Saturday, August 31, Moms Demand Action Lemonade Stand will be held in many cities across the country, including Washington, DC; Tucson and Phoenix, AZ; San Diego, CA; Atlanta and Savannah, GA; Indianapolis, IN; Fancy Farm, KY; Tampa, FL; Charlotte, Clemmons, Winston-Salem, and Durham, NC; Monmouth County and Morristown, NJ; Brooklyn, Rockland County and Hudson Valley, NY; Cleveland and Columbus, OH; Portland, OR; Harrisburg, PA; Nashville, TN; Austin and Houston, TX; Falls Church, VA. Additional lemonade stand locations will be added throughout August. For more information on lemonade stand locations and times, go to: http://momsdemandaction.org/lemonade-stands-2013/.

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 “We are not going to give up when it comes to passing common-sense legislation that will keep guns from criminals, terrorists and the dangerously mentally ill,” said House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Chairman Mike Thompson. “The only thing more shameful than the minority of the Senate voting down background check legislation is the House refusing to vote at all. The bipartisan background check bill I’ve introduced respects the Second Amendment and will save lives. It deserves a vote.”

 Moms will be able to fill out postcards to their legislators at each lemonade stand asking Massachusetts Congressional Representatives to commit to working on new and stronger gun laws when they return from recess. In addition, all moms and members are being asked to share their “recipe” for lemonade with their members of Congress through social media. Lemonade recipe instructions can be found at http://momsdemandaction.org/lemonade-stands-2013/. Recipes should be emailed to photos@momsdemandaction.org, or Tweet and Instagram the photos using the #lemons2lemonade and #momsdemandaction.

 About Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America

Much like Mothers Against Drunk Driving was created to change laws regarding drunk driving, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America (www.momsdemandaction.org) was created to build support for common-sense gun legislation. The nonpartisan grassroots movement of American mothers is demanding new and stronger solutions to lax gun laws and loopholes that jeopardize the safety of our children and families. In just eight months, the organization has more than 100,000 members with chapters in 40 states across the country.  The Boston Chapter can be found on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MomsDemandActionMABoston.


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