“We embrace the pain of the mothers and fathers in the United States who have lost children to gun violence, because my own son was disappeared in Michoacán with a firearm,” said Araceli Rodríguez, mother of Luis Ángel León Rodríguez in a statement from Mexico’s Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity (MPJD). Just like parents who lost children in the horrific Newtown shooting, victims across Mexico who have lost their sons and daughters to gun violence are calling for action to prevent future tragedies.
What can you do? Join us and call your members of Congress on Monday, February 4th!
This past weekend, LAWG traveled to Mexico City to join with Javier Sicilia and countless victims who have lost loved ones to violence in Mexico to chart out next steps for Mexico’s MPJD to build a more peaceful and just Mexico. Among the victims and advocates were many familiar faces and friends whom we met during the MPJD’s cross-country Caravan this past September. Their stories once again reminded us that the impacts of lax U.S. gun laws reach far beyond the border. Not only have roughly 70 percent of firearms found at crime scenes in Mexico originated in the United States, but researchers from NYU suggest that the end of the Assault Weapons Ban in 2004 led to an increase in homicides in Mexican border cities.
The MPJD’s statement supporting President Obama’s proposals to stop the epidemic of violence with firearms afflicting communities in both the United States and Mexico, called for “people of both countries to support these changes that are so urgent for preventing more atrocities with firearms.”
Join people of conscience from all over the country on Monday, February 4th to tell Congress to stop gun violence!
On Monday, February 4th people of faith and people of conscience from all over the country are participating in an Interfaith Call-in to Prevent Gun Violence. Follow these easy steps or tune in to www.faithscalling.org on Monday, February 4th. Lend your voice to the many grieving in Mexico and the U.S. due to gun violence by calling your Senators and Representatives and insist that they act to prevent gun violence on both sides of the border!
At the January 30th Senate Judiciary Committee hearing “What Should America Do about Gun Violence?”, former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords opened by addressing the committee and calling for immediate government action. “We must do something. It will be hard, but the time is now. You must act. Be bold. Be courageous. Americans are counting on you.”
On Monday, February 4th raise your voice and tell Congress the time is NOW!
If you believe that we need to tighten our gun laws to prevent violence and end the bloodshed on both sides of the border, we urge you to take action. Join us on Monday, February 4th and make your voice heard!