12/23/99

The Million Mom March

If you are a mother who believes that we need changes in our nation's gun laws, read on. If not, will you pass the information along? A friend of mine wrote to me about plans for a Million Mom March (MMM) to take place in Washington, D.C. on Mother's Day, 2000 (Sunday, May 14, 2000.)

The web site for the event is http://www.millionmommarch.com. The two main objectives of the Million Mom March are as follows:

1. To get no nonsense, no compromise, common sense gun legislation passed by Mothers' Day to protect not only our children, but also our children's children.

2. To get one million "moms" to the march in Washington D.C. on Mothers' Day 2000, either to celebrate sensible legislation or to protest bipartisan ineptitude. Some may tell you that you can't fight the gun lobby. We can if we are a million strong. With the heightened awareness of the destructiveness of guns in the hands of children and the upcoming election next year, this is the time to get our voices heard.

The 10-step plan of action for the Million Mom March:

1. Familiarize yourself with the MMM objectives (listed above with more detailed information on the website.) We can accept nothing less than these goals.

2. Let members of Congress know that we will be watching each vote or lack of action on gun issues. Several action petitions are accessible online or contact your state Congress person. Also notify your Congressional representative if you plan to attend the March.

3. Organize a mothers' task force, so that no mother will have to work on this alone. An important job is E-Mail Collector. If your state doesn't have one already, find a mom willing to receive all emails from us and from interested moms. She, in turn, will distribute communication to people on her lists and create a phone chain for mothers not linked by the Web. A second job is that of State Organizer.

   This is a huge job, especially in states close to Washington, D.C. The State Organizer will help spread the workload among committees: Printing and Distribution, Fundraising, Transportation to D.C., Media Relations, etc.

4. Let others know that moms are mobilizing. The most effective way is to print and distribute posters and flyers. The Logo can be downloaded from the MMM website. The names of individuals or businesses making substantial contributions will be listed on the website.

5. Alert the local media. Write a letter to the editor or arrange a local press conference. Speak from the heart as mothers. If you're knowledgeable about the nuances of gun legislation, tackle the subject. If not, refer questions to the MMM website and distribute basic information about the March.

6. As with all major endeavors, we must raise funds. The costs are estimated to exceed two million dollars (port-a-potties, labor set-up, clean-up, sound equipment, insurance, etc.) Contact individuals and businesses in your community to make contributions or to provide sponsorships. Ask local celebrities to help, too. See the website for addresses to send donations.

7. Reserve lodging now. Ask your travel agent to arrange a group rate for you and your friends. May is a beautiful time of year in Washington. Maybe the cherry trees will wait for us and bloom around that date. Dad can take the kids to the Smithsonian while Mom's are out protesting on the Mall.

8. We must help mothers unable to afford the trip. Ask the PTA or a similar group to sponsor five moms from your community to represent them at the March. Make banners for them to take. Organize fundraisers to help them defray the costs of transportation and lodging. Ask churches and temples to contact affiliates in the D.C. area to house families with other families. Our D.C. contingent is busy finding host homes, too.

9. Each community will have different needs, so adjust accordingly. But don't do it alone. Find a friend to help you get started. If you need help, call the Bell Campaign, 1-800-RINGING, and find out if there is a local chapter near you.

10. Keep in contact. Email the organizers through the website. This is a huge undertaking, but together we can make a difference. Each one of us is one in a million.

Editor's Note: We anticipated receiving a lot of comments on the Million Mom March and on the issue of gun control, and we were not disappointed. Readers' comments can be found in Viewpoints.

Please send questions or comments to bbruno@snet.net.