14 Union County Mayors to sign State of Principals Against Illegal Guns in event to be held Wednesday, April 11 from 7-9 p.m.
The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders are joining Moms Demand Action of Union County in sponsoring the “Mayors Against Illegal Guns” event that is being held this Wednesday, in which Mayors from 14 Union County municipalities will sign a Statement of Principals against illegal guns. The event is being held at the Hamilton Stage Theatre at 360 Hamilton Street, from 7-9 p.m.
“The Freeholder Board is proud to co-sponsor this event and bring our Union County elected officials together in making a statement that they will do everything in their power to protect our residents and our children from the threat of illegal guns,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados, who as part of his “Moving Union County Forward” initiatives this year, announced a partnership with Moms Demand Action of Union County in fighting for common sense gun reforms. “As elected officials, we are duty-bound to do everything in our power to protect our residents, our children and our families from the scourge of gun violence—and there is NO GREATER public safety issue today than this threat.”
The 14 Mayors who have agreed to sign the statement of principles against illegal guns are:
Derek Armstead, Linden; Chris Bollwage, Elizabeth; Shelley Brindle, Westfield; Suzette Cavadas, Union; Christine Dansereau, Roselle; Raymond Giacobbe, Rahway; Tom Hannen, Cranford; Carl Hokanson, Roselle Park; Richard Huber, Springfield; Charles Lombardo, Garwood; Colleen Mahr, Fanwood; Adrian Mapp, Plainfield; Nora Radest, Summit and Dahlia Vertreese, Hillside.
A copy of the statement of principles is online at: http://everytown.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/MayorsStatementofPrinciples2014.pdf
Speakers include students Matthew Skolar, a sophomore from Scotch Plains High School, Colin Sumner a sophomore at Westfield High School, and Paul S. John, Manager of Mayoral Outreach, Mayors Against Illegal Guns.
Other speakers at the event include: Granados, Brett Sabo, the NJ State Chapter of Lead of Moms Demand Action, and representatives of Union County Moms Demand Action including Scott Mack, Patti Wilson-Fico and Jessica Grant.
Other members of the Union County Freeholder Board are also expected to be on hand, including Freeholder Vice Chairwoman Bette Jane Kowalski, Freeholders Al Mirabella, Bruce Bergen, and Angel Estrada.
Moms Demand Action was founded by stay-at-home mom, Shannon Watts, on December 15, 2012, in response to the devastating shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The organization quickly flourished into a leading force for gun violence prevention, with chapters in all 50 states and a powerful grassroots network of concerned citizens that has successfully effected change at the local, state and national level. In December 2013, Moms Demand Action partnered with Mayors Against Illegal Guns to unite a nationwide movement of millions of Americans working together to change the game and end the epidemic of gun violence that affects every community.
Last month, Americans showed up in force for March for Our Lives events in Washington, D.C. and around the country. Led by students and gun violence survivors, they sent a clear message: protect us.
They demanded that lawmakers make students’ lives and safety a priority and pass common-sense gun safety legislation that will make all Americans safer. Their powerful voices added to the growing momentum to end the cycle of gun violence that kills 96 Americans every day and leaves hundreds more injured.
Everytown for Gun Safety is harnessing that momentum to create real change. In state houses, in board rooms and in Congress, we’re bringing together Americans of all stripes to use their voices.