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YWCA supports gun control

Urgent Action Request:

Please support Mothers for Gun Control Campaign beginning May 8, 2009

Dear Friends,

As you know, there has been many challenges over the past couple of months. We worked hard, along with your help to ensure that there is no retreat on gun control. We have made good progress - the Bloc, Liberal and NDP leaders have now taken stronger positions in support of the law. While two Conservative Bills remain in play - Bill S-5 in the Senate and Bill C-301 in the House of Commons, the Bloc Quebecois was successful in working with the opposition parties to get a non-binding motion SUPPORTING the registry passed in the House of Commons April 22. One Liberal voted against and several NDP members were absent. Nevertheless, the gun lobby is launching a well-financed all out campaign with full page print advertisements and media targeting the MPs, particularly in rural ridings, who were absent or voted for the motion of support. As well, there are people in all opposition caucuses continuing to push for amendments and compromises going into the next federal election.

We must keep up the pressure and, it seems, almost 20 years after the Montreal massacre, we must mobilize grass roots support for the law across the country, particularly in rural ridings. We are grateful for the work that has been done by the police, health care experts, women’s groups, Dawson College, and individuals like Suzanne Laplante-Edward, whose daughter was killed at Polytechnique, and many others.

Building on the hard work of organizations and individuals, a group of other mothers who have lost children to gun violence launched today a Mother's Day campaign. We hope that this will be the first of many that will carry us through the election and to the 20th anniversary of the Montreal massacre.

how to help?

Please help us distribute our material within your network today and link to our website. More information on the campaign is attached.

• Distribute the form letter and the media release today to everyone you know to tell Members of Parliament not to allow our gun control law to be weakened.
  Mothers for Gun Control - form letter to Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper
• Invite your network, your friends and your family to view the attached video
  (also available at www.guncontrol.ca)
• Join the new Coalition for Gun Control’s Blog, Facebook and Twitter groups
  CGC blog: http://guncontrolcanada.wordpress.com/
  CGC Twitter page: http://twitter.com/CGCguncontrol
  CGC Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php ?gid=94173452847
• Share your own experience or thoughts on gun violence.

Thank you very much for your ongoing support!

Wendy Cukier MA, MBA, Ph.D, DU (hon), LLD (hon), MSC
President, Coalition for Gun Control
Professor, Ryerson University

Recipient of the Prix policier du Québec (2007)
Canadian Criminal Justice Public Education Award (2000)
Canadian Public Health Association Award of Merit (1996)
YWCA Woman of Distinction (1996)

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