In the wake of the tragic Sandy Hook shootings that claimed 26 lives, one mother, Lisa Carter, was driven to action. Frustrated by the lack of an organized movement for gun safety comparable to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Lisa set out to find a group that aligned with her values. “I searched for quite a while online but found nothing,” she shared. Instead of giving up, the former marketing executive turned stay-at-home mom decided to create a Facebook group herself, aimed at uniting mothers who wanted to see meaningful changes in America’s gun laws.
“I thought, ‘I’ll just start a Facebook page and see what unfolds,’” she recalled. This initiative blossomed into what is now known as Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America—a movement that supports the Second Amendment while advocating for rational gun laws to reduce the daily toll of gun violence, which claims 91 lives in the U.S. every day.
The Facebook group rapidly transformed into a national movement. In December 2013, Moms Demand Action joined forces with Mayors Against Illegal Guns, forming a part of the larger organization Everytown for Gun Safety. Operating as the grassroots arm of this coalition, Moms Demand Action engages in meetings, social media outreach, and advocacy efforts in state legislatures and corporate boardrooms to promote policies aimed at curbing gun violence. Since 2014, the organization has expanded by over 800%, establishing a chapter in every state.
Facing the powerful gun lobby and the NRA is no easy feat, and Lisa has encountered significant pushback. However, from the outset, she recognized the potential for substantial change, and she never wavered in her commitment. “Within a week, I received death threats and threats of sexual violence. My children were threatened on social media. Yet, I also had mothers from across the country—New York, Texas, Montana, Chicago—reaching out, asking how they could start a chapter in their areas,” she recounted.
Moms Demand Action has achieved remarkable success in recent years. “We’re adept at defending against harmful legislation,” Lisa explained. “In the past four years, we’ve successfully halted hundreds of bills aimed at loosening gun restrictions, including laws allowing guns on campus and permitless carry.” What sets this organization apart is that its members are not just keyboard warriors. “We need people to engage beyond social media,” says Lisa. “When a group of determined mothers confronts lawmakers, asserting that we represent the majority of voters and the economic decision-makers in our families, it leaves an impact.”
The issue of lockdown drills in schools has also galvanized support for the organization, as many parents are shocked by the need for children to practice how to survive a potential shooting. “There’s a much better solution,” Lisa argues, emphasizing the necessity of addressing the question, “How do we keep firearms out of the hands of those who pose a danger?”
You don’t have to be a mother or a parent to join the movement; anyone can participate in local chapters of Moms Demand Action. As Lisa puts it, “This is about all concerned Americans coming together to advocate for a safer future for our children.”
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In summary, a mother’s initiative to create a Facebook group has burgeoned into a formidable movement advocating for sensible gun laws, uniting individuals from diverse backgrounds to work towards a safer America.