St. Petersburg, Florida - Mayors, moms and millions of Americans are uniting today and in the days to come for a new "gun sense" initiative called "Everytown for Gun Safety."
Moms Demand Action stood side-by-side with Mayors Against Illegal Guns in St. Petersburg Wednesday. "One gun per day is confiscated here in St. Petersburg and that is one too many. It is frustrating," said Mayor Rick Kriseman.
A haunting example: 8-year-old Paris Whitehead Hamilton, who was shot and killed in 2009 while she slept in her bed.
"I'd like to be able to do more to get illegal guns off the streets, prevent gun violence, but my hands are tied."
So, that's where the supporters' hands come in, picking up pens and signing a pledge to vote for leaders who support "Gun Sense in America."
"Universal background checks. Both state and national level," said organizer Chryl Anderson. And she said they want to take a stand against the "Stand Your Ground Law as well. "If we can't repeal it, we at least [can make] some modifications to it."
Near tears, Lisa Wheeler-Brown said her son is the sole reason she's signed up. "He was murdered September 2008 by a person who had an illegal weapon," she said.
Anderson closed by saying, "We want laws passed so no one else suffers this pain. It is an incredible, crushing pain."
The message "Everytown for Gun Safety" will be popping up across the State of Florida and also nationally. Today was just the beginning. Also, authorities were prepared to have protesters; however, nobody turned out from the other side.
