Gun Control, Please

Christine A. Keener is a Cambridge-based lawyer, and Greta Hardina is a parent who manages the toy store where the "Gun Control Please" sign is displayed.

When Cambridge toy store-owner, Greta Hardina, was faced with sending her 5-year-old son to kindergarten, she worried. Like any parent, she was anxious about the initial separation and change in routine. However, Hardina"s fears in sending her child to school were exacerbated following the Columbine shootings. Like many other parents and an estimated 80% of the population, she wants the government to enforce stricter gun control legislation. After Columbine, she contacted her legislators to voice her support for stricter gun control, but was feeling the need to do more and was feeling frustrated by apathetic attitudes towards the issue. She decided to construct a 25-foot banner that simply said, "Gun Control Please." The banner was made by her son and family members and came complete with children's hand and foot prints. The banner was proudly displayed on the side of her store and still remains to this day. During the construction of the banner, she contacted a local gun control agency called Stop Hand Gun Violence. They were able to provide her with information about gun safety to give out in her store. "When the banner was first erected people looked at me strange, as if to say what the hell are you doing?" says Hardina. But within a few days, she had people coming in the store thanking her for taking a stand. One woman said she was in tears when she saw the banner. Hardina says she wanted to do something to counteract her worries about her child's and other children's safety in a country were thirteen children a day are killed by fire arms.

Last fall, the project director of The Stop Handgun Violence, Elizabeth Miles, called Hardina with news of a march being organized by a mom in New Jersey who was feeling the same as Hardina about the overwhelming amount of gun violence. The march, which is called THE MILLION MOM MARCH, will take place in Washington, DC on Mothers" Day (May 14, 2000). The March is not strictly for mothers but for all "honorary moms"--dads, siblings, grandparents, and future moms, or anyone concerned about the increasing violence and use of handguns.

Since hearing of the march, Hardina has been working locally, like others all over the country, to organize their communities to attend this important event. Hardina has been educating friends, parents, and colleagues through community discussions about what the march is trying to accomplish.

"We want Congress to support sensible 'cooling off' periods and background checks for those who want to purchase weapons. We believe that all handgun owners should be licensed and that guns should be registered with the proper authorities. We want one-hand-gun-per-month legislation which would prevent illegal gun trafficking. We believe safety locks should be required for all guns."

Hardina notes ironically that toys sold in the US must meet many standards for safety, whereas guns have none. "Gun manufactures should be required to design guns with safety locks built in. We hope to send a clear message to Congress that we demand immediate action be taken right over the protests of the NRA and other heavily financed gun lobbies who justify the misuse of guns with the reference to freedom and liberty. We, the mothers, know that life is the first right promised by the Constitution, and our children's lives far outweigh the right to 'bear arms.'"

For more details on the proposed legislation, or to register as a marcher, visit the Million Mom March website at www.millionmommarch.com. Donations are needed to defer the large costs of printing, mailing, and transportation. Donations are tax-deductible and can be made by credit card or by checks mailed to: Stop Handgun Violence, One Bridge Street, Suite 300, Newton, MA 02458. To get involved with MMM organizers in your state, visit <www.modecard.com/mmm/regions_nn.html> The Massachusetts contact for the march is 1-877/723-3276.)