Shannon Watts is the founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. She says her movement is winning despite Donald Trump’s victory. (Photo: Momsdemandaction.org)
The founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America says she’s done wallowing in disappointment following Donald Trump’s victory last week.
“So many women and activists had hoped to elect the first female president – a gun sense champion – to the White House,” wrote Shannon Watts in a piece for the Huffington Post. But she says her husband reminded her that gun violence prevention isn’t hinged on the outcome of a single election.
Watts founded Moms Demand Action four years ago in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. “I – along with millions of other moms and Americans – made a solemn vow to never again be silent on gun violence,” she wrote. “And we won’t break that vow just because Donald Trump won an election.”
“I – along with millions of other moms and Americans – made a solemn vow to never again be silent on gun violence,” she wrote. “And we won’t break that vow just because Donald Trump won an election.”
Watts says she’s used to adversity because she faces vitriol from gun extremists who “have bought into the gun lobby’s lies that stronger gun laws somehow violate the Second Amendment.”
She calls that nonsense, noting that background checks work and 90 percent of Americans support common sense gun safety laws.
Trump’s victory aside, Watts says her movement scored big wins on Election Day. Nevada, Washington and California voted yes on gun initiatives, New Mexico elected gun safety champions to the state legislature, and voters fired U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte “for repeatedly voting against gun safety laws.”
Watts says half of Americans now live in states that have closed in the criminal background check system, thanks to state-level victories.
Now is the time to dig in against those who try to dismantle life-saving gun laws, she says.
“This fight is just beginning, and an army of angry mothers will be there every step of the way to fight the extremist and dangerous ‘guns everywhere’ agenda of the NRA and president-elect Trump,” wrote Watts.
“The last few days have been tough, but we are tougher. Because nothing less than our children’s lives are at stake.”
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