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Over 100 Moms Demand Action Volunteers and Survivors Rally in Frankfort for Gun Safety, and Celebrate of 10 Years Life-Saving Work

2.16.2023

Gun safety advocates and champions to rally for lawmakers to oppose dangerous nullification laws and to create an office of gun violence prevention 

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Today, Kentucky Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action volunteers and survivors, part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, gathered for their annual Advocacy Day at the statehouse to meet with lawmakers and advocate for gun safety measures to be passed and implemented during this legislative session. This year’s Advocacy Day also coincides with the 10-year celebration of Moms Demand Action. 

“Our grassroots movement has been on the frontlines working to protect our communities from gun violence, from keeping guns off our college campuses to fighting for secure storage laws,” said Cathy Hobart, a volunteer with the Kentucky chapter of Moms Demand Action. “We are rallying today because we know that gun violence continues to have a devastating impact in our communities — and with a dangerous bill that would prevent law enforcement from protecting us from gun violence on the docket this session, we know that our work is not done.” 

Since the chapter’s founding, the Kentucky chapter of Moms Demand Action has had success both statewide and locally fighting for gun safety. In 2018, volunteers successfully defeated bills to force guns on college campuses, in K-12 schools, and permitless carry. In 2021, they passed legislation limiting the use of no-knock warrants and required safeguards to prevent their misuse to help prevent police violence. Thanks to volunteers’ tireless efforts, this year the Jefferson County Board of Education unanimously passed a resolution to include Be SMART secure firearm storage information in the Student Behavior and Intervention Handbook.

This upcoming legislative session, volunteers will be advocating for the following: 

  • Lawmakers to oppose HB 153 — a dangerous nullification law which aims to invalidate federal firearm laws and prevent state and local law enforcement from enforcing those laws and protect the public from gun violence.
  • The creation of an Office of Gun Violence Prevention — a state-level grant-making authority with a focus on funding and implementing community-based prevention, intervention and after-care programs and strategies to reduce gun violence.
  • For legislators to pass the Crisis Aversion and Rights Retention Orders (CARR) —  an important tool to protect Kentuckians who are in crisis by providing law enforcement officers who recognize warning signs with a life-saving tool they can use to prevent gun violence tragedies, such as firearm suicides and mass shootings. The majority of gun deaths in Kentucky are by firearm suicide. 

In an average year in Kentucky, 770 people die by guns. Gun violence costs Kentucky $9.6 billion each year. More information on gun violence in Kentucky is available here.

To speak to a local volunteer with Moms Demand Action, a volunteer with Students Demand Action, or a policy expert, please don’t hesitate to reach out.