cuchulainn
Member
Hey Jersey activists, note the bit about their walkathon. There's an opportunity there, hint, hint.
from the Jersey Journal
http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1050487847302040.xml
from the Jersey Journal
http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1050487847302040.xml
Cunningham honored for fight against gun makers Wednesday, April 16, 2003
By Barry Carter
Newhouse News Service
The New Jersey State Council of the Million Mom March honored Jersey City Mayor Glenn D. Cunningham yesterday for waging a fight against gun manufacturers to be more responsible in the sale of weapons that end up disproportionately in urban communities.
On the steps of Newark City Hall, officials from the statewide organization and the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence praised Cunningham, along with Newark Mayor Sharpe James and Camden Mayor Gwendolyn Faison, for filing lawsuits against gun makers and dealers who do not include safety features like built-in locks on their weapons.
"These lawsuits have the power to change the gun industry's reckless practices and save countless lives lost to gun violence in New Jersey and throughout the country," said E. Asyah Aquil, a member of MMM who also heads its Victims Resource Committee.
The Million Mom March organization also used the event to encourage the public to attend its first walkathon May 10 in Branch Brook Park in Newark to raise money for victims and families of gun violence.
Jersey City, Newark and Camden are among more than 30 cities and counties across the country that have sued gun manufacturers and dealers for not including the safety features. The suits call for compensation for victims as well as for law enforcement, medical bills and other costs resulting from gun violence.
Carole Stiller, president of the New Jersey Council of MMM, said the nation's lawmakers have not done anything to change the way gun manufacturers do business since 750,000 mothers, fathers and grandparents protested three years ago in Washington, D.C., against gun violence.
"Things still have not changed," she said. "Things have not improved. Enough is enough."
Stiller called on the public to be aware of legislation winding its way through Congress that would grant the gun industry immunity from lawsuits filed by victims of gun violence. Cities and counties are included as well.
Last month, the firearms industry failed to fend off lawsuits from cities and counties when a state appeals court refused to dismiss Newark's lawsuit. The ruling allowed Newark's case and two others by Camden and Jersey City to go to trial. Newark Corporation Counsel JoAnne Watson said the ruling favored the city's case, but the gun manufacturers may be filing an appeal.
"It (the ruling) gets us a little closer to insist on preventive measures by gun manufacturers," Watson said.
In accepting the organization's Apple Pie award, Cunningham called gun manufacturers irresponsible, saying other industries produce only the amount of goods that they know they can sell.
"Yet gun manufacturers make more guns than they know they can sell legally," Cunningham said. "They know they can't sell all the guns they're producing. They know there is a market to get them illegally."
Cunningham said that he was honored to receive the award, but that there are still many challenges ahead.
"Although it is an honor to receive this award, I will only celebrate when we cross the finish line together and begin to hold these gun manufacturers accountable," he said.
In addition to filing a lawsuit against the gun manufacturers, Cunningham has been working with federal authorities to have the bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms open a satellite office in the city.
Copyright 2003 The Jersey Journal.
