Shannon Watts Profile picture
Aug 12, 2018 15 tweets 9 min read Read on X
As we wrap up #GSU18, I want to thank the 1,000+ volunteer leaders - including 300+ gun violence survivors - from 47 states and DC, who attended. Just 5 years ago, I skyped with 5 women trying to figure out how we could build @MomsDemand. As of last week, we are 5 million strong.
Because this movement is powered by love. "A mother's love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity, it dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path," Agatha Christie
From Prohibition to child labor laws to civil rights to the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, women – particularly women of color – don’t back down when children are in danger, they double down.

In other words, if you threaten our families, you answer to us.
.@MomsDemand volunteers are carrying on that tradition by bringing the gun lobby to its knees through the unglamorous, heavy lifting of grassroots activism. Organizing to win requires tenacity. We show up over and over again, knowing that if we build it, the people will come.
In the past six months, we've held over 8,000 events attended by more than 225,000 people. We supported hundreds of #MarchforOurLives events and amplified the voices of a new generation of activists, including the newest members of our movement, Students Demand Action.
The influx of tens of thousands of new volunteers in the wake of the shooting tragedy in Parkland strengthened us to pass more good gun bills than in any prior legislative session, and to stop 1,000+ bad @NRA bills, for a win rate of over 90% for the 4th straight year in a row.
Vermont became the 20th state to close unlicensed sale loophole
10 states passed domestic gun violence laws
8 states passed Red Flag Laws
10 states made bump stocks illegal
And we defeated guns in schools in 16 states; guns on campus in 18 states; permitless carry in 15 states
.@MomsDemand volunteers also doubled down this year on fighting gun violence in marginalized communities. If we want to end gun violence, we have to fight the systemic racism that can cause it, too. We must we listen to those most affected by gun violence and work together.
In cities like Baltimore; DC; Minneapolis; San Antonio; Kansas City; etc; @momsdemand volunteers are partnering with Black Visions Project, Baltimore Ceasefire, Showing Up for Racial Justice, Mothers in Charge and others to create networks focused on reducing city gun violence.
Together, we’re registering voters, testifying in statehouses, attending city council meetings, working to get out the vote, and standing in the streets with mothers whose children have been killed by gun violence.
In the ultimate act of bettering our communities, @momsdemand volunteers and gun violence survivors are taking the skills they've learned with us to the next level by running for office. This year, 50+ volunteers are running, from city council to Congress. houstonchronicle.com/news/education…
And volunteers delivered thousands of Gun Sense Candidate questionnaires to get politicians on the record on guns. We thought we’d give out a few hundred this first year, but we’ve given 2,600 distinctions in 47 states to Democrats and Republicans in red, blue and purple states.
And that’s how you build a movement. Not just by posting online or only offering thoughts and prayers, but through sustained, effective action. Year after year, @MomsDemand volunteers and gun violence survivors show up tirelessly to help save lives and fight for gun safety.
Thank you for finding time to dedicate your talents to this movement despite other responsibilities. Thank you for working to make @MomsDemand more inclusive and stronger than ever. Thank you for never giving up, and ensuring that what could have been a moment became a movement.
And thank you to our mothership, @Everytown, and to @_juliannemoore, @staceyabrams, @LucyWins2018, @JohnFeinblatt and @MikeBloomberg for supporting such an amazing and impactful weekend. #GSU18

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More from @shannonrwatts

Oct 3, 2018
THEY DID IT!!! After Pennsylvania @MomsDemand volunteers worked to pass this bill to disarm domestic abusers for over three years, it is finally headed to the governor’s desk to sign it into law.
How did we do it? @MomsDemand delivered an open letter to Pennsylvania lawmakers in the House signed by over 7,600 Pennsylvanians. We drove tens of thousands of calls and digital messages to lawmakers urging them to support #HB2060.
We hosted five press conferences, throughout the week of September 5th, with state legislators of both parties, local law enforcement and concerned citizens. We hosted a “Protect Pennsylvania Families” rally with community leaders and lawmakers on September 24th.
Read 7 tweets
Oct 1, 2018
Trump to woman reporter: "She's shocked I picked her, she's in a state of shock”
Reporter: “I'm not, thank you Mr. President”
Trump: "I know you're not thinking, you never do”
Reporter: "I'm sorry?"
Trump: "Go ahead"

This is institutionalized misogyny.

More. Trump shouts down a different woman reporter as she tries to ask him a question about Kavanaugh.

“Don’t do that. That’s not nice,” Trump tells her while wagging his finger.

Again. Trump cuts off a woman reporter who tries to ask him why it’s taken over a year for his administration to prohibit bump stocks after promising he would in the wake of Las Vegas.

H/t @atrupar - follow him for best video highlights every day.

Read 6 tweets
Oct 1, 2018
Here's how @Everytown and @MomsDemand are gearing up for the midterms. First, we recently announced a first wave of targeted spending of up to $10M in four critical states: Georgia, Michigan, Nevada and New Mexico.

washingtonpost.com/national/gun-c…
.@MomsDemand has given out Gun Sense Candidate distinctions to over 3,000 candidates in 48 states. And @Everytown has endorsed dozens of volunteers and gun violence survivors up and down the ballot. They're also endorsing gun sense champions in key races across the country.
Our @momsdemand and #StudentsDemandAction volunteers have hosted 500+ canvasses, knocked 34,000+ doors, made thousands of calls, held 100+ voter registrations drives, & registered tens of thousands of voters. Check out our next Weekend of Action Oct 13/14: gunsensevoter.org/volunteer
Read 4 tweets
Sep 30, 2018
Chyrons for the poorly educated.
Read 4 tweets
Sep 4, 2018
Based on what we already know, the judicial record of Brett Kavanaugh shows he has applied a dangerous interpretation of #2A when determining whether a law is constitutional, and demonstrates an extreme view of the Second Amendment that elevates gun rights over public safety.
Kavanaugh made it clear he'd strike down prohibitions on assault-style weapons. He dissented from a decision upholding D.C.’s ban on assault-style weapons and its requirement to register handguns. The dissent put him at odds with every other appeals court to address the issue.
This matters because 10 years ago, in its ruling in DC v. Heller, the Supreme Court established a clear precedent: while law-abiding citizens have a right to have firearms at home for self defense, the #2A is not absolute and allows for common-sense laws to protect public safety.
Read 4 tweets
Aug 31, 2018
He gave this speech the same day a U.S. Attorney in Massachusetts arrested a Trump supporter for threatening to fatally shoot journalists.
According to reports, the FBI searched the suspect's California home and seized 20 guns, both long guns and handguns, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

cbsnews.com/news/man-charg…
These alarming threats come just two months after an Annapolis, Maryland, man shot and killed five employees of The Capital newspaper. Prior to the shooting, the gunman sent threatening letters and messages about attacking the office and its staff.

baltimore.cbslocal.com/2018/06/28/rep…
Read 7 tweets

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