Lowey, Carlucci Call for Stronger Gun Legislation

By Ryan Buncher

Gina Daschbach hesitated as she spoke about how she got involved in Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America at the Lemonade Stand set up in front of Sign of the Times on Main Street in Nyack Tuesday.

Like so many others, the mother of two small children from Piermont was inspired to take action after the school shootings in Newtown, CT. Daschback chairs the Hudson Valley Chapter of Moms Demand Action, which formed in the days after the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

"That was a day that really affected me," Daschbach said. "I can never get through this part without catching my breath. I learned a lot about our gun laws and how people can get weapons. I also learned about how deeply-seeded the gun culture is in our country and how we need to find common ground and common-sense solutions both sides can agree on."

Moms Demand Action is setting up similar lemonade stands nationwide in the hopes of pressuring the U.S. Congress to pass legislation relating to gun ownership such as one that would have made for more comprehensive background checks that failed to pass in April.

"We were very disappointed the background check bill that failed in Congress in April, so we took the lemons congress gave us and we turned them into lemonade by adding a little moms' sweetness and some of our secret ingredients," Daschbach said. "Mine are my love for my children and my tenacity.

"Our number one goal is to get background checks passed. There should be a background check for every gun purchase, including private sales and at gun shows."

Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Rockland/Westchester) joined State Senator David Carlucci (D-Rockland/Westchester), Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee (D-Suffern), Nyack Mayor Jen Laird-White and South Nyack Mayor Bonnie Christian for Tuesday's Lemonade Stand in Nyack. Lowey said she remembered Dachsbach coming to her office with a group and asking what they can do. 

"This is not easy because the NRA (National Rifle Association) is putting millions of dollars into this effort and threatening those who want to protect us from those who shouldn't be purchasing guns," Lowey said. "We all need to make it very, very clear that this has got to be done. It's common sense gun laws. We've got to protect the public."

Lowey said she is working to bring similar legislation to a vote in the House of Representatives. She expressed her frustration regarding riders being attached to gun legislation, making it tougher to pass. 

"Nine out of 10 Americans support strengthening background checks and making sure criminals can't buy deadly weapons," Lowe said. "These are common sense, basic protections that will help reduce gun violence in our country. It is shameful that House Republicans refuse to bring gun safety legislation to a vote. America's families deserve stronger protection from gun violence.'

Lowey suggested an amendment to the Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Bill that would have kept suspected terrorists from buying or owning firearms, but it did not pass. 

"You mentioned the terror watch list. If you are on a terror watch list, you can't get on a plane, but you can access firearms." Lowey said. "It doesn't' make any sense at all."

"It's really an atrocity that these things aren't easier," Daschbach said. 

Daschbach said Moms Demand Action is not calling for bans on guns, but limiting the sale and the types of weapons sold. 

"We don't feel like weapons used by our military or weapons used by law enforcement, specifically military-style assault weapons, we don't believe those are needed for hunting or protecting your home," Daschbach said. 

Moms Demand Action suggests six solutions to gun violence, not all through legislation. They are:

1. Require background checks for all gun and ammunition purchases
2. Ban assault weapons and ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds
3. Track the sale of large quantities of ammunition and ban online sales
4. Establish product safety oversight of guns and ammunition, and require child-safe gun technology
5. Support policies at companies and public institutions that promote gun safety
6. Counter the gun industry's efforts to weaken gun laws at the state level.

Daschbach said part of the effort is talking about gun safety just as parents would talk about other safety issues when their children spend time together.

"We talk about peanut allergies and will anybody be home at a play date or at the swimming pool," Daschbach said. "We need to talk about if you have a gun in your home and how do you keep it secure."