Gun violence group pushes for more action in New Hampshire
Members of Moms Demand Action meet with Shaheen, Craig
MANCHESTER, N.H. — A national organization pushing to end gun violence is looking to add new programs in New Hampshire.
Five members of the New Hampshire chapter of Moms Demand Action met Friday with U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig to discuss how to slow gun violence in the Granite State.
In the United State, more than 3,500 children and teenagers are shot and killed every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The most recent data shows that 128 people in New Hampshire died from guns in 2020.
"We need to ensure that people are safe and feel safe in our communities," Craig said.
The members of Moms Demand Action voiced concerns and solutions about gun violence in New Hampshire during the hour-long meeting.
"The fact that we don't have a gun-free school zone is very alarming," group member Marcella Dube said.
One of the group's ideas is its Be Smart program, which was launched to raise awareness about safe gun storage in homes.
"We support responsible gun ownership, but we also want to teach you how to responsibly secure it in your home," Dube said.
Republican House Majority Leader Jason Osborne released a written statement in response to the meeting:
"I'm glad that some Democrats are beginning to agree with me," he said in the statement. "Teaching kids about firearm safety, including the proper care and handling of these tools, combined with more mental health initiatives, and strengthening security measures in schools is an important step to protecting our most vulnerable while empowering them to become responsible gun owners. While Democrats were talking about maybe demanding action, I have been delivering the action they demand."
Shaheen said the next steps she sees as important are implementing the Safer Community Act and red-flag laws.
"Then there's money to implement things like the red-flag laws to help take guns out of hands that might hurt themselves or others," Shaheen said.
According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been more than 300 mass shootings in 2022 in the United States.
