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SecularMotion

(7,981 posts) Sat May 31, 2014, 02:51 PM May 2014

This Mom Is Sick & Tired of Gun Violence -- So She's Doing Something About It [View all]

On December 14, 2012, stay-at-home mother of five from Zionsville, Indiana, Shannon Watts, took in the news of the shootings at Sandy Hook with horror. Like many mothers, she wondered what it was that she could do and ended up starting a Facebook page -- which within weeks became a movement. A former communications executive for 15 years, prior to becoming a SAHM for five, Shannon became the founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a not-for-profit organization with tens of thousands of members and chapters in every state across the country.

Now, Shannon is at the forefront of the reaction to the latest gut-churning national tragedy: the shootings at the University of Santa Barbara. She's also still grappling with raising her kids -- two step-daughters, 25 and 20; two daughters, 18 and 17; and a 13-year-old son -- in the midst of what's become a civil battle to quash senseless gun violence.

Shannon spoke with The Stir today about what drove her to start Moms Demand Action, what she tells her kids about guns, and how she has hope that the tide is turning slowly but surely ...

How you end up founding Moms Demand Action?

The day after Sandy Hook, I just was so angry and devastated and kept looking online for something like Mothers Against Drunk Driving but for gun reform and couldn't find anything. So I thought, 'What can I do? I'm a stay-at-home mom in the middle of Indiana?' I know how to start a Facebook page. So that's what I did, and one of my Facebook friends said, 'Wow, I saw another mom posted something like that. I should hook you two up.' And that sort of ignited all these other moms around the country, and they just started joining. And what was an online convo quickly became an offline movement. I had met a group of moms who called me from Silicon Valley, and several of them were lawyers, and they said, 'We had the same idea, and we want to help you.' And one of the lawyers said to take donations and move forward as an organization is to be a 501(c)(4). Within a week, we were a [not-for-profit] based in Indiana.

http://thestir.cafemom.com/teen/173080/this_mom_is_sick_tired

104 replies

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This Mom Is Sick & Tired of Gun Violence -- So She's Doing Something About It [View all] SecularMotion May 2014 OP

Shannon, please be careful. Too many gun fancier bullies out there that could act on their threats. Hoyt May 2014 #1

These cowardly bullies have already threatened her life (and others), spit on them, stuck guns hlthe2b May 2014 #2

Thing is, MADD doesn't blame sober drivers for the actions of drunk ones... friendly_iconoclast Jun 2014 #41

If they are enabling and advocating for the drunk drivers, they surely DO hlthe2b Jun 2014 #57

OCT has been pretty thoroughly (and rightfully) slammed by everyone at DU friendly_iconoclast Jun 2014 #73

Keep on enbling and defending. The backlash will only intensify & the NRA knows it. hlthe2b Jun 2014 #79

"...(M)ay this woman and her organization achieve every bit the success of MADD" friendly_iconoclast Jun 2014 #83

Ahem..... **Fearing Rising Backlash, NRA Urges Gun Activists to Stand Down** hlthe2b Jun 2014 #80

Oopsie, looks like *someone* just posted an untruth- and it ain't me friendly_iconoclast Jun 2014 #84

You have been calling out those praising this woman and her gun control efforts throughout thread hlthe2b Jun 2014 #85

"I see in your last post you have changed your position." Wrong again friendly_iconoclast Jun 2014 #86

My Dad Aerows Jun 2014 #87

Always good to hear of those demonstrating... hlthe2b Jun 2014 #88

I agree Aerows Jun 2014 #89

I must say, you have quite the collection of photos to share friendly_iconoclast Jun 2014 #40

You afraid you might show up in one? Hoyt Jun 2014 #68

Rather unlikely, as I haven't owned a gun since the Eighties friendly_iconoclast Jun 2014 #72

Read the post in context. The gun fools were trying to rationalize toting and blasting away Hoyt Jun 2014 #74

Nice of you to vouch for the behavior of your (hopefully former) cohorts friendly_iconoclast Jun 2014 #75

"Stop & Frisk" Bloomberg chose a former Monsanto director of public relations.... NYC_SKP May 2014 #3

So you support gun nuts intimidating her and her organization? Hoyt May 2014 #4

Apparently you're not allowed to have a career if you're an activist. geomon666 May 2014 #5

No, obviously, I don't. NYC_SKP May 2014 #6

I suspect a "stay at home mom," without her background, would think going up against Hoyt May 2014 #8

A "cheap and sexist trick" is insisting that a stay at home mom can't also be a DanTex May 2014 #11

Well said. scarletwoman Jun 2014 #20

and if I were her Duckhunter935 Jun 2014 #27

I suspect her current employer wants to downplay her previous ones friendly_iconoclast Jun 2014 #30

Those billions come in handy Duckhunter935 Jun 2014 #33

Good, it looks like she's well suited for the job Packerowner740 May 2014 #9

This NRA smear has been posted on DU several times. DanTex May 2014 #10

It's rather more about *who* she worked for during her "succesful career",... friendly_iconoclast Jun 2014 #71

You don't think Romney deserved that criticism here on DU? Hoyt Jun 2014 #76

maybe both do Duckhunter935 Jun 2014 #77

Of course he did. And I kicked Willard around a few times myself friendly_iconoclast Jun 2014 #78

So, what kind of resume would pass the purity test for a gun control advocate? scarletwoman Jun 2014 #19

She has a great resume Duckhunter935 Jun 2014 #28

"Former head of PR for Monsanto" wouldn't play too well with her new audience friendly_iconoclast Jun 2014 #32

Good, she should be very effective. Starry Messenger Jun 2014 #24

The question is: more or less effective than she was at Monsanto? friendly_iconoclast Jun 2014 #34

Her appearance on Chris Hayes was very poised. Starry Messenger Jun 2014 #35

"...I think her professionalism will be a plus for her when lobbying Congress." friendly_iconoclast Jun 2014 #36

That's true too. Starry Messenger Jun 2014 #37

Let's see if Bloomie can outspend the NRA and outlawyer the SAF friendly_iconoclast Jun 2014 #39

Well, he's the 16th richest guy in the world. Starry Messenger Jun 2014 #45

If he felt that bad about it Duckhunter935 Jun 2014 #48

Who would want to buy the NRA? Starry Messenger Jun 2014 #49

yeah he could just shut it down Duckhunter935 Jun 2014 #53

It will probably work, too. Starry Messenger Jun 2014 #54

I don't particularly care Aerows Jun 2014 #90

The OP clearly states that she had a 15 year career in corporate communications, so what's the beef? Gormy Cuss Jun 2014 #43

maybe there Duckhunter935 Jun 2014 #50

Or she wanted the focus to stay on mothers rather than just her, which is what a good corporate Gormy Cuss Jun 2014 #59

When my father Aerows Jun 2014 #92

K&R billh58 May 2014 #7

Meh - until they can mobilize voters they are irrelevant hack89 May 2014 #12

Irrelevant enough to comment on numerous times in one thread. LanternWaste Jun 2014 #81

Just a statement of fact regarding political reality hack89 Jun 2014 #82

"Grass roots?" Jenoch May 2014 #13

It pales compared to the pro-gun organizations like NRA. Hoyt Jun 2014 #16

How much does the NRA spend? Got a number? nt hack89 Jun 2014 #17

Their annual budget is roughly $250 Million and I don't think that includes the PAC. Hoyt Jun 2014 #18

So you don't know how much they spend on politics? hack89 Jun 2014 #22

I just told you, $250 Million, plus PAC donations, plus lobbying and swiftboating. Hoyt Jun 2014 #23

No - you gave their total budget ( with no link of course) hack89 Jun 2014 #25

NRA says $25 million: friendly_iconoclast Jun 2014 #38

I was not referring to the NRA. Jenoch Jun 2014 #65

You mean like Open Carry Texas snd such. That's a racist group of gun intimidators, not Hoyt Jun 2014 #69

Absolutley not. Jenoch Jun 2014 #70

You go, Astroturf Monsanto Mom! Lizzie Poppet May 2014 #14

That's right, attack the messenger! scarletwoman Jun 2014 #21

What else have the gun fetishists here ever done beside that? See posts above and below villager Jun 2014 #26

I think she should promote her career Duckhunter935 Jun 2014 #31

Thanks for proving, exactly, my point! villager Jun 2014 #44

so you are against her Duckhunter935 Jun 2014 #46

"please proceed" villager Jun 2014 #51

still can't answer a simple Duckhunter935 Jun 2014 #52

Well...that and facts. Lizzie Poppet Jun 2014 #55

"the entire concept of irony escapes you" -- pot/kettle/black villager Jun 2014 #58

Nice "Pee Wee Herman" comeback there. Lizzie Poppet Jun 2014 #60

And the projection -- and confirmation! -- continues apace villager Jun 2014 #62

And the bullshit amateur psychoanalysis continues apace! Lizzie Poppet Jun 2014 #63

"And the bullshit amateur psychoanalysis continues apace!" villager Jun 2014 #64

You should try to expand the items in your auto-response loop. Lizzie Poppet Jun 2014 #66

"You should try to expand the items in your auto-response loop." villager Jun 2014 #67

Does this mean we're no longer responsible for Lapierre and Nugent? friendly_iconoclast Jun 2014 #42

Nice to know Duckhunter935 Jun 2014 #47

Happy to oblige. Lizzie Poppet Jun 2014 #56

Gun control: Elites talking to elites. Nothing new. Eleanors38 Jun 2014 #15

True nt Duckhunter935 Jun 2014 #29

mark to return to - we need a singular organization to march the NRA rurallib Jun 2014 #61

Sorry lady but calling for "tougher background checks" and talking to kids isnt going to do it. 951-Riverside Jun 2014 #91

Responsible people Aerows Jun 2014 #93

Wait, you disagree with "tougher background checks" alp227 Jun 2014 #94

If people insist on "bearing" guns then background checks shouldn't be free or cheap. 951-Riverside Jun 2014 #95

What are you doing to achieve your lofty goal, Jenoch Jun 2014 #97

Seriously? What about people whose livelihoods depend on hunting for food? alp227 Jun 2014 #98

I'll admit I'm not well versed on hunting... 951-Riverside Jun 2014 #100

Seriously? I don't know where to begin. alp227 Jun 2014 #101

"Our ancestors used bows and spears just fine before firearms came into existence." friendly_iconoclast Jun 2014 #104

Funny, you lot seem to like those mandatory sentences unless it happens to someone like.. X_Digger Jun 2014 #96

About Marissa Alexander... 951-Riverside Jun 2014 #99

What are you doing to achieve your lofty goal, Jenoch Jun 2014 #102

Will these $5000 checks be as effective as the ban on heroin has been? friendly_iconoclast Jun 2014 #103