Gun Safety Advocates Press Sen. Toomey To Support Stronger Gun Laws
By Michelle Durham
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A group representing "Mayors Against Illegal Guns," a coalition of mayors across the country (including Mayor Nutter) who are lobbying for stronger gun control laws, delivered tens of thousands of signatures today to the Philadelphia office of US senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.).
About a dozen people came quietly into the lobby of the office building, carrying signs and stacks of petitions, where they were met by a representative from Sen. Toomey's office.
They were among a larger group of volunteers taking similar action across the country.
Joe Davis (top photo), carrying a lapful of petitions, said he wants national gun legislation "so that guns from state to state can't get through to our communities to hurt and kill our children."
Davis, who lives in West Oak Lane, added, "I see children die every day. Every day."
Shawn Kraemer, of Lower Merion (right), said she too was eager to see stronger gun laws nationwide.
"I'm a mom, and I'm here to ask Pat Toomey to vote for background checks and to support the federal gun legislation that is coming before the Senate. And if he does, we will thank him publicly for doing the right thing and standing by our values. And if he doesn't, we'll remember at election time."
The group delivered more than 58,000 petitions gathered over three months of grassroots work. A representative from Toomey's office took the petitions, thanked the group for coming, and promised to brief the senator about their concerns.
