Moms Who Demand Action For Gun Sense Visit Village Hall

Another year has passed and efforts to decrease the effects of gun violence are failing to stem increases in deaths from gun violence, the sale of guns and school shootings. The community was reminded of the prevalence of this uniquely American scourge on Tuesday June 11, 2024 when Reverend Kelly Rogers members of the Westchester Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America paid their annual visit to Scarsdale Village Hall.

Donned in orange t-shirts, designed to mimic the orange gear hunters wear to protect themselves against other hunters, they remembered local resident Pat Colella who was a dedicated member of the group until her untimely passing from pancreatic cancer in the spring of 2023. Representing the group were Katherine Schowalter, Westchester Chapter lead, Brooke Mitchell and Sara Kober. 

Rogers read some shocking statistics from the CDC about guns in America including:

- Firearms are the leading cause of death for children and teens across America.
- Annually, more than 4,000 children and teens (ages 0 to 19) are shot and killed
- More than 17,000 are shot and wounded
- An average of 59 children and teens impacted by gun violence in the US every day.
-Compared to other high income countries, American children aged 5 to 14 are 21 times more likely to be killed by a firearm and American adolescents and young adults ages 15 to 24 are 23 times more likely to be killed with guns.
-31% of child and teen deaths are gun deaths at a rate of 1,300 per year.

She ended by saying, “So friends – we have work to do… I’d like to close with some words from our very own Pat Colella that she spoke at a Vigil to Honor Victims of Gun Violence several years ago… “Each of you here tonight will, I believe, come away from this event with varying degrees of sadness, anger, and, I hope, resolve to try to make a difference to decrease gun violence in our country.”

“There are no easy solutions, but I urge you to get involved, somehow. Talk to your relatives and friends about gun violence. Join a gun violence prevention organization - such as Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense - as I and many others here have done. Make your voice heard in whatever way you feel is appropriate. Above all else, let’s work together and NOT stay silent about gun violence.”

Rogers, the moms and the Board of Trustees, wearing orange ribbons, posed for a photo, and Mayor Justin Arest read a proclamation declaring June 7 as Gun Violence Awareness Day in Scarsdale.