Moms Demand Action’s movie with a message

On Sunday, July 19, the NY-Greater NYC Area chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America will be hosting a free movie screening of “Living for 32” in Bay Ridge.

The film is about the 32 people murdered in the Virginia Tech massacre six years ago, and the 32 people killed by guns every day in America. “Living for 32” recounts the Virginia Tech tragedy and emphasizes upon the journey of Virginia Tech shooting survivor Colin Goddard, who has become a leading advocate for stronger, sensible gun reform.

Helping to organize the event is Kristen Pettit, a Bay Ridge mom and the advocacy chair of the NYC Area chapter of Moms Demand Action.

Pettit recollected on how she became involved with the Moms Demand Action organization, saying, “On the day of the Sandy Hook massacre, I was at a play date with my daughters. I cried with the moms hosting us, and not long afterward I received a message that a dear friend had lost someone in the shooting.

“A switch inside me flipped in that moment, hearing the news — watching my kids play in the other room,” Pettit continued. “This kind of senseless, preventable violence couldn’t continue, shouldn’t continue, and nothing changes unless someone tries to change it.”

Pettit also stated, “I want people in this area to see the disastrous effect that our lax gun regulations have on young people all over this country, and that’s why I’m bringing ‘Living for 32’ to Bay Ridge for a screening.”

“As you’ll see in ‘Living for 32,’ it’s shockingly easy to walk into a gun show and walk out with a weapon, no questions asked,” added Wendy Szymanski, leader of Moms Demand Action’s Greater NYC Area chapter. “That’s why New Yorkers need to keep pressuring our legislation to put the safety of children, families and communities above the financial influence of the gun lobby.”

“Whether it’s a conversation about gun control, background checks, mental health or security in our schools – there may not be a panacea but the time for national action is now,” stressed City Councilmember Vincent Gentile, who will provide remarks prior to the screening.

A moderated panel discussion will follow the 45-minute film. The post-film discussion panelists who will be present include Szymanski; Leah Gunn Barrett, executive director of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence; David Harman, headmaster of Poly Prep Country Day School in Dyker Heights; and Dr. Marc Manseau, a psychiatrist at Columbia University.

Free and open to the public, the “Living for 32” screening will take place at the Bay Ridge Jewish Center, 8025 Fourth Avenue, at 7 p.m. The discussion is expected to conclude at approximately 9 p.m.

Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America was created to build support for common-sense gun legislation. This organization comprised of American mothers is demanding new and stronger solutions to lax gun laws and loopholes that jeopardize the safety of children and families. In just six months, the organization has more than 100,000 members and nearly 100 chapters in 40 states across the country.

For more information, visit: www.momsdemandaction.org.