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May 9, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Matt Bennett
202-775-0300
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Read the script of Senator John McCain's mesage.
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McCain Premieres Unprecedented Gun Safety Announcement on 2,500 Movie Screens
Response to 40,000 Kids Bringing Guns to School Every Year
Washington, DC—Responding to reports that over 40,000 students bring guns to U.S. schools each year, Senator John McCain will appear on 2,500 movie screens this Spring to urge parents and children to save lives by keeping guns locked up and out of schools, the Americans For Gun Safety Foundation announced today.
The foundation will spend $250,000 on the unprecedented movie theater public service campaign. The 30-second announcement by McCain (R-AZ), will be shown for four weeks beginning May 18 in theaters in 210 cities in 44 states.
In the announcement, McCain stands in a schoolyard and says: "In this great country, owning a gun is a right that carries responsibilities. Yet, every year over 40,000 kids bring guns to school. As adults, we owe it to our children to be responsible by keeping our guns locked up. And kids, if someone is talking about using a gun, do the right thing. Tell a parent or teacher. Because what you do today, may save a friend's life tomorrow. And to learn more, go online to the Americans for Gun Safety Foundation." The announcement shows the graphic: www.agsfoundation.com
"The fact that at least 40,000 kids—and possibly many more—are bringing guns to school every year is simply shocking," Senator McCain said. "We need to do a better job of educating parents, teachers and kids about the responsibilities that come with gun ownership."
Jonathan Cowan, President of the Americans for Gun Safety Foundation, said, "We are happy to be working with Senator McCain to deliver the important message to movie-goers that gun safety is the responsibility of everyone—parents as well as children, gun owners as well as non-gun owners."
"We're taking this message to movie theaters to capture the attention of students and parents, and to remind them that the use of guns as entertainment in movies is not something anyone wants to see in real life," Cowan added.
The McCain announcement directs viewers to the Americans for Gun Safety Foundation's website, where the group will (in coordination with the start of the movie public service announcement) launch a comprehensive online firearms safety program.
The site is designed to serve the needs of everyone—from firearms novices to expert hunters and shooters. Information about all manner of gun safety will be available, immediately and free of charge. Cowan noted that, "Part of what we do on the site is help teach kids about the difference between what they see of guns in the movies and the dangers and consequences of the irresponsible use of guns in real life."
Senator McCain's movie public service announcement will appear in every state except Alabama, Alaska, Connecticut, Idaho, Hawaii, and Utah.
Gun safety in the home remains a challenge:
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Two studies showed that one in five households contain a loaded, unlocked gun.¹
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Another showed that about 1.2 million homes with children also contain loaded, unlocked guns.²
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The Centers for Disease Control has found that guns are the second leading source of injury-related death.³ |
The McCain public service announcement was produced by Greg Stevens and Eric Potholm of Stevens Reed Curcio and Co., a national political consulting firm.
About the Americans for Gun Safety Foundation
The Americans for Gun Safety Foundation, a project of the Tides Center, a section 501(c)(3) organization, is a not-for-profit organization that supports the rights of Americans who own firearms for sport, protection, and collection. AGSF is committed to educating Americans about gun rights and responsibilities—including responsible gun ownership, existing gun laws, and new policy options to help keep guns out of the hands of criminals and children.
Footnotes
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Cook, PJ, Ludwig J., Guns In America: Results of a National Survey on Firearm Ownership and Use, Washington, DC: Police Foundation 1997 and Weil, DS, Hemenway D. Loaded guns in the home: analysis of a national random survey of gun owners. JAMA, 1992:267:3033:3037. |
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Schuster, M., et al., Firearm Storage Patterns in US Homes with Children, American Journal of Public Health, April 2000. |
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Gotsch, Karen, E., et. al., Surveillance for Fatal and Non-Fatal Firearm:Related Injuries—United States, 1993:1998, Centers for Disease Control (MMWR Surveillance Summaries), Apr. 13, 2001.
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