First lady urges parents to keep kids away from gunsBy Karla Crosswhite-Chigbue/CNN
May 10, 1999
Web posted at: 1:55 p.m. EDT (1755 GMT)
WASHINGTON (May 10) -- First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and others affected by gun violence say "enough is enough."
Mrs. Clinton hosted a Mother's Day ceremony Saturday at the White House to honor mothers and families and to highlight the importance of keeping children safe from guns.
"35 million households have guns and one-third store them loaded or unlocked, we must remind parents that this is dangerous and deadly," the first lady said.
During the ceremony, Mrs. Clinton issued a Mother's Day pledge she hopes all parents will take.
"I will not give my child unsupervised access to a firearm. I will not allow my child to play in a home where guns are improperly stored. If I own a gun, I will unload it and lock it up and store the ammunition separately and securely. I will urge others, including my community leaders and political leaders, to do everything in their power to protect our children from guns."
Also speaking at the ceremony was gun control advocate, Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-New York) and Tom Mauser, the father of a Littleton, Colorado shooting victim. McCarthy's husband was gunned down during a shooting spree on a Long Island commuter spree.
All the parents made passionate pleas to other parents to take responsibility, stay involved in their children's lives and end senseless gun violence.
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