Mothers walk to end gun violence

Mary Kay Mace was sitting at her desk on Valentine’s Day on 2008 when she got a call about a mass shooting at Northwestern Illinois University.

Hours later, she was identifying the body of her 19-year-old daughter Ryanne Mace, a sophomore psychology major from Carpentersville.

“My heart was shattered,” Mace said.

Mace spoke to a group of about 30 people who had walked through the rain to commemorate the third anniversary of another mass shooting --- Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn. ---that left 20 first-graders and six teachers dead. The walk was organized by Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a group organized to reduce gun violence, and taking on the National Rifle Association and the gun lobby.

“We’ve got the power of moms behind us,” said Cindy McMullan, local chapter leader. “We have modeled ourselves by (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) and we are a well-organized and passionate group.”

The group is advocating for background checks and to close loopholes such as no background checks in private sales.

“We are tired of these tragedies,” said group member Chris Peters. “We are for universal background checks and for the wise use of guns and gun safety.”

Peters and McMullan said thousands of moms are calling their senators, joining the groups, donating and taking to social media to raise awareness.

“The NRA is aware of us,” Peters said.

“They have met their match,” McMullan said.

There are chapters in Chicago and Champaign, but the Columbia group is the only Mothers Demand Action in southern Illinois. There was also a walk in Champaign.

The group gathered under a pavilion and placed candles near hearts containing the names of Sandy Hook victims. Many wore orange because “hunters wear orange to keep themselves safe.” The idea of “Orange” was inspired by Nza-Ari Khepra, a Chicago high school student, who encouraged her friends to wear orange to honor a classmate who was shot after performing in Pres. Barack Obama’s inauguration.

In the wake of the shooting at Colorado Springs, Colo. Planned Parenthood and San Bernadino, Calif., Mace said she hopes people get involved.

“People need to understand that the unthinkable can happen here,” she said.

This story was originally published December 13, 2015 at 5:39 PM with the headline "Mothers walk to end gun violence."