Congressman Lowenthal looks on as Peggy McCrum speaks. Photo courtesy of Congressman Lowenthal’s office.
Peggy McCrum, Chapter Leader of the Long Beach Area Brady Campaign, was one of more than a dozen citizens affected by gun violence who were invited by their local congressperson to attend the State of the Union address Tuesday night.
McCrum, who’s brother Robert Kelley was shot and killed in Long Beach, was invited by 47th District Congressman Alan Lowenthal, himself a member of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force and a proponent of President Obama’s policy recommendations for gun control.
“I am here today not just for my brother Robert,” McCrum said at a press conference held a few hours before the President took the stage for the State of the Union speech, “but for the thousands of innocent men, women, and children who are victims of gun violence. There are many avenues we can take to stop gun violence in our country, but we certainly cannot choose the avenue of inaction. Now is the time for Congress act; now is the time to demand a plan.”
Congressman Lowenthal, along with more than a dozen of his Congressional colleagues, gave their one ticket to the State of the Union to someone affected by a gun tragedy in order to give them the opportunity to send a message to congress on gun violence and have their stories shared. Since being sworn in last month, Lowenthal has already become co-sponsor of three bills directed at reducing gun violence in school by improving access to mental health care and providing additional resources for mental health care professionals.
44th District Congresswoman Janice Hahn used her ticket to invite Rev. E. Winford Bell, a Senior Pastor and teacher at Mt. Olive 2nd Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles. His son was shot and injured in a drive-by shooting and he has since founded the Silver Lining of Hope, a faith-based anti-violence community organization in Inglewood.