Published: May 20, 2010

DC Vote and Religious Leaders Demand and Secure Meeting with Montana Sen. Jon Tester on Gun Violence

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WASHINGTON, May 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- DC Vote and local clergy sent a clear message to Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) on Capitol Hill today regarding opposition to S. 3265, the Second Amendment Enforcement Act. The religious community joined DC Vote to insist on a face-to-face conversation with Tester as his constituents-by-default.

While Tester staff tried to delay a meeting until next week, the group peacefully held a prayer vigil until the Senator agreed to meet. After 45 minutes, Tester met with the advocates, as calls poured into his Congressional office from DC citizens voicing opposition on S. 3265. DC Vote and clergy also delivered a letter to the Senator with signatures from 20 faith-based institutions in DC.

"As clergy in the nation's capital, we have presided over the wakes and funerals of people who have been gunned down in acts of violence," said Rev. Dr. Gail Anderson-Holness, the President of the Council of Churches of Greater Washington. "Today we prayed that Senator Tester will reconsider his co-sponsorship of S. 3265 and support local control over local issues, and we know our message was heard."

The effort to combat attempts to intrude on local democracy in the District of Columbia is being led by DC Vote. The organization is pleased to secure today's meeting, but there is much work to be done to accomplish the ultimate goal - to convince Senator Tester to drop his sponsorship of the bill.

"Since the tax-paying citizens of Washington, DC are denied a voting representative in the U.S. Senate, we were compelled to demand a meeting with Tester," said DC Vote Executive Director Ilir Zherka. "In drafting laws targeted specifically at residents of Washington, DC, Mr. Tester is trying to serve as the District's City Council Chair. We demanded our voice be heard because he is putting lives at risk in DC and not Montana."

Tester said he would take under consideration the arguments he heard today.

Visit the DC Vote YouTube page and the DC Vote Facebook page for video and photos from today's event.

SOURCE DC Vote