Public Employee Press

High Noon in St. Louis as union mom takes on NRA

Anti-gun activist and Local 299 President Jackie Rowe-Adams boldly confronted National Rifle Association chief Wayne LaPierre at the gun group's April conference in St. Louis.

"What are you going to do about illegal guns?" Her question startled LaPierre, who took her hand and eventually heard her out. "Gun violence plagues our communities," she said. "We are fighting for micro-stamping on bullets and working to stop the flow of illegal guns from states that sell guns with no background checks."

"I lost two sons," said Rowe-Adams, a Parks Dept. recreation center manager and union activist. Out of her double tragedy, Rowe-Adams co-founded Harlem Mothers S.A.V.E. (Stop Another Violent End) and speaks out whenever gun violence erupts in New York City.

The New York Daily News sponsored her trip to the convention of the NRA, which works to prevent gun regulation laws and pushed for the "Stand Your Ground" law that may be used to defend the murderer of Trayvon Martin. For her to get on the convention floor, Adams' husband had to join the NRA so Jackie could enter as his guest.

"It shocked me to see so many pro-gun folks - parents with their children and guns everywhere - it was frightening to see so many indoctrinated in gun culture," Rowe-Adams said. "The NRA agenda is, Obama must go! They have a vigilante ideology and also are against Mayor. Bloomberg because of his stand for gun control," she said.