The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence United with the Million Mom March Host First Annual Taste of Los Angeles and Toast to Hollywood

Oct 11, 2002

(Los Angeles, CA.) On Thursday, October 10, celebrities, business and entertainment leaders and civic activists gathered in Los Angeles to honor Emmy-award winning actor Allison Janney (West Wing), Producer/Director Bill D’Elia (Ally McBeal, Chicago Hope) and Sandy Reisenbach of Warner Brothers for their commitment to raising public awareness of gun violence prevention issues through the entertainment industry. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence united with the Million Mom March, America’s premier organization in the fight for sensible gun laws, hosted the event, which was held at the Hollywood Athletic Club.

Filmmaker Michael Moore, whose most recent film, Bowling For Columbine, premiered in Hollywood last night, made a special appearance at the event. Bowling For Columbine explores the problem of gun violence in America. The reception also featured a live performance by singer/songwriter Michael Penn and comedian Paul S. Tompkins.

“Tonight we are honoring these special individuals for their courage and leadership in preventing gun violence through entertainment media, said Mike Barnes, President of the Brady Campaign and the Million Mom March. “Bill D’Elia, Alison Janney, and Sandy Reisenbach understand that film and television can educate as well as entertain. They have used this powerful medium to deliver strong messages on the critical topic of gun violence in America. From the bottom of our hearts, we applaud and deeply appreciate their efforts.”

Among those on hand to show their support for the honorees and for the Brady Campaign and the Million Mom March were actors Kellie Williams (The Practice) and John Savage (The Deer Hunter), Singer Aimee Mann and a host of studio executives from Warner Brothers and CBS.

The reception featured moving remarks from several victims of gun violence. Nick and Amanda Wilcox of Northern California told how their 19-year-old daughter Laura was killed by a mentally ill man armed with an assault weapon. Sandy Reisenbach, a long-time Warner Brothers executive and one of the night’s honorees, spoke of the senseless murder of his son, John, who was shot in New York City, the victim of an apparent robbery. Mr. Reisenbach and the Wilcoxs emphasized how sensible gun laws that endeavor to keep guns out of the hands of criminals, and the severely mentally ill might have helped to spare the lives of their children.

The reception also featured a video montage of scenes from popular television dramas such as the West Wing, the Practice, and Boston Public that have carried a strong message about gun violence to millions of viewers. Bill D’Elia, one of the evening’s honorees and the Brady Campaign’s newest board member, compiled the video for the event.

A key message of the evening was to remind supporters that the federal Assault Weapons Ban, which was enacted in 1994, is scheduled to expire in September 2004 unless Congress renews it. The speakers urged the crowd to take action to ensure that Assault Weapons Ban is maintained, including voting for candidates who support gun violence prevention in the upcoming elections, as the lawmakers elected in November will determine whether the ban remains in effect.

“September 2004 might seem like a long way off, but there is a very good reason to talk about it now,” added Barnes. “The mid-term elections are in less than one month. And the men and women we elect on November 5th will decide the fate of the Assault Weapons Ban in September 2004. We must keep UZIs and AK-47s off our streets!”

Allison Janney, unable to attend the event due to the West Wing’s production schedule, accepted her award in a taped message: “I am very honored to receive this award from giants in the fight for a safer America,” said Janney. “Alan Sorkin has addressed gun violence a number of times on the show and it has made an enormous personal impact on me. Once you’ve heard the facts, you can’t deny that America is suffering from a gun violence epidemic. Nearly 9 kids each day dying from guns? Nearly 30,000 Americans killed each year by gunfire? We can and must do better!”

The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence united with the Million Mom March is the nation's leading gun violence prevention organization focusing on enacting sensible gun laws. Proceeds from the benefit will support the efforts of the Brady Campaign and the Million Mom March.

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As the nation's largest national, non-partisan, grassroots organization leading the fight to prevent gun violence, the Brady Campaign united with the Million Mom March is dedicated to creating an America free from gun violence, where all Americans are safe at home, at school, at work, and in their communities.

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As the nation's largest, non-partisan, grassroots organization leading the fight to prevent gun violence, the Brady Campaign, with its dedicated network of Million Mom March Chapters, works to enact and enforce sensible gun laws, regulations and public policies. The Brady Campaign is devoted to creating an America free from gun violence, where all Americans are safe at home, at school, at work, and in our communities.

For continuing insight and comment on the gun issue, read Paul Helmke's blog at www.bradycampaign.org/blog/. Visit the Brady Campaign website at www.bradycampaign.org.