Nearly eight years ago, our founders, Robin Lasersohn and Terry Rumsey, began organizing a small group of like-minded individuals who were concerned about the epidemic of gun violence plaguing our country. In just a few years, that small group transformed into a 2,000+ member organization, harnessing the power of grassroots activism to draw attention to the need for a change in our gun laws at a local, state, and federal level.
In the summer of 2018, when John and I took over Delco United’s leadership, we were determined to continue educating, organizing, and empowering our members to be the vocal majority. It has been an incredible honor to lead this amazing group of passionate activists during one of the most tumultuous times in our nation’s history. We have rallied together after tragedy upon tragedy, and channeled our sadness and anger into fervent advocacy, never losing hope that together, we can and will save lives.
It is, as always, an uphill battle, but one that is so worth the fight. With nearly 40,000 gun deaths in the U.S. each year, and many more affected by the traumatic ripple effects this violence leaves in our communities, our work is far from over. As we continue marching forward, the board of directors of Delco United has made the unanimous decision to transition our organization’s leadership to our longtime partner, CeaseFirePA. As a CeaseFirePA Chapter organization, Delco United will not only remain one of the most influential gun violence prevention groups in our local community, but we will have the ability to grow our membership, and make an even greater impact in Delaware County.
We ask you for your continued support and activism as we embark on our next step forward. It takes many hands to make a change, and without you, our work would not be possible.
As we transition to operating as a CeaseFirePA Chapter organization, allow me to introduce Delco United’s new director, Max Milkman. Currently serving as CeaseFirePA’s Lead Organizer, Max has spent many years empowering Pennsylvanians to join the gun violence prevention movement, and inspiring them to use their voices to advocate for safer communities. Max has worked on several political campaigns in the Commonwealth, and also served as the Pennsylvania Co-Director of March For Our Lives. Please join us in welcoming Max as our new director!
As a chapter organization, we will also benefit from the exceptional leadership of CeaseFirePA’s executive director, Adam Garber. Before joining CeaseFirePA, Adam worked at U.S. PIRG, where his independent investigations into toxic toys, dangerous cars, contaminated food, and other threats helped protect Americans from dangers in the marketplace. Prior to that, he spent more than a decade advocating for clean air and water in Pennsylvania at the local, state and national level. We are thrilled to have Adam’s leadership to guide us as we move forward!
On behalf of the Delco United Board of Directors, we are so thankful for all of your hard work and dedication over the years. Before we begin the next phase of our journey, please take a few minutes to enjoy the above video we’ve made to honor the first 7 years of Delco United.
A huge part of Delco United’s mission to end gun violence involves electing candidates who will support and advocate for the passage of common sense gun laws. To fulfill that objective, we sent out gun safety surveys to all the eligible candidates in our region, held candidate forums on our issue, and conducted research to assess each candidate’s commitment to gun violence prevention. After a thorough review and discussion of the information compiled, the Delco United Board of Directors made endorsement decisions in 14 election races affecting our county.
Delaware County United for Sensible Gun Policy is now proud to announce our endorsed candidates for the 2020 general election. Many of the candidates listed below have stood with us for years, championing the need for a change in our gun laws with not just their words, but through their actions. We believe that the right voices in Harrisburg will help lead the way to a safer Pennsylvania for all of us.
Whether you are voting by mail, or plan to be at the polls in person this election day, we urge you to consider a candidate’s stance on gun safety when casting your ballot for the November 3rd election.
Our 2020 Endorsed Candidates:
U.S. President: Joe Biden
PA Attorney General: Josh Shapiro
5th Congressional District: Mary Gay Scanlon
17th State Senate District: Amanda Cappelletti
9th State Senate District: Tom Killion
159th State House District: Brian Kirkland
160th State House District: Anton Andrew
161st State House District: Leanne Krueger
162nd State House District: Dave Delloso
163rd State House District: Mike Zabel
165th State House District: Jennifer O’Mara
166th State House District: Greg Vitali
168th State House District: Deb Ciamacca
191st State House District: Joanna McClinton
Not sure what PA House, Senate, or Congressional district you are in? You can find out by following this link.
OnFriday, June 5th we celebrated Wear Orange Day 2020. Every Wear Orange Day, we remember the more than 36,000 lives lost each year to gun violence, and honor the many survivors among us.
Gun violence comes in many forms, encompassing suicide, homicide, accidental shootings, mass shootings, intimate partner violence, and yes, racially-motivated violence. As we have reeled from the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and countless others who have been senselessly murdered because of their race, we remind ourselves that while gun violence affects us all, people of color are disproportionately affected by this epidemic. When civilians are unarmed, and an armed officer or vigilante approaches them, we know that the presence of a gun in that situation vastly shifts the power dynamic, and can make an already tense situation more so, with the potential to become deadly. We strive, on Wear Orange Day, and always, to remember all victims of gun violence, and vow to disarm hate in all its forms.
Even though we’re physically distanced this year, you can still commemorate Wear Orange Day 2020 with us by watching our special video.
Many thanks to all of the Delco United members who sent us photos or videos to add to the below compilation, with a special shout out to Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon, Delaware County DA Jack Stollsteimer, Sen. Tom Killion, Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, and Rep. Mike Zabel for joining us in our advocacy this year!
Remember- we wear orange to be seen, heard, and protected. With your help, we can raise awareness for gun violence, and let our leaders know that we demand action.
Delaware County United for Sensible Gun Policy is now proud to announce our endorsed candidates for the 2020 general election. Many of the candidates listed below have stood with us for years, championing the need for a change in our gun laws with not just their words, but through their actions. We believe that the right voices in Harrisburg will help lead the way to a safer Pennsylvania for all of us.
Whether you are voting by mail, or plan to be at the polls in person this election day, we urge you to consider a candidate’s stance on gun safety when casting your ballot for the November 3rd election.
Our 2020 Endorsed Candidates:
U.S. President: Joe Biden
PA Attorney General: Josh Shapiro
5th Congressional District: Mary Gay Scanlon
17th State Senate District: Amanda Cappelletti
9th State Senate District: Tom Killion
159th State House District: Brian Kirkland
160th State House District: Anton Andrew
161st State House District: Leanne Krueger
162nd State House District: Dave Delloso
163rd State House District: Mike Zabel
165th State House District: Jennifer O’Mara
166th State House District: Greg Vitali
168th State House District: Deb Ciamacca
191st State House District: Joanna McClinton
Not sure what PA House, Senate, or Congressional district you are in? You can find out by following this link.
After the tragic events which recently occurred in El Paso, TX and Dayton, OH, rather than stepping up and supporting real reform which could prevent similar tragedies in the future, our U.S. Senator Pat Toomey openly refused to support an assault weapons ban. In a statement on Fox News, Sen. Toomey claimed that his reason for not supporting a ban on assault rifles was because, “they are extremely popular”, and “have no more firepower than ordinary hunting rifles”. This illogical, incorrect, and immoral reasoning is no longer acceptable.
In May of 2018, we marched and rallied at Toomey’s Philadelphia office, for our first “Demand the Ban” event. In light of the continued mass shootings and unending daily gun violence committed with semi-automatic assault weapons, and Senator Toomey’s refusal to stand up and protect the Pennsylvanians he was elected to serve, we knew it was time to renew our call for action.
So on Monday, August 12th, Delco United joined with our partners: Heeding God’s Call to End Gun Violence, The CHARLES Foundation, Orange Wave for Gun Safety, and CeasefirePA, to fill the space outside Senator Pat Toomey’s Philadelphia office with hundreds of gun violence prevention advocates for another “Demand the Ban” rally. Among the event’s speakers were Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, State Representative Movita Johnson-Harrell, and leaders from the various partnering organizations. The assembly was led in song by Voices Rising Philly, as well as Lydia Munoz, who helped instill a spirit of hope- an essential resource in the fight to change our current reality.
While Senator Toomey hasn’t yet signed on to theAssault Weapons Ban of 2019 (S. 66), we have reached a tipping point, from which there is no turning back. A majority of Americans support an assault weapons ban, and the many, many supporters who showed up on a Monday afternoon to demand our Senator support this legislation proves that this is the “popular” thing to do! To those of you who were with us at the rally (or joined us in spirit), we thank you for your advocacy. With your help, we WILL change our nation’s gun laws.
Demand the Ban, NOW! You can view CBS 3’s coverage of our event by clicking here.
On Saturday, June 1st, hundreds of Delco United members gathered in Media to make their voices heard, and the message rang out loud and clear: We MUST have real action NOW to end the gun violence in our communities!
A packed crowd formed a sea of orange inside the 2nd Baptist Church of Media, as powerful speeches drove home the notion that we have the power to change our gun laws, if we continue to push forward, together. The opening program included choral performances and poetry, as well as remarks by our very own Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon, Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, Rep. Mike Zabel, and many more advocates and survivors. High on everyone’s minds was the devastating news from Virginia Beach… As the large group chanted, prayed, and sang together, they created a sacred space to honor the 12 victims of the recent shooting, as well as the thousands upon thousands of lives lost to gun violence each year, most of which don’t make the evening news.
…But the rally also provided a pathway for the assembly to channel their grief into action. As Delco United Board Member Beverly Wright so eloquently put it, “We are sick and tired of being sick and tired. We are sick and tired of burying our babies. We are sick and tired of mothers crying because they’re not going to have that opportunity to say, ‘I love you’ again. We can’t take this situation lightly. If we have legislators or politicians who are not backing sensible gun policies, we have to get them out of there!” Spurred into action, the “Orange Army” (as brilliantly titled by the Daily Times*) then marched through the town of Media, soldiering on in the smoldering heat with a message of hope for a world free from the plague of gun violence.
As fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters all chanted, “Enough is Enough!” loud enough for our leaders in Harrisburg to hear, the closing rally commenced. Lead in song by Matt Frankl, we “Imagined” a world where we could all live in peace; a world where our children’s lives are prioritized over the agenda of the gun lobby, and our streets, schools, and houses of worship can again be places where we feel safe, instead of targeted.
To all who attended, participated, or helped in any way to make our “Wear Orange” event run smoothly, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Your commitment to gun violence prevention refills our most precious and vulnerable resource- HOPE!
*We were privileged to have topnotch coverage of the event from the Delco Daily Times– our “Orange Army” was featured on the front page! March on, soldiers!
On the evening of Wednesday, May 8th, a crowd of 80 supporters gathered at Widener University’s Lathem Hall to hear a panel discussion focused on the issue of gun violence prevention.
The panel consisted of:
Thaddeus Kirkland, Mayor of Chester City
Otis Blair, Chester Police Commissioner
Mike Felker, US Navy Hospital Corpsman and Combat Medic in Vietnam, Member of Veterans for Peace
Dr. Mary Francis, Nurse Practitioner at Cooper Hospital’s Trauma Unit, Faculty Member at the Widener School of Nursing
Lisa Dennis, Chester City Community Liaison
Michael Chitwood, Superintendent of the Upper Darby Police Department
Deb Ciamacca, Former Marine Corps Officer, Social Studies Teacher at Conestoga High School
Brenda Kucirka, Asst. Professor at the Widener School of Nursing
All of the panelists came from vastly different walks of life, and all felt the effects of gun violence on an almost daily basis. While not everyone agreed on every single piece of gun legislation that can help us to move forward, they came together in a consensus on issues like background checks, suicide prevention, and trauma-informed education.
The more discussions we have like this, the easier it will be to find a clear path forward in the fight to end gun violence, and to keep our communities safe.
On a windy Friday morning, an extremely cold- but equally determined– group of advocates held a press conference outside of the Media Courthouse, calling for the passage of Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) legislation. The leaders of Delco United joined with their partners Heeding God’s Call to End Gun Violence and CeasefirePA to organize the event, which was held a week after the horrific shooting that took place in a Wawa in Radnor on March 28th. Also in attendance at the conference were Delaware County District Attorney Katayoun Copeland, State Sen. Tom Killion, State Rep. Todd Stephens, and State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara.
D.A. Copeland pointed out that, had the ERPO bill been enacted into law previously, it could have saved the life of Stephanie Miller. Miller was senselessly murdered by her ex-husband with an AR-15 that he purchased less than 2 weeks before the shooting. Jessica Frankl, Co-Chair of Delco United, reminded the crowd that, “The tragic loss of life that occurred inside a Wawa in Radnor Township unfortunately is not an isolated incident. With nearly 1,500 firearm deaths in Pennsylvania each year, the ripple effects of gun violence are consistently reverberating through our communities, leaving behind children, parents, classmates, colleagues, and friends wrestling with the trauma that continues long after the cameras and news vans leave. Stephanie’s killer was able to walk into a gunshop and buy an AR-15 LEGALLY, with nothing and no one stopping him. This abomination does not- I repeat- does not need to be our everyday reality.”
Many of our lawmakers are already taking the necessary steps to change this reality. Sen. Tom Killion and Rep. Stephens are the prime sponsors of Extreme Risk Protection Order legislation in the Pennsylvania State Senate and State House, respectively. Their life-saving bills, SB 90 and HB 1075, would allow law enforcement and family members to temporarily restrict an individual’s access to firearms, if a judge finds them to be in danger of harming themselves or others. For Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, HB 1075 hits close to home, as her father died by gun suicide when she was just 13 years old. Hundreds of families each year just like hers could benefit from ERPO legislation, which has been proven to significantly reduce the number of firearm suicides. 15 states have enacted similar measures so far; it’s time for Pennsylvania to step up, and join this growing list.
On Tuesday, October 16th, a hundred supporters filled the Oaks Ballroom in Glenolden, as they gathered in celebration of 5 years of Delco United. The evening started with good food and conversation among friends, while a slideshow featuring highlights of our work over the past 5 years played on. The slideshow can be viewed here.
To kick of the program, Ashli Rice graced us in song, with a rousing rendition of “Rise Up” that wowed crowd (Take a minute and watch this awe-inspiring performance– you’ll be glad you did!). Speeches followed by a few of Delco United’s endorsed candidates, including PA-5 Congressional candidate Mary Gay Scanlon, and State Senator Anthony Williams, who spoke of the urgent need for common sense gun legislation on a statewide and national level. Throughout the evening, the hard work of Delco United was honored by many of our allies, which included Shira Goodman of CeasefirePA, Movita and Yancy Harrell of the CHARLES Foundation, and Beverly Wright of Women of Strength United for Change. We were also privileged to be joined by Anna Crusis Women’s Choir, who moved the crowd with their stirring performances. All in all, the evening was a touching tribute to the efforts of Delco United, and a thank you to it’s supporters for all of their hard work. Attendees left the ballroom re-energized, inspired to keep pushing forward in the fight to end gun violence.
Ashli Rices wows the crowd with “Rise Up”
Current Co-chair Jessica Frankl with Co-Founder Robin Lasersohn and Board Member Elaine Vetre
Congressional Candidate Mary Gay Scanlon
Anna Crusis Women’s Choir inspired the crowd with 2 song selections
Shira Goodman, Executive Director of CeasefirePA
Co-chairs Jessica and John with Sen. Anthony Williams
Yancy and Movita Harrell of the CHARLES Foundation
Co-chairs Jessica and John with allies from the CHARLES Foundation, Movita and Yancy Harrell
Beverly Wright, Delco United Board Member and President of Women of Strength United for Change
Rev. Peter Friedrichs of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County offered a prayer for the survivors of gun violence
Board Member Elaine Vetre offers a touching tribute to Co-Founders Robin Lasersohn and Terry Rumsey
Co-chairs Jessica and John with Shira Goodman of CeasefirePA
Alison Dobbins spoke on behalf of Leanne Krueger-Braneky
Co-Chair John Linder addresses the crowd
State Sen. Anthony Williams
Co-Chair Jessica Frankl addresses the crowd
Delco United Supporters enjoying an evening of celebration!
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