Contact: Tony Williams (713)392-9856 [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Release Date: March 4, 2013

HOUSTON AREA URBAN LEAGUE AND OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY TO HOLD PUBLIC FORUM ON GUN SAFETY LEGISLATION

Houston, TX – Because of the tragedy that recently occurred in Newtown, CT, it is time for the residents of Houston to join the conversation on gun safety and urban gun violence in our communities. Since the senseless killings of 26 innocent victims at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the majority of them children under six-years of age, more than 2000 people in have been killed by some sort of firearm. It is now time for the citizens of Houston to voice their opinions of this subject.

On Saturday, March 9, 2013 at 10:00 a.m., the Houston Area Urban League (HAUL) and Rho Beta Beta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity will host a Town Hall Forum on Gun Safety, at 1301 Texas Avenue. The forum is free and open to the public.

Gun safety legislation is an important issue facing our elected officials on both the national and state levels of the legislative branch of government. How will stricter gun safety laws, or the lack of them, impact the quality of life for American citizens? To help us understand what’s at stake, we have invited elected officials to share their views on proposed gun safety legislation. In addition, we have invited local law enforcement officers to join our discussion.

Some of the major discussions during the forum will focus on a proposed nationwide, mandatory gun registration program, school personnel (teachers and administrators) carrying guns on campus, and a ban on assault weapons.

Judson W. Robinson, President and CEO of HAUL feels the need for this forum is necessary because, “Guns will continue to be the tools of unnecessary death and violence in our communities unless there is change. We cannot sit casually by and let another mass shooting be the annual norm without some discussion and action around doing things differently."

“We as Americans have to confront the culture of gun violence communities. The time is now for the national discussion and positive action with the desired outcome of responsible gun control,” said Gregory Williams, Chapter President of Rho Beta Beta Chapter.

The Houston Area Urban League was organized in June, 1968 as a nonprofit 501(c)3 agency. Affiliated with the United Way and National Urban League, HAUL’s mission is to enable African Americans and other minorities to secure economic self-reliance, parity, power and civil rights.

Omega Psi Phi is an international fraternity with over 700 undergraduate and graduate chapters. The fraternity was founded on November 17, 1911. Omega Psi Phi is the first predominantly African-American fraternity to be founded at a historically black university. All chapters are required to participate in programs that uplift their society. Many chapters participate in activities like: voter registration and education, illiteracy programs, and mentoring programs.