The Town of North Hempstead has officially requested that the United States House of Representatives reconsider their recent vote on gun control.

The Mandatory Gun Show Background Check Act (H.R. 2122) includes an amendment (H amdt.216.), authored by Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy, which would require a background check for all people buying guns at gun shows and would allow three business days to complete a background investigation.

Though the United States Senate passed the bill, it was not as successful in the House. Supervisor May Newburger and the Town Board voted for a resolution "urging" the House to reconsider their vote.

"I felt very badly that Carolyn McCarthy's amendment was defeated," said Newburger at a press conference held last Thursday to further publicize their decision. "If we cannot act officially then we have an obligation to advocate."

The vote was four in favor and one abstention, that of Councilman James O'Conner who cited reasons that the issue was a federal one and not for the Town to decide.

At the June 29 meeting, co-chairs for the Long Island Chapter of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence (NYAGV), Joyce Gorycki of Mineola and Michelle Schimel of Great Neck, spoke in favor of the board's decision.

Gorycki lost her husband, James, to a fatal gunshot in the "LIRR Massacre" in 1993. She has dedicated her life to the gun control movement in memory of her late husband.

She said, "It is with deep regret that Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy's amendment was defeated. It is so important to protect us from criminals getting guns from gun shows."

Schimel has been involved in NYAGV for the past 10 years and a board member since 1994.

She said, "Gun shows, flea markets and other organized events at which firearms are exhibited or offered for sale provide a convenient commercial location at which firearms can be bought or sold without background checks and without records that enable gun tracing."

Along with supporting the board in their resolution, Schimel advocated for other McCarthy measures such as safety locks for guns, holding adult gun owners responsible for the safe storage of their weapons, establishing trigger resistance standards, further expanding gun tracing programs and funding a Youthful Firearms Injury Surveillance Program.

Schimel and Gorycki advocate for these measures in all forms of media and lobby elected officials, as was their successful case with the Town Board.

"This is the best example of how grass roots can move government," said Newburger.