(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)— By LEONARD SYKES JR.

Debra Lee Fifer may not have come any closer to obtaining passage of the responsible gun ownership bill, a measure pending in the state Legislature following her son's tragic death in 2003, but she now has national exposure for the bill.

Fifer was one of nine women from across the nation to receive the Congressional Black Caucus Unsung Hero Award, an honor given annually by the organization's spouses to honor individuals who work to improve their communities.

The award was presented last week at the group's annual legislative conference in Washington, D.C. Fifer was recognized for her work to prevent gun violence in Milwaukee.

But while the award may not convince lawmakers in Madison of the importance of passing the measure, Fifer and U.S. Rep. Gwendolynne Moore (D-Wis.) are both pleased that the Sept. 21 event in Washington gave Fifer a chance to get national exposure for her cause. A hearing on the bill is still pending in Madison.

"It speaks volumes to get any kind of recognition from Congress," said Moore, who nominated Fifer for the award. "There were only nine people from our 43 districts who received this award. . . . Whether this gets her anywhere or not (with the bill), I don't know. But for me, it was important that her work received notice on a federal level."

...View full article

News Clip List