VALLEY LEADER TAKES GUN-CONTROL ISSUES TO D.C.

Byline: Michael Coit Staff Writer

Hate and guns always mattered to Nancy Parris Moskowitz, but the North Valley Jewish Community Center shooting made her an advocate for tougher laws, and she expects to be in good company at a White House breakfast for religious leaders today.

Parris Moskowitz, the center's president, is among 100 religious leaders from across the nation invited to the annual breakfast hosted by President Clinton and his wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton.

After the breakfast, Parris Moskowitz and other leaders from areas where violence has occurred will meet with the first lady.

Parris Moskowitz, an epidemiological nurse from Chatsworth, said she feels a responsibility to battle violence after a gunman wounded four children and a receptionist inside the Jewish community center Aug. 10.

Her 21-year-old son, Adam Moskowitz, was one of the center's summer camp counselors who helped get dozens of children off the Granada Hills site in the minutes after the shooting.

``Our situation was one that was just horrid. I think it's time that we as a nation do something to try and prevent these sorts of incidents from happening,'' Parris Moskowitz said. ``It happened because of one crazy guy, but also because there are hate groups and the ability of such people to get weapons so easily.''

The Jewish center shooting has become another rallying point for state and federal lawmakers seeking tougher gun control measures and expanded hate crime laws.

Opponents, of gun control proposals in particular, say shootings such as the one in Granada Hills provide evidence that existing laws aren't enforced. They contend that laws already in effect should have prevented the rampage by suspect Buford O'Neal Furrow Jr., who confessed to the shootings as well as the killing of letter carrier Joseph Ileto on the same day in Chatsworth.

The president has urged Congress to pass measures on hate crimes and gun control, and both will be primary topics at the breakfast.

``The president initiated (the breakfast) as a way of hearing from religious leaders of all faiths from across the country on pressing issues of concern to the faith community and the nation,'' said Elizabeth Newman, a White House assistant press secretary. ``Certainly, in light of events that happened this year and the past, these are two issues of importance.''

The Jewish center's president was invited to provide an important viewpoint, Newman said.

``Certainly, as a member of the faith-based community who's directly affected by such violence, she would make a valuable contribution,'' she said.

Parris Moskowitz said she will use whatever time she has to tell the story that hate won't win and that the Jewish center is surviving and thriving.

``We want to let them know that we're healing and it's due, to a very large part, to the support and the love and the care that we've received,'' she said.

Letters of support continue coming to the center in Granada Hills. There also have been monetary donations to repair the center and improve security, and teddy bears have been sent for the children.

``What it's made us realize is you get one person who can really do something very destructive but you have a whole community that comes together and does far more in the healing process than one person can destroy,'' Parris Moskowitz said.

Entering the gun control battle is tough, but necessary, she said.

``I know that's a very controversial issue, but there needs to be some reasonable and meaningful gun control,'' she said.

Parris Moskowitz also was invited to attend a ceremony last month when Gov. Gray Davis signed three gun control measures in the San Fernando Valley, giving the state some of the toughest gun control laws in the nation.

Also today, Parris Moskowitz and Karyn Miller, a member of the Jewish center's executive board, are scheduled to discuss the shootings and gun control with Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Woodland Hills, and the state's two U.S. senators, Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Sen. Barbara Boxer.

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Photo: PARRIS MOSKOWITZ