Archive – SHV 2023 Newsletters

Stop Handgun Violence attended the States United to Prevent Gun Violence annual meeting and Center for American Progress GVP conference. Sonya used this opportunity to engage with state partners, advocates and the White House Office of GVP.

The HILL: Senate Republicans on Wednesday blocked efforts by Senate Democrats to pass an assault weapons ban and universal background checks legislation after the United States over the weekend broke the record for the most mass shootings in a single year.

NBC News- Shooting suspect arrested after 6 killed and 3 injured in Texas.
CBS News- UNLV suspect dead after 3 gunned down on campus.
WSJ– Activist Nuns, with stake in Smith & Wesson, sue gun maker.
Boston Globe– Tackling the scourge of ghost guns in the Commonwealth, preventing the next tragedy a must in 2024.

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 MASSACHUSETTS PUBLIC HEARING ON FIREARMS

The Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security is holding an in-person and virtual hearing on Senate and House bills related to Firearms on Tuesday, November 28th at 11 AM. Sign up to give oral testimony at the hearing using this  form. The deadline to sign up to testify is Friday, November 24th at 11:59 PM.

Written testimony can be emailed to Destiny Ihenacho at destiny.ihenacho@mahouse.gov or Ryann Mitchell at ryann.mitchell@masenate.gov

Attorney General Campbell Launches Gun Violence Prevention Unit

‘The AG’s new GVPU will help prevent senseless gun violence, help law enforcement prevent and solve gun crimes, help Communities and families and will continue to make Massachusetts the safest state in the nation with respect to gun violence.’

Read John’s full statement of support here.

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In the aftermath of the Lewiston mass shooting, John spoke live about the gun violence epidemic on the Jim & Margery show.

House Minority Whip Katherine Clark and Rep. Maxwell Frost hosted a student town hall on gun violence as a priority issue and the importance of voting in all elections.

NEWSWORTHY:

WHDH– Maine Shootings raise questions about how gunman was able to own weapon used in attacks.

GBH NEWS– Jim & Margery interviews John on the latest and most deadly mass shooting this year.

ABC NEWS– Victims of the Lewiston mass shooting named.

CNN– Rep. Jared Golden reverses his opposition to a Federal Assault Weapons Ban.

Happy Birthday to our founder and chair, John!

Celebrate with us by donating to support our work at Stop Handgun Violence

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WE DID IT. Thank you to our supporters, volunteers and partners who took time and energy to advocate for gun safety bills that PASSED the House last night!

Read our full press statement here.

“We applaud the Massachusetts House for passing H.4135, an Act Modernizing Firearm Laws” said John Rosenthal, founder of Stop Handgun Violence. “These bills will save lives without any inconvenience to law-abiding gun owners like me. They will also continue to make Massachusetts a national model as the safest state with the most effective gun violence prevention laws and lowest gun death rate in the Country.”

In the News:

• MASS LIVE -Mass. House passes updated gun violence reform bill
• WBUR – Mass. House passes sweeping new gun control bill

OCTOBER IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

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We are grateful to each and every one of you who came to our Advocacy Day last week with the MA Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, Moms Demand Action, Everytown, Giffords and Brady.

What’s next? Click here to follow up with an email to thank your state legislator for their time and reiterate prioritization for action on gun safety bills. Thank you!

From the State House News ~ 250 volunteers swarmed the State House to advocate for gun safety bills!

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month – If you or someone you know is in distress, call or text 988 #lifeline

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MA State House Advocacy Day

Advocate for gun safety legislation with us and our partners – the MA Coalition, Moms Demand Action, GIFFORDS, and the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

WHAT: Register to meet with your state legislator- click here.
WHEN: Wednesday September 13th at 10:30am.
WHERE: At the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, 138 Tremont St. in Boston to review logistics before we walk up together to the state house.

Our Summer of Action ~

• During Gun Violence Awareness month in June, we showed up at Fenway for Survivor night and the National Safer Communities Summit in Hartford.
• John wrote a poignant op-ed published by the Boston Globe to call out the need for an Assault Weapons Ban. Sonya also protested with survivors at the D.C. Capitol for a Senate vote on an Assault Weapons Ban.
• The Civic Action Project hosted Rep Liz Miranda and John to discuss gun legislation, reform, safety and violence prevention in the state.

• In August, we saw the unveiling of Manuel Oliver’s interpretation of ‘The Knotted Gun’. His theme – school shootings in America.

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Vote on gun bill delayed until Fall – Boston Globe

“You have my word that we will spend the ensuing weeks working with you to address concerns and questions you and your constituents may have about the proposed legislation”, House Speaker Mariano said.

Advocacy Day tomorrow for HD.4420, an Act Modernizing Firearm Laws, is postponed until September.

We know gun violence doesn’t take a break. We remain focused and committed for gun safety legislation in Massachusetts. Please continue contacting your state Rep or Senator to support gun safety.

Or make a call to the main Statehouse (617) 722-2000 and ask to be connected to your Rep or Senator.

THANK YOU!

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Don’t let an assault weapon end another life.

“While easily concealable handguns account for the majority of the average daily 130 firearm deaths and 150 injuries (including a child shot every 30 minutes and seven killed every day), many mass shootings occur with military-style assault weapons and large-capacity ammunition magazines carrying 30 or more rounds. The semiautomatic AR-15, which has accounted for millions of gun sales, was modeled after the M4 carbine and the M16, which was intended for use on the battlefield, not America’s streets.”

Read John’s full op ed here.

• A proposal to slow the bloodshed – Boston Globe
• State reports 75% rise in ‘ghost gun’ seizures – Newburyport Daily News
• Supreme Court is set to hear a case about abusers and guns. – Boston Globe

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An Act Modernizing Firearm Laws

We are pleased to see a Massachusetts omnibus bill, an Act Modernizing Firearm Laws, HD.4420 was filed by the Joint Committee on the Judiciary House Chair Michael Day. Thanks to all who took action to help advance the omnibus bill! A Judiciary committee hearing TBA will be scheduled soon and we hope many can attend or submit written testimony. Follow our FB page to stay informed!

In the News:

Boston Globe: Top House Democrat’s omnibus gun bill would crack down on ghost guns, expand ‘red flag’ law
WGBH: Top Mass. House Democrat unveils sweeping gun safety bill
State House News: Day offers template for next house gun safety bill

John with survivors Tonya Godwin-Baines and family from Cleveland at Fenway, hosted by the Red Sox Foundation.

At the Safer Communities Summit with fellow advocates, partners, and the inspirational Gabby Giffords in Hartford, CT.

Sonya at the MA State House for a press conference with MA Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence and national partners.

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GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

We’ll be on the steps of the MA State House with our local and national partners including MA Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, Moms Demand Action, Giffords and Brady to mark June as Gun Violence Awareness month and the anniversary of the SCOTUS NY Bruen ruling.

Join us for a press conference on Thursday June 22nd at 10am featuring survivors, violence prevention workers, and other community voices to address the impact of gun violence in the Commonwealth.

Stand with us wearing ORANGE and bring a sign showing your support for gun violence prevention!

Stop Handgun Violence went to Washington

The week-long Survivor Sit-In protest prompted Senator Osoff (GA-D) to cosponsor the bill. Activists and volunteers drove calls to the Judiciary Committee Chair Durbin to mark up S.25 for a vote.

The Survivor Sit-In protest was organized by Samuel Schwartz, a college student in Boston who is committed to honor the life of his cousin Alex. Alex was murdered at his school in Parkland Florida on Feb 14, 2018 by a gunman armed with a Smith & Wesson AR15.

GOT 30 SECONDS?

CALL & LEAVE YOUR MESSAGE! 202-224-7703

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An Act to Stop Mass Shootings

Stop Handgun Violence supports An Act to Stop Mass Shootings to prohibit already banned assault style weapons and large capacity feeding devices with 10 or more rounds for the civilian market to be manufactured in Massachusetts. Three states, California, New York and New Jersey, already have effective bans on the manufacturing of assault weapons.

An Act to Stop Mass Shootings, H.1452, co-filed by Representative Marjorie Decker and Frank Moran, is scheduled for a Judiciary Joint Committee hearing on Tuesday June 13th at 1pm (virtual and in-person).

What’s happening at SHV?

Massachusetts legislation session has begun and Stop Handgun Violence is anticipating an Omnibus Bill. We meet regularly with our MA Coalition partners and have outlined our priority bills to include the following:

• Prohibit already banned assault style weapons and large capacity feeding devices with 10+ rounds for the civilian market to be manufactured in the state.
• Regulate Ghost Guns by banning the possession, manufacture, and assembly of ghost guns and 3-D printed weapons.
• Industry Accountability and Gun Violence Victims’ Access to Justice by allowing for civil actions by victims of gun violence.
• Crime Gun Data Reporting and Analysis of gun violence data that will allow the state to understand the root causes of gun violence.

Next month is Gun Violence Awareness Month

Show your support and WEAR ORANGE for Gun Violence Awareness Month in June! Tag social media using #WearOrange to help amplify the message that gun violence is a NATIONAL HEALTH CRISIS.

Soul Box project is an artistic focus on the gun violence epidemic. 1,176 soul boxes are currently displayed at Calvary Church in Arlington MA through June 12th.

We are protesting at the U.S. Capitol in June with survivors & advocates for an Assault Weapons Ban.

Help us get there with a donation!

SOLUTIONS TO THE GUN VIOLENCE EPIDEMIC
Every day over 100 will die and there will be a school shooting and a mass shooting of 4 or more people. If not now when do we call out the obstructionists in Congress who are standing in the way of effective gun violence prevention laws like we’ve proven to work in Massachusetts? ~John Rosenthal, SHV chair and co-founder

Watch John’s interview on Greater Boston here.

We helped organize and rallied with student activists from March For Our Lives at Harvard Yard last month. Read David Hogg’s speech on America’s nightmare here.

Have You Heard…

• Washington will become the 10th state, plus District of Columbia, to ban assault weapons.
• The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago denied a request for an injunction by Robert Bevis, a firearms store owner, while he appeals a ruling by U.S. District Judge Kendall that found the Illinois assault weapons ban “constitutionally sound.”
• In response to the Covenant school shooting, Tennessee Governor Lee signed an executive order to strengthen background checks and called on the General Assembly to pass the equivalent of a red flag law.
• Two months after the MSU campus shooting, Michigan enacts safe storage requirements and an expansion of background checks for long guns.
• A federal judge denied Delaware gun groups a preliminary injunction in their lawsuit seeking to block legislation that bans assault weapons and high-capacity firearm magazines.

On Our Calendar:
APRIL 27th: Lesley University hosts Gun Violence Awareness webinar. Free but must register here.
MAY 14th: Walk for Peace on Mother’s Day to benefit LDB Peace Institute. Join the MA Coalition team!
MAY 18th: We celebrate 10 Years of the MA Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence. Get your tickets here.

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TUESDAY 4/4: #ProtectKidsNotGuns Rally with MFOL @Harvard Yard 6-7pm!

Saturday 3/25: RALLY with student activists and survivors at the Boston Common Parkman bandstand for a Safer Tomorrow. Take ACTION and contact your Senator to pass AWB

1PM rain or shine; and free MFOL T-shirts while supplies last!

Monday 3/27: A Conversation with David Hogg on 5 years after Parkland at WBUR CitySpace in Boston. Both in-person and virtual tickets. Use discount code Hogg23 for general in-person tix.

Wednesday 3/29: Advocacy Day with Moms Demand Action at the MA State House.

Tuesday 4/4: Rhode Island Campaign for Gun Violence Prevention at the RI State House. Meet at 3:30PM – follow the RI Coalition for more info.

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GUN VIOLENCE IS THE #1 CAUSE OF DEATH FOR CHILDREN & TEENS

We stand with student activists and survivors on Saturday March 25th at 1 PM at Boston Common to raise their voices and demand a future free from gun violence. Join us as we stand for a #SaferTmrw to #EndGunViolence!

MEET SOME OF THE STUDENT ORGANIZERS

My school, Sandy Hook, was a place to play, learn and grow. In 6 minutes, it became a place to run, hide and fight. – CJ Hoekenga, Survivor and Activist

My 7yo brother Daniel was murdered at Sandy Hook. When this happened, I was just about to turn 11. I was devastated & destroyed, but I was also in a state of denial for a long time, especially because I was so young. – Natalie Barden, Survivor and Activist

March 1, 2023 | Monthly News

MASSACHUSETTS GUN LAWS SAVE LIVES

Gun violence prevention is not theoretical – it’s a choice. If urban Massachusetts can do it, every state can do it. – John Rosenthal

Read our full press statement here.

On Our Calendar:

1. Wednesday March 8th: Unpacking American Gun Policy hosted by GBH Studios.
2. Thursday March 9th: MA Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence Quarterly Meeting at the State House.

Stand Today for a Safer Tomorrow

We’re excited to support a Boston-based student led group committed to ending gun violence in America. Rally details coming soon!

Follow them on Instagram HERE

Donate to help fund student activists HERE.

THANK YOU!

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AMERICA IN CRISIS

5 Years After Parkland – A Deadly School Shooting at Michigan State.

What We Know:

• Three dead, five critically injured after a rampage on Michigan State campus.
• After a 4-hour shelter in place, police found the shooter dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
• Michigan gun laws fall short, and includes no background check on private sales of long guns.

Last year more than 44,000 Americans were killed and over 38,000 were injured with firearms, and gun violence is now the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 19 in America.

This is a uniquely American public health and safety crisis. No other developed country intentionally allows unrestricted access to easily concealed handguns and military-style assault weapons.

Gun Violence is a uniquely American Crisis

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Read John Rosenthal’s Boston Globe Opinion here.