OUR NEWS

In these uncertain times, we are grateful for our supporters, donors, board members and advocates who are committed to our cause of gun violence prevention. After 30 years, Stop Handgun Violence will remain in the fight but your help is needed. Please donate to support our work and save lives from gun violence.

Thank you!

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Early voting in Massachusetts has begun and runs for two weeks from Saturday 10/19 through Friday 11/1.

Update on Gun Law Opponents Repeal Campaign:

The opposition’s campaign appear to have submitted the necessary number of signatures to the MA Secretary of State. The next step is the Secretary of State review process where those signatures will be vetted and tallied by county because no more than 25% of the total can come from a single county. A spokesperson for Secretary of State William Galvin said the review process is unlikely to begin until after the Nov. 5 election.

Legal experts agree Massachusetts’ new gun laws will likely hold up.

“What this law has done is a little bit more modest than the way it’s been framed by opponents,” said Cody Jacobs, a lecturer at the B.U. School of Law who studies constitutional law and state gun policy. “I don’t think that the changes that this law made are likely to be struck down by a court under the Second Amendment.

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Yesterday, President Biden signed a new Executive Order directing federal agencies to improve school-based active shooter drills and combat the emerging threats of machine gun conversion devices and unserialized, 3D-printed firearms, and more that advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s agenda to reduce gun violence and save lives.

Read the full White House press statement here.

Watch the recorded streamed event on White House Facebook page here.

Executive Director Sonya Coleman attended the States United to Prevent Gun Violence annual conference that included a private meeting with the White House Office of GVP.

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Manuel and Patricia Oliver of Change The Ref (CTR) are traveling across the country in a transformed yellow school bus to activate gun violence awareness. You can get on the School Bus of CTR and hear about their newest campaign using AI technology, the Shotline; plus the opening of the Gun Violence Memorial Project at Boston City Hall, ICA and MASS Design Group gallery.

Stop Handgun Violence encourages all to attend and support CTR’s movement for change!

WHEN: Thursday August 29, 2024; 12-3pm

WHERE: Boston City Hall plaza by the flag poles

UPDATE: Massachusetts Gun Law, an Act Modernizing Firearms:

WBUR Gun Law Opponents Begin Repeal Campaign

• A referendum petition by Gun Owners Action League seeks to repeal the law was submitted to the state elections division, the first step in a process which could land the question on the 2026 ballot.
• Petitioners will need to file 49,716 signatures if they want to suspend the law upon the filing of the petitions, but can’t suspend the law if the governor adds an emergency preamble.

WWLP Springfield Gov. Healey strongly opposes challenge to new gun reform law

• Laws generally take effect 90 days after being signed by the governor.
• The governor has the authority to file an emergency preamble to the law to prevent it from being suspended during the petition process.

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Governor Healey signed An Act Modernizing Firearms Laws (H.4885), into law today.

‘The bill modernizes Massachusetts’ existing firearms laws to address issues such as untraceable “ghost guns” and 3-D printed guns, enhance the “Red Flag Law,” further protect safety in public spaces and increase violence prevention programming in the state.’

“I couldn’t be more proud and grateful for Gov Healey and our Legislative leaders for continuing to make Massachusetts the safest state and a model for the Nation with, respect to gun violence prevention. This new gun safety Bill will effectively close dangerous loopholes in existing law, save countless lives and endless grief from preventable gun violence and do so without any inconvenience to law abiding gun owners and sportspeople like me.” ~John Rosenthal, SHV Founder and Chair

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SHV statement on newly enacted MA gun bill

I applaud the Massachusetts House and Senate for enacting a very thoughtful new comprehensive gun violence prevention bill that is specifically targeted to close dangerous loopholes in our existing gun safety laws and that will effectively save lives without infringing on the 2nd Amendment.

Gun violence is the leading cause of death for children in America and we are so lucky to live in MA, the gun violence prevention capital of America!! If every State followed our lead, over half of the 48,000-gun deaths a year in the US could be prevented without any inconvenience to law abiding gun owners.

Congress just needs to show the courage to stand up to the unregulated special interest gun industry and exhibit the leadership of our MA Legislature.

– John E. Rosenthal, founder and chair

READ MORE:

• Stop Handgun Violence Praises an Act Modernizing Firearms
• Mass. lawmakers reach deal on gun bill that would regulate ghost guns, expand ‘red flag’ law
• More than a year in the making, Mass. legislature sends gun bill to Healey
• Legislature Passes Firearm Safety Reform Bill

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We are extremely pleased for today’s SCOTUS ruling against Rahimi. From the SCOTUS Blog –

The Supreme Court on Friday upheld a federal law that bars anyone subject to a domestic-violence restraining order from possessing a gun. By a vote of 8-1, the court ruled that the law does not violate the Constitution’s Second Amendment, which protects the “right of the people to keep and bear Arms.”

A great night at Fenway for Gun Violence Awareness night!

John Rosenthal joined Gabby Giffords and survivors from Lewiston, Maine on the mound for the game’s first pitch.

Stop Handgun Violence at the #WearOrange press conference with Advocacy partners, survivors, legislators and Gabby Giffords at the MA State House.

Sound bites from Senate and House Leadership:

• The MA senate is committed for sane and sensible gun policy- President Spilka
• We stay one step ahead the SCOTUS to make MA the safest place – Speaker Mariano

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2009 Gun Show Billboard

We applaud the Biden Administration for implementing expansion of background checks as part of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Stop Handgun Violence has advocated for comprehensive background checks on ALL gun sales and closing the gun show loophole for YEARS!! One of our favorite billboards, Gun Show, was a creative by the late Gary Koepke and his M! team.

Stop Handgun Violence is recognized for 30 years of GVP advocacy and awareness at the MA Coalition quarterly meeting.

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Gary Koepke served on the Stop Handgun Violence board for decades and was the creative lead for many of our most impactful Mass Pike billboards. Read more about Gary and his amazing achievements:

A Tribute to Gary Koepke

Donate to honor Gary’s legacy at SHV

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Gayle Miles, Kendra’s mom, shared her memory of Stop Handgun Violence. Our first billboard on the Mass Pike in 1995 paid tribute to her daughter’s life and 14 other children. Firearms are now the leading cause of death for children and teens in America.

We’re highlighting our 30 years on social media and newsletters. If you have a story, memory or photo to share, please send it to info@stophandgunviolence.org. 

The SAFER Act was introduced by Senate leadership last week. “President Spilka and Senator Creem pledged to bring forth a broad gun safety bill and it has come to fruition. This legislation is a step forward in keeping our communities safer from the rising epidemic of gun violence.” John Rosenthal, founder and chair.

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Stop Handgun Violence was founded 30 years ago by John Rosenthal and the late Michael Kennedy. Initially recognized for the massive billboard campaigns on the Mass Pike, we are also proud of our advocacy and student organizing projects in the Commonwealth. Do you have a special memory or photo with us? Please send it to info@stophandgunviolence.org. We’ll be highlighting our 30 years on social media and newsletters in the coming months!

CALL TO ACTION

Our Massachusetts elected officials promised to pass a comprehensive gun violence prevention bill before the session ends this year. Don’t delay and contact your Senator today!

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