Thank you for reading this edition of Gun Reform Roundup: the latest news from the Commonwealth, New England, and the Nation.
Here are the biggest stories this week:
1) Last Thursday was the five year anniversary of the Sandy Hook Massacre. Since then, over 160,000 Americans have died due to gun violence. Across the state, faith leaders and activists honored the Sandy Hook victims and those lost in the years since.
You can learn more about Amesbury’s vigil, Arlington’s vigil, Beverly’s vigil, Boston’s vigil, Hyannis’ vigil, Martha’s Vineyard’s vigil, Natick’s vigil, Northborough’s vigil, Topsfield’s vigil, and Westford’s vigil.
Sheryl Crow also honored the victims of the Sandy Hook massacre by releasing a new song titled “The Dreaming Kind”.
Finally, you can hear these two fathers discuss the morbid coincidence that brings them together. Their sons were killed on the same day…twenty years apart.
2) “Your Piece for Peace” – a regional gun buy back day
You can learn more about the regional gun buy back which removed over 100 guns from circulation in the Commonwealth with stories from Boston and Worcester.
3) The Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act passed the house and is on to the Senate. You can learn more about all the opposition to this terrible bill.
Boston Mayor Walsh and Police Commissioner Evans penned an op-ed in the Boston Globe opposing Concealed Carry Reciprocity. WBUR’s On Point reported on Concealed Carry Reciprocity this week too, you can hear that broadcast here. It’s not surprising that National Law Enforcement Partnership, Survivors of Gun Violence, the American Bar Association, National Faith Groups, the League of Women Voters, and 17 state Attorneys General have all written letters to Congress urging them to oppose this dangerous legislation, recent studies showthat Right to Carry laws are linked to higher violent crime rates.
Are you still unsure what Concealed Carry Reciprocity means for your state? We’ve written about it in the past, which you can read here.
4) The Massachusetts legislature is still in session and we’re still paying attention!
Please help us support Representative David Linsky’s extreme risk protection order bill by signing our letter to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. You can watch Rep. Linsky discuss the bill at a recent event at the Center for Democratic Governance and Leadership at Bridgewater State University.
5) One Final Thing!
From all of us at Stop Handgun Violence: Have a safe and happy holidays!