Stop Handgun Violence Applauds Activist Investors of American Outdoor Brands (formally Smith and Wesson)

John Rosenthal reacts to the favorable outcome of a proposal for accountability by minority shareholders.

Boston, MA – Today, the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility won a resolution at the shareholder meeting of American Outdoor, Inc. (formally Smith and Wesson). The resolution requires American Outdoor Brands to create a report on the risks of their product and whether the company is adequately addressing the risk.

“This is a seismic shift amongst investors, including some of the largest in the world, BlackRock and Vanguard, flexing their muscle and holding the uniquely unregulated gun companies and their executives accountable in the absence ofsensible federal gun regulation” said John Rosenthal, founder of Stop Handgun Violence.

“This is especially significant for American Outdoor Brands who marches in lock step with the NRA but who operates in Massachusetts, the state with the most effective gun laws, the lowest gun deaths and the first in the nation consumer safety manufacturing and marketing standards that regulate guns sold in the State. However, American Outdoor Brands and other Massachusetts gun companies make and distribute more guns than any state in the Nation. Ironically, American Outdoor Brands is also prohibited from selling most of the guns they now make in their home state because they violate the Massachusetts assault weapons ban and consumer protection standards.

“Other states are beginning to take notice of Massachusetts’ effective gun laws and recognizing that it is the safest state with respect to gun violence and deaths. If American Outdoor Brands and other Massachusetts gun manufacturers want to capitalize on this sea change, they should change their business practices by dumping the manufacture and sale of assault weapons and developing smart gun technology. Not only will they save lives, they will create jobs and thrive economically.”

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Stop Handgun Violence (SHV) is a Massachusetts based non-profit organization committed to the prevention of gun violence through education, public awareness, effective law enforcement and common-sense gun laws. SHV has been the lead advocate in Massachusetts for enactment of the most effective gun violence prevention laws and first in the nation consumer protection regulations. The organization does not seek to restrict Constitutional rights but advocates only for common sense legislation that will help save lives. For more information, go to www.stophandgunviolence.org

Gun Reform Update: Concert Across America

It’s been awhile since we last shared news but we were busy marching #50MilesMore last month! We are so proud of our students for using their voices and their feet for gun violence prevention.

Before we share more details on their amazing march, here are some events coming up:

  • Sept 20th-30th – The national Concert Across America to End Gun Violence continues in Hyannis on Sept 25th (Tuesday) at 7pm and Gloucester on Sept 27th (Thursday) at 4pm.
  • Sept 25th (Tuesday) – Smith & Wesson (American Outdoor Brands) shareholders meeting & vote on gun violence prevention proposal
  • Sept 27th (Thursday) – League of Women Voters (Needham MA) Gun Violence Forum.
  • Oct 11th-12th – God and Guns: Faith to End Gun Violence – Training – New York City, Winston-Salem North Carolina, Dallas.
  • Oct 19th-21st – Student Gun Violence Summit – Washington DC.

50 Miles More- Massachusetts:

Yes, it’s true. Students from across Massachusetts marched 50 miles from Worcester City Hall to Springfield. They succeded in amplifying their message to demand Smith & Wesson to stop exporting firearms from Massachusetts that are illegal to sell within the state, and to demand from them to be part of the solution to end gun violence. While their message was spread across the country by the Associated Press and internationally by the Guardian, Smith and Wesson failed to address their demands. But the students will not give up. Stay tuned for continued student action in the months to follow.

Smith & Wesson has also gained the attention by a minority group of shareholders, Nuns and other Catholic activists. At their annual meeting on September 25th, investors will consider a proposal that would require the company to prepare a report on the risks of selling firearms.

More Massachusetts News:

In case you missed it, Governor Baker signed ERPO into law in July.

Plus, $8M was provided in the budget passed and signed by Governor Baker that will help the state continue to address urban gun violence via the Safe & Successful Youth Initiative (SSYL).

In Newburyport, civil conversations on both sides of the gun violence debate can be had between GOAL and Massachusetts Coalition for Gun Violence Prevention.

News from across the Nation:

Gun violence prevention advocates sharply criticize nominee to the US Supreme Court Brett Kavanaugh on his dangerous judicial record.

Education Secretary DeVos says she has no plans to take a position on any plan by school districts to use federal funds to purchase firearms.

Student organizers will display life-size statues of student lock down drills created by artist Manuel Oliver, whose son Joaquin was killed in Parkland.

Californians try a new tack to reduce gun violence – ammunition legislation. Plus, California orders the NRA to stop selling firearm insurance without a state license.

Amnesty International proclaims gun violence in America as a human rights crisis.

Childrens’ easy access to unsecured firearms result in deaths in Kentucky.

John Hopkins reports a critical gap in gun violence data.

Children’s Firearm Safety Alliance published their report of 2017 incidents.

CITIES NATIONWIDE PARTICIPATING IN “CONCERT ACROSS AMERICA TO END GUN VIOLENCE”

(Boston, MA. – September 19th, 2018) This week, a coalition – including students from Parkland and Newtown — with gun violence prevention artists, activists and organizations will reprise last year’s Concert Across America to End Gun Violence. Events range from selfie soloists to over 40 live concerts, digitally connected by #ConcertAcrossAmerica and ConcertAcrossAmerica.org.

Ten days of events will kick off on September 20thin Boston and in New York.

In Boston, at the Blue Hills Bank Pavilion, the band Dispatch and special guest Nahko and Medicine for the People are dedicating their September 20thshow to the Concert Across America to End Gun Violence.

“Throughout our summer tour we invited grassroots gun violence prevention organizations to join us at our shows. We couldn’t think of a better way to end this tour than kicking off the Concert Across America to End Gun Violence” said Brad Corrigan and Chad Urmston of Dispatch. “We are proud to support Stop Handgun Violence and the efforts of organizations and groups across the Country committed to keeping our schools, concert halls and other public spaces free from the fear of gun violence.”

Tickets can be purchased for the Boston show here.
Doors at 6:00pm, show at 7:00pm.

In New York, Rosanne Cash will be joined by Stop Handgun Violence founder John Rosenthal, musician Mark Erelli and author Kurt Andersen for part of the Conversations That Matter series, at The Church of St. Luke in the Fields.

“I am excited to be joined by such talented and passionate individuals for a night of music and conversation about gun violence prevention” said Rosanne Cash “Standing together in unity is the key to ending this epidemic.”

Register for free tickets to the NY show here.

Doors at 7:00pm

Shine MSD and Change the Ref, two charitable nonprofit organizations founded by the Parkland community, will host the finale concert with performances by Michael Franti & Spearhead, Nahko, Carrie Manolakos, Friends of Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary and Skip Marley on September 30th. In addition to performances, the finale will feature over 30 highly acclaimed chefs from across the globe creating original culinary masterpieces. Tickets can be purchased here.  Doors at 5:00pm.

Musicians around the world are participating in our challenge to beat last year’s sing-a-long record. Participants will record a video of themselves singing “Shine” by Andrea Peña and Sawyer Garrity, students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas in Parkland, FL, and post it on social media using #ConcertAcrossAmerica. Early videos include one from Kyoto, Japan and another from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“For me and Sawyer, not only was this song a way for us to heal, but it was also for the victims,” Andrea Peña said. “We got to be a voice for those who didn’t have one anymore. That’s what the song was about.”

“I write songs all the time,” Sawyer Garrity said. “Writing is my outlet. Some people will call a friend and rant to their friend; I’ll pick up my guitar and rant to my guitar.”

“We are so honored to have our song be chosen as this year’s one song for peace and can’t wait to see everyone’s video.” Said Sawyer and Andrea.

“This year, we brought back the sing-a-long to provide a way for individuals inside and outside of major cities to unify their efforts,” said Concert Chair John Rosenthal. “Most gun violence is preventable. Urban Massachusetts has the lowest gun death rate in the Nation and has proven the NRA’s worst nightmare. Gun laws save lives! Gun violence affects all communities, and this national effort gives everyone an opportunity to work towards a solution.”

A full list of participating cities, karaoke tracks for the sing-along challenge and more can be found online at concertacrossamerica.org.

 

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About The Concert Across America

In its third year, The Concert Across America will take place from Sept. 20th, to Sept. 30th, originally scheduled in 2016 to coincide with the Congressionally designated day of remembrance for murder victims (September 25th). This nationwide musical experience, spearheaded by Stop Handgun Violencein Boston, brings together a network of organizations, activists and artists to take a united stand against gun violence.  For more information visit http://concertacrossamerica.org.

 

A Protest March from Worcester to Springfield

The 50 Miles More: Massachusetts march in 2018, led by local youth activists, started in Worcester on August 23rd and ended August 26th with a rally at Smith & Wesson in Springfield. The protest march and rally aimed to keep gun reform issues in the national spotlight and to draw attention to the fact that young people feel unsafe in their neighborhoods, classrooms, movie theaters, restaurants and homes.

Students are targeting Smith & Wesson for their role in producing and selling weapons used in many mass shootings – including the tragedies in Parkland, San Bernardino, and Aurora – and for their weapons’ contribution to daily gun violence in communities across the country. The students asked that Smith & Wesson:

  1. Cease the manufacturing and distribution of all weapons outlawed under the 2004 Massachusetts Assault Weapons Ban, including weapons under Attorney General Maura Healey’s copycat weapon ban enforcement.
  2. Donate $5,000,000 to research violence caused by Smith & Wesson weapons and monitor illegal use of Smith & Wesson weapons to offset the lack of federal research funding for the gun violence epidemic.

Smith & Wesson did not respond to the student demands.

Watch the Facebook Live video of the Springfield at Smith & Wesson:

https://www.facebook.com/stophandgunviolence/videos/503327766794670/

 

Why I March – By Amelia

With just eight days until the walk, we continue to hear from students about why they will be walking 50 miles for gun violence prevention. You can join them at the end of their walk on August 26th at Smith and Wesson in Springfield, get details here.

The following was written by Amelia, a rising senior at Longmeadow High School.

“I am proud to march fifty miles with my peers from across the state.

We advocate for gun reform on the legislative front in regards to assault weapons bans, bans of bump stocks, and raising the legal age of purchase of firearms, and at the same time understand the importance of keeping companies like Smith & Wesson accountable.

They rejected a request to merely sit down with students, even when asked by Senators Markey and Warren. Smith & Wesson should interact and give back to our community and stop funding the National Rifle Association.”

Read more why students are choosing to march here.

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

Students wishing to join the movement, can sign up to walk here: https://50milesmore.org/march-ma/

Adults may volunteer here: http://bit.ly/50mmmVolunteer

Sponsor a walker by donating here.

Join us at the rally on August 26th in front of Smith and Wesson: Facebook event page

 

Why I march- by Vikiana

Students will be convening on August 22nd for a 50 mile walk across Massachusetts for gun violence prevention.
Below, Vikiana, a rising senior at Boston Latin Academy, writes why she is marching for gun violence prevention:
“I march because others can not. I march for those who have been killed in their classroom, on their walk home, at a movie theater. I march for those who took their lives with a gun, I march for those who were accidentally shot. I march because I can and others cannot.
Here in Massachusetts we pride ourselves on our strong gun laws. We pride ourselves on the fact that we have one of the lowest gun death rates. But how can we be proud when there is a company like Smith & Wesson operating here. A company whose currency is blood. The blood of the students in Parkland, the victims of Aurora and San Bernardino and countless more. While most the guns they manufacture are not legally able to be distributed in Massachusetts, that doesn’t stop them from distributing them out of state and taking lives elsewhere. They continue to be a part of a problem that they do not even acknowledge.
I march because enough is enough. I march because it’s time Smith and Wesson took accountability for their problems and started becoming part of the solution.”
You can read more students’ blogs on the “Why I March” page.

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

Students wishing to join the movement, can sign up to walk here: https://50milesmore.org/march-ma/

Adults may volunteer here: http://bit.ly/50mmmVolunteer

Sponsor a walker by donating here.

Join us at the rally on August 26th in front of Smith and Wesson: Facebook event page

Support the students by purchasing the official march t-shirt: https://www.bonfire.com/50-miles-more-ma/

Parkland Community Members Join 50 Mile March

Parkland Survivor David Hogg and Parkland Victim Parent Manuel Oliver Will Join Local High School Students for 50 Mile March to Smith & Wesson Headquarters

 

Boston, MA– Today, Parkland shooting survivor and March for Our Lives co-founder David Hogg, and Manuel Oliver parent of deceased Parkland student Joaquin Oliver, announced that they would join Massachusetts students for their 50 mile march across the Commonwealth. The 50 Miles More: Massachusetts march, led by local youth activists, will begin in Worcester on August 22nd and end August 26th with a rally at Smith & Wesson in Springfield at 12:00pm. The march and rally aim to keep gun reform issues in the national spotlight and to draw attention to the fact that young people feel unsafe in their neighborhoods, classrooms, movie theaters, restaurants and homes.

 

Students are targeting Smith & Wesson for their role in producing and selling weapons used in many mass shootings – including the tragedies in Parkland, San Bernardino, and Aurora – and for their weapons’ contribution to daily gun violence in communities across the country. The students ask that Smith & Wesson:

 

  1. Cease the manufacturing and distribution of all weapons outlawed under the 2004 Massachusetts Assault Weapons Ban, including weapons under Attorney General Maura Healey’s copycat weapon ban enforcement.
  2. Donate $5,000,000 to research violence caused by Smith & Wesson weapons and monitor illegal use of Smith & Wesson weapons to offset the lack of federal research funding for the gun violence epidemic.

 

“We will walk with these kids as far as they need to in order to reach our common goals” said Manuel Oliver. “My role as father is not over, and I plan to keep playing that role till the last day of my life.”

 

“I’m marching so that others won’t have to in the future” said David Hogg, Parkland shooting survivor.

 

“We are thrilled to be joined by Parkland community members,” said Sommerville student organizer Felix Brody. “The Parkland community has been an inspiration to us in Massachusetts and has taught us that students have a powerful voice in the movement to end gun violence.”

 

“We’re proud to march with students from our state, Florida and every state where Smith and Wesson assault weapons are wreaking havoc because of the lack of federal gun laws” said John Rosenthal, founder of Stop Handgun Violence. “While Massachusetts has enacted first in the nation consumer protection standards for all firearms sold in the state and a permanent ban on military style assault weapons like the Smith and Wesson AR-15 used at Parkland, weapons that do not meet these standards continue to be manufactured and exported from our state.”

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Stop Handgun Violence(SHV) is a Massachusetts based non-profit organization committed to the prevention of gun violence through education, public awareness, effective law enforcement and common sense gun laws. SHV has been the lead advocate in Massachusetts for enactment of the most effective gun violence prevention laws and first in the nation consumer protection regulations. The organization does not seek to restrict Constitutional rights,but advocates only for common sense legislation that will help save lives. For more information, go towww.stophandgunviolence.org

 

March for Our Lives: Boston (MFOL Boston) is a Massachusetts based non-profit organization seeking to liberate communities from systemic gun violence and empower young people to be politically active. MFOL: Boston is a volunteer, student-led initiative including a coalition of students from a wide range of high schools, universities, and community youth organizations across Massachusetts. The organization engages in electoral politics and community organizing to encourage conversation and action against the gun violence epidemic in Massachusetts and in the United States.

 

50 Miles More is a national youth-led gun reform organization that began this spring when students from across Wisconsin marched from Madison to Janesville in a gun reform protest that gained international media attention. Taking inspiration from the 54-mile Selma to Montgomery march for civil rights, their four day, 50 mile march to Speaker Paul Ryan’s hometown was just the beginning. In the months since their march and rally in Janesville, 50 Miles More has been rallying their forces in communities across the country to take their #50More in #50States initiative nationwide. And this fall they are partnering with the leaders behind the National School Walkoutto launch a multi-state Gen-Z voter engagement campaign to make sure that the politicians in office are truly representing the people they serve.

Why I March- By Trevaughn

With just two weeks to go to until the 50 Miles More Massachusetts march from Worcester to Springfield, we are posting another blog written by the student organizers. The march will be held August 22nd through August 26th, with a rally outside of Smith and Wesson at the end.

The entry below was written by Trevaughn, an incoming freshman at Hartwick College.

“Setback? That’s not a setback. Smith and Wesson not meeting with us…it’s simply a mere inconvenience.

Solving problems has always been my job. From freshman year in my Model Congress team to senior year as student council president, it’s been integrated into my life every step of the way. With over 150+ mass shootings in America so far, and a quarter of them being located in schools, institutions of learning,is ridiculous.

Mass shootings aren’t an inconvenience. It’s a problem. It’s now turned into an epidemic.

Lockdown drills weren’t a thing at my school until the March for Our Lives rally we held in Springfield, where students called out schools out for not having any drills or safety preparation classes. That’s the change that I hoped for. Now I want something bigger.

Red flag legislation, comprehensive background checks, closing glaring and frequently exploited loopholes regarding gun purchases, all those things I fight for, every day.

I’m marching because each student that died had a future. They had loving parents. They could’ve gone to college.

I’m marching because I don’t want my kids to experience the fear of dying in schools.

This? This isn’t an inconvenience. This is a fight. A fight that we will not lose.”

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

Students wishing to join the movement, can sign up to walk here: https://50milesmore.org/march-ma/

Adults may volunteer here: http://bit.ly/50mmmVolunteer

Sponsor a walker by donating here.

Join us at the rally on August 26th in front of Smith and Wesson: Facebook event page

 

Why I March- By Chinaly

With just three weeks to go to until the 50 Miles More Massachusetts march from Worcester to Springfield, we are posting another blog written by the student organizers. The march will be held August 22nd through August 26th, with a rally outside of Smith and Wesson at the end.

The entry below was written by Chinaly, a 17 year-old student leader at Sabis International Charter School.

“The past six months have been substantial in molding me into who I am today.

In February of 2018, I opened Twitter and saw the impact of loose gun laws and disregarded red flags. I saw hundreds of students my age fearing for their lives, and bullets ripping through some of their chests as they huddled in classrooms trying to go undetected on the shooter’s radar. It rattled me to my core that this was the gruesome reality I had to live in, kids dying in a place they were supposed to grow.

But what impacted me the most was the chilling fear I felt when my school experienced its own shooting threat. Twenty students scrambling out of their desks on to the floor, hearts thumping, palms sweating, hands shaking. For the first time ever, I was afraid for my life. I was torn rather to text my brother or not because if his ringer was on and if there was a shooter then they would hear his phone buzz and target him. But if I didn’t I had no idea if he safely made it into a classroom when Code Red started blaring over the intercoms. I had no clue of knowing if he was okay, or if I would ever see him again. But the only thing that kept replaying through my mind wasn’t what drills to run during soccer practice that day or the test I had next period. It was “did I tell my mom I loved her this morning?”
I have never felt that kind of fear in me my whole life and even now as I rethink about the experience my heart starts racing and my eyes start watering because I was scared and I still am scared. I am still scared because there is still so much more to be done to ensure that mass shooting like Parkland don’t happen again, and that’s why I march.

I march for better legislation. I march so no other child has to experience the same fear I did. I march so no parent has to receive a text saying “if I die today at school, know that I love you”.
I march because the time for change is now. Gun control is a topic we can no longer ignore and this generation is pushing this topic to the front burner, emphasizing that this is not a moment, it’s a movement. It’s time for us to march, defy the stigma against teenagers, and create the change we want to see.”

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

Students wishing to join the movement, can sign up to walk here: https://50milesmore.org/march-ma/

Adults may volunteer here: http://bit.ly/50mmmVolunteer

Sponsor a walker by donating here.

Join us at the rally on August 26th in front of Smith and Wesson: Facebook event page

Why I March- By Jack

As we approach the 50 Miles More Massachusetts march from Worcester to Springfield, we’ll be posting blogs written by the student organizers. The march will be held August 22nd through August 26th, with a rally outside of Smith and Wesson at the end.

The entry below was written by Jack, a 16 year-old student leader from Sommerville, MA.

“My name is Jack and I am a co-organizer of this 50 Miles More March. I walk because gun violence is an issue like no other. The lack of regulation of a machine, with one purpose, to kill, results in close to 38,000 deaths a year. But I’m from Massachusetts. I should be proud to live in the state with the lowest rate of gun deaths in the nation. And I am, I’m proud of our laws, our legislature, and governor for their stances on this issue. But MA falls short in the city of Springfield. There lies the headquarters of American Outdoor Brands and the manufacturing headquarters of Smith and Wesson and M&P. This factory produced the modified AR 15 used in San Bernardino and in Aurora. I walk to resolve this violent tarnish on my home state. I walk to make sure that these military grade assault weapons are no longer built in my home. I walk to stop the Iron-Pipeline of S&W products that are sold into NH, VT, and ME and are brought illegally back to my state. It is high time manufacturers joined the conversation about ending gun violence. We’re bringing the fight to them. Get psyched. Lives are in the line.”

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

Students wishing to join the movement, can sign up to walk here: https://50milesmore.org/march-ma/

Adults may volunteer here: http://bit.ly/50mmmVolunteer

Sponsor a walker by donating here.

Join us at the rally on August 26th in front of Smith and Wesson: Facebook event page