Stop Handgun Violence Response to Uvalde, TX Elementary School Shooting

This afternoon, news of another mass shooting broke. According to the Gun Violence Archive this is the 11th shooting with ten or more victims this year and the 212th mass shooting in 2022.  The details of this horrific incident are continuing to emerge, but several reports have indicated that as many as eighteen children and three adults were murdered and many others injured in the attack.

In Texas, no criminal background check is required for private gun sales including for assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines.  In addition, there is no age limit for possessing a firearm, no limit on the number of firearms that can be purchased at one time and gun owners are not required to have a license, register their firearms or report lost and stolen firearms.

Despite many high-profile mass shootings in Texas in recent years, elected officials in Texas continue to disregard the safety of their constituents and fail to pass common sense gun safety laws to reduce easily preventable gun injuries and deaths.

“We installed the large 252’ x 20’ gun violence prevention billboard on the Mass Pike in Boston in 1995. That is over 1 million dead Americans ago from gun violence in the US. We still lose over 100 Americans a day to preventable gun violence. We cannot continue to offer thoughts and prayers when children are being murdered in their schools” said John Rosenthal, founder and chairman of Stop Handgun Violence. “This is on Republicans in Congress and State Houses who choose blood money campaign contributions over human life and public safety.   While the shooter’s motives are still unclear, one thing is blatantly obvious: The time for action is now. Congress’s unconscionable priority of guns over lives has resulted in 45,000 killed last year, 212 mass shootings in 2022 so far this year, and eighteen more elementary school children and two adults today.”

###

 

More teens carrying guns most everywhere but here.

A Boston College Study shows a disturbing rise in teens carrying firearms. 

The survey used for the study shows that Massachusetts has low rates of handgun carriage among adolescents, while it is increasing in some other New England states.

Our press release explains why.

 

News on gun trafficking:

  • Novia Scotia shooter who killed 20 people illegally bought guns over the border in Maine.
  • Trafficking ring moved ~300 guns from Georgia to Pennsylvania.
  • Man arrested for trafficking guns from Georgia to New York.
  • The iron pipeline to Philadelphia pinpoints six gun shops and 11,000 crime guns.
  • The ATF make arrest seven in California for ghost gun trafficking and narcotics.

##

 

Stop Handgun Violence Response to Buffalo, NY Tops Friendly Market Shooting;

Boston, MA– Today, news of another mass shooting broke. According to the Gun Violence Archive this is the 198th mass shooting with four or more victims this year.  The details of this horrific incident are continuing to emerge, but initial reports indicate that the gunman wearing body armor used a military style assault weapon to kill at least ten people and injure three others in a racially motivated attack.

New York has strong gun laws that prohibit the possession of assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines like the ones reportedly used in this attack. However, upstate New York neighbors, like Ohio and Pennsylvania do not.

“While the details of this horrific massacre continue to emerge, our hearts and thoughts are with victims of this attack and the Buffalo community” said John Rosenthal, founder and chairman of Stop Handgun Violence. “While the shooter’s motives are still unclear, one thing is blatantly obvious: It is time for federal legislation on firearms. Without a national ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, states with strong gun laws will continue to fall victim to the laws of their neighbors. The gun lobby’s unconscionable priority of guns over lives has disastrous consequences. Over 90 Americans die each day due to gun violence and the unrestricted access to firearms in this country is a dangerous policy with dangerous consequences.”

 

###

Coalitions work

This week, Stop Handgun Violence will join the MA Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence to honor Janet Goldenberg, president of the Coalition for nine years. She transfers the reigns to Mark Scott and Cindy Diggs, new Board President and Vice-President, respectively.

Tickets to attend the Peace Forward event on Wednesday April 27th here.

 

In the News:

  • Gun Safety Alliance has a call to action to cultural influencers.
  • March for Our Lives activists leave body bags outside Senator Schumer’s New York office.
  • Guns are now the leading cause of death for children in America.
  • Infowars filed for bankruptcy protection after lawsuits with Alex Jones.

##

SHV responds to study released by Boston College about youth handgun carriage rates

Boston, MA – On the heels of new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data showing that firearms were the leading cause of death for children and teens aged one to 19 – surpassing motor vehicle deaths, Boston College researchers yesterday released a study finding that youth aged 12-17 are carrying handguns at a rate 40 percent higher than in 2002-2003. The study also showed, however, that Massachusetts’ teen handgun carriage rate has decreased 50 percent since 2002-2003 (2.2 percent in 2002-2003 to 0.9 percent in 2019-2020) and the state’s underage firearm death rate has also decreased (1.48/100,000 population to 1.36/100,000 population).

“We are saddened to learn of the disturbing trend of more teens carrying firearms and more children and teens dying from gun violence nationwide,” said John Rosenthal, founder and president of Stop Handgun Violence. “Decades of unrestricted access to deadly firearms without background checks or detection by law enforcement in 32 States has deadly consequences, especially among kids and teens. However, it is truly inspiring to see that what we have done in Massachusetts to prevent children from accessing firearms is working. In Massachusetts, we have strong firearm safety requirements, renewable licensing (similar to automobile licensing) and mandatory safe storage/child access prevention laws. These are clearly working to keep guns out of the hands of children and teens in Massachusetts. If every state had our strong firearm laws, we could save 27,000 lives a year nationally and keep our children safe from deadly firearms.”

 

###

Coalitions Work

This week, Stop Handgun Violence will join the MA Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence to honor Janet Goldenberg, president of the Coalition for nine years. She transfers the reigns to Mark Scott and Cindy Diggs, new Board President and Vice-President, respectively.

Tickets to attend the Peace Forward event on Wednesday April 27th here.

In the News:

  • Gun Safety Alliance has a call to action to cultural influencers.
  • March for Our Lives activists leave body bags outside Senator Schumer’s New York office.
  • Guns are now the leading cause of death for children in America.
  • Infowars filed for bankruptcy protection after lawsuits with Alex Jones.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

##

MA Crime Gun Data Reporting & Analysis bill moves forward!

AN ACT RELATIVE TO CRIME GUN DATA REPORTING AND ANALYSIS.

Since 2014, crime gun data has been collected by the commonwealth but has not been utilized successfully. This bill would require a report and analysis about the existing data so that legislators and law enforcement can

effectively target the source of guns used in crime.

With YOUR help, both MA bills (H.2437 and S.1562) were reported favorably out of committee to their respective Ways and Means committees.

 

<< SHV with the MA Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence for an advocacy day at the MA State House

More Research & Data:

  • Smart gun technology is here and can prevent child access and more.
  • Two new research pieces highlight the broader effects of gun violence on health and examine how early intervention on gun safety could be effective.
  • Gun violence prevention takes more than police.
  • Study shows higher homicide risk in homes with guns.
  • Harvard Business Study reviews the positive impact of Dick’s Sporting Goods policy on firearm sales.

A Humor for Humanity Podcast

Don’t miss it: John joins Jimmy Tingle on his show and explains how Massachusetts became the state with the lowest rate of gun violence in the country and how other states could follow suit.

 

 

 

##

President Biden Executive Actions for GVP

We applaud President Biden’s announcement on the following executive actions:

  • A final ATF rule banning the manufacturing of the most accessible ghost guns, such as unserialized “buy build shoot” kits that individuals buy online or at a store without a background check and easily assemble into a working firearm at home.
  • A new nominee for ATF Director, Steve Dettelbach. He is a former U.S. Attorney and veteran prosecutor at the U.S. Department of Justice. His proven track record of working with federal, state, and local law enforcement to fight violent crime and combat domestic violent extremism and religious violence, makes him an excellent candidate for ATF Director.

Remember this action in 2021? Know that your efforts with thousands of supporters across the country made a difference to make this ATF ruling happen!

Send a thank you to President Biden >> here.

 

John Rosenthal responds to the Brooklyn mass shooting on ABC Live.

 

 

State Legislative News:

  • Washington Governor Inslee signed 3 gun reform bills into law; includes a ban on distribution, sale, importation and manufacture of firearm magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition.
  • Vote Without Fear bill in Colorado is now law. It bans open carry of firearms 100 ft of an election site.
  • Maryland ghost gun ban becomes law without Governor Hogan’s signature.
  • Illinois General Assembly passed HB4383, SA2, making ghost guns illegal.
  • Nebraska Legislature defeat bills to eliminate safety training and background checks for conceal carry firearms.
  • Indiana, Ohio and Georgia endanger their communities with permit-less conceal carry laws.

##

 

 

4 years ago a March for Our Lives

Four years ago, David Hogg and others founded March for Our Lives, a nationwide march to end gun violence. The march was the largest single-day gathering of individuals in support of gun violence prevention.

Jim Braude of WGBH Greater Boston brings our founder John Rosenthal and David together, to discuss lobbying Congress to pass gun reform legislation. Watch here.

Threats at Schools:

  • After Oxford High School shooting, Michigan sees an increase in school threats.
  • Police investigate a shooting threat by email at a middle school in Minnesota.
  • In Poughkeepsie, two schools are threatened with mass shootings by students.
  • A Cincinnati middle school student face charges for threats of a school shooting.
  • In Vermont, a teen was stopped by residents before bringing a gun to school.
  • With more shooting threats, some school districts respond with surveillance and security.

 

Support Stop Handgun Violence & buy a T-shirt with our new design,

AM I NEXT

www.littlehandscampaign.org

 

 

 

 

##