News – Page 5 – Stop Handgun Violence Archives

MA ERPO Law under utilized

In the News:

Massachusetts ERPO law is under utilized.
16 year-old girl a victim of gun violence in Boston.
Before the Denver shooting spree, the gunman wrote about it in a book.
Georgia governor wants to loosen handgun carry laws.
Ahmaud Aurbrey killers are all sentenced to life in prison.
A 15 year-old Maryland teen fatally shoots his mother and sibling and injures his father.
Michigan Judge denies request to lower bail for the parents of Ethan Crumbley.
Gun violence prevention and LGBTQ groups push for voting rights and gun control.
The CDC reported gun deaths hit record high in 2020; though several major cities including Boston had a decline in violence in 2021.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!

THANKS TO ALL who donated to our 2021 year end appeal

We’re grateful that so many of you remain committed to our cause. With your financial support, we’ll continue to do the life-saving work of gun violence prevention and awareness.

Aylee Gordon was only 3 yrs old when she accessed an unsecured gun in a car and shot herself on Christmas Day.

SHV and 80% of Americans support federal firearm safe storage laws, like the ones we have in Massachusetts. Which is why we support Ethan’s Law, which would give federal agencies an opportunity to dramatically shift attitudes towards firearm safety and prevent many parents from losing their children to school shootings, unintentional shootings, gun suicides, and interpersonal violence in communities of color.

In the News:

Boston was one of eight cities that trended down on shootings and homicides in 2021 compared to most of the country.
In 2021, Springfield police seized 254 illegal firearms.
14 yr old teen shot dead in the crossfires of Los Angeles police in a department store.
A man shot over a wrong seat in an Atlanta movie theatre.
Manchester, NH police searching for teens who shot a driver and pedestrian with BB guns.
In Pennsylvania, a high school mass shooting averted before Christmas.
Capitol police given authority to call the National Guard as a result of Jan 6th insurrection.

Happy Holidays from Stop Handgun Violence

Wishing all our Advocates, Board Members, Supporters Volunteers, Friends and Family a Happy & Safe Holiday Season!

We count on all of you to help us continue our work to save lives from gun violence.

Thanks to all who have already donated!

Last year, the Commonwealth saw a spike in gun violence across the state, likely exacerbated by the pandemic. Communities of color were disproportionately impacted by this increase in gun violence, mirroring the disproportionate impact COVID-19 had on communities of color. These disparities fueled our coalition partners to come together and advocate for gun violence prevention funding as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) recovery funds.

“We applaud the State Legislature and Governor Baker for believing in a future without gun violence and making the necessary investments in our community to reach that goal,” said Zoe Grover, Executive Director of Stop Handgun Violence. “For over 25 years, Stop Handgun Violence has been working to eradicate gun violence in the Commonwealth. We believe this funding will be transformational to the state and are proud that Massachusetts continues to be a national leader on this issue.”

Donations are being matched up to $50k by a generous and long-time supporter. Join the Match and Donate!

JOINT PRESS RELEASE: A coalition of community organizations celebrate $50 million investment in community-based violence prevention

A coalition of community organizations, including Stop Handgun Violence, in support of gun violence prevention applauds the Massachusetts State Legislature and Governor Baker for prioritizing community-based gun violence prevention in H.4269, An Act relative to immediate COVID-19 recovery needs, which allocates $50 million to fund violence prevention across the Commonwealth. Included in this $50 million investment is $7.5 million in grant funding for community-based gun violence prevention programming that prioritizes communities disproportionately impacted by gun violence.

Last year, the Commonwealth saw a spike in gun violence across the state, likely exacerbated by the pandemic. Communities of color were disproportionately impacted by this increase in gun violence, mirroring the disproportionate impact COVID-19 had on communities of color. These disparities fueled this coalition to come together and advocate for gun violence prevention funding as part of the ARPA recovery funds. The coalition includes over 40 local, state, and national organizations, including those doing the frontline work of violence prevention every day.

Coalition Members offered the following comments:

“We thank Governor Baker, Speaker Mariano, Senate President Spilka, Chairs Michlewitz and Rodrigues, and the entire Legislature for their commitment to addressing the root causes of gun violence” said Ruth Zakarin, executive director of the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence. “We are deeply grateful to our legislative champions, Senator Creem, Representative Miranda, and Representative Vargas for their advocacy to ensure that this funding was included in the final bill. This funding will make a tangible difference for community based organizations across the state doing the grassroots work of preventing gun violence and promoting peace. We are thrilled to have played a role in securing support for community driven solutions to trauma and violence.”

“Gun violence prevention is a pillar of the work that we do at UTEC with justice-involved young adults here in the Merrimack Valley” said Gregg Croteau of UTEC, Inc. “Thanks to the leadership of Governor Baker, Speaker Mariano, and Senate President Spilka, Chairs Michlewitz and Rodrigues, and the many legislative allies. During times where our nation is grappling with the abnormal effects of gun violence Massachusetts has again reasserted its leading role in how to best invest funds toward addressing this issue. On behalf of all the young adults we work alongside, we very much appreciate your commitment and leadership to continue sending the critical message that violence should never be normalized.”

“The young men and women at the center of urban violence and trauma need the strongest possible violence intervention and prevention strategies at the local, state and national level,” said Molly Baldwin, Founder and CEO of Roca, Inc. a violence intervention effort operating throughout Massachusetts. “We commend Governor Baker, Senate President Spilka, Speaker Mariano, all legislators and our partners who know this funding will help those most likely to shoot or be shot.”

“Today is a historic day and a huge step forward toward ending gun violence in Massachusetts,” Greg Jackson, Executive Director of Community Justice Action Fund. “With these critical investments, communities across the state now have the resources to reduce gun violence using proactive public health and community approaches, beyond the lens of crime prevention. By doing so, we can save more lives, prevent additional violence and help survivors and communities heal.”

“This investment in gun violence prevention is an important step to securing a better future for Boston. We are looking forward to seizing this opportunity to collaborate with our community partners to do the work necessary to end gang violence and urban poverty,” said Boston Uncornered co-founder and CEO Mark Culliton.

“Providing meaningful, sustainable funding to life-saving violence intervention and prevention programs is essential to combatting the gun violence epidemic in Massachusetts,” said Kristen Bauer, a volunteer with the Massachusetts chapter of Moms Demand Action. “We thank Governor Baker for signing this significant funding bill and continuing his commitment to promoting gun safety in our state, as well as Speaker Mariano, Senate President Spilka, Chairmen Michlewitz and Rodrigues, and the rest of our Legislature for taking proactive steps to ensure the safety of Massachusetts communities and continuing to demonstrate leadership on gun safety.”

“We applaud this legislation on behalf of all our youth and families, hoping that it secures safer and brighter futures for us all,” said Dr. Aminah Pilgrim, Co-Founder & President, SABURA Youth Programs.

“We are grateful to the Massachusetts House and Senate and Governor Baker for their support of empowering programming for young people throughout the Commonwealth,” said Jodi Rosenbaum, Founder & CEO of More Than Words. “We know that opportunity and positive pathways are what we need to deter community violence, and this funding will go a long way to strengthening impactful programs all across our state.”

“Growing up in Boston during the late eighties and early nineties when there were multiple homicides,” said Donald M. Osgood Sr. “There were no grassroot agencies doing the work that’s being done today. I believe, with the ARP funds going to the ones who have dedicated their lives to this work with little to no funding, they will be able to not just continue the work, but do even greater work. Thank you again Governor Baker”

Full list of coalition partners:

Amnesty International USA

Black Liberation Alliance 4Change

Boston Public Health Commission

Boston Uncornered

BOTM – Brothers on the Move

Citizens for Juvenile Justice

Community Justice Action Fund

Darrell Lee Jenkins Families Of Homicide Resource Center

Everytown for Gun Safety

First Religious Society UU, Newburyport

Giffords

Grandmothers Against Gun Violence – Cape Cod

Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center

Health Resources in Action

Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action

Legendary Legacies Inc.

Louis D. Brown Peace Institute

Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence

MA Communities Action Network

Moms Demand Action

More Than Words

National Association of Social Workers – MA Chapter

New North Citizens’ Council Inc.

Newton Gun Violence Prevention Collaborative

Newtown Action Alliance

NorthStar Learning Centers, Inc.

Not My Generation

Old Colony YMCA

Peace Boston

Progressive Massachusetts

Project RIGHT, Inc.

ROCA Inc.

SABURA Youth Programs, Inc.

Stop Handgun Violence

Survivors Empowered

Temple Beth Zion (TBZ) Brookline

The Health Alliance for Violence Intervention

UTEC

Violence in Boston

Worcester Youth Center

Youth Over Guns

Another School Shooting

75% of school shooters use a family member’s gun.

The 15-year-old boy is being charged as an adult for terrorism and first-degree murder in connection with the Oxford school shooting that left at least four students dead and several injured.

Tate Myre, 16

Hana St. Juliana, 14

Madisyn Baldwin, 17

Justin Schilling, 17

After a warrant for the parents‘ arrest, police found them in a commercial building that houses artwork. They are being held on $1M bond.

In the News:

Police removed 40 firearms and nearly 20k rounds of ammunition after a domestic violence assault by former CEO of Southcoast Hospitals Group.
Court upholds California’s Assault Weapons Ban.
13-yr old arrested for fatally shooting his sister and trafficking ghost guns in Atlanta.
In New York, a 17-year old student arrested with ghost gun at his school.
In Pennsylvania, a video reveals 19-year old had his hands up before police fatally shot him.
Rittenhouse interview on a right-wing podcast; “Killing two people is nothing to be congratulated.”
Recent poll shows gun owners support for gun safety laws.

Stop Handgun Violence Statement in Response to Michigan Shooters Parents Arrest

Stop Handgun Violence (SHV), a Massachusetts based non-profit organization committed to preventing gun violence, reacts to news of the arrest of Jennifer and James Crumbley for involuntary manslaughter. Their son killed four classmates at Oxford High School in Michigan with a firearm purchased by the Crumbleys four days before.

Under Federal law, individuals under the age of 18 are prohibited from possessing handguns, similar to the one used by the Crumbleys’ son. In addition, 30 states and the District of Columbia have child access prevention laws that further penalize adults for failing to keep firearms out of the hands of minors. Research shows that child access prevention laws are incredibly effective laws at preventing youth suicide and unintentional shootings. In addition, 70-90% of school shooters under the age of 18 acquire their firearms from the home of relatives or friends.

“We applaud Oxford Michigan Prosecutor Karen McDonald for holding the Crumbleys accountable for allowing their son to illegally access a handgun” said John Rosenthal founder of Stop Handgun Violence. “Millions of children in America live with unlocked and unloaded firearms despite the fact that a majority of states have child access prevention laws. The tragic consequences of unsecured firearms extend beyond the four walls of a family home and we hope that other gun owners are motivated by this story to store their guns safely.”

###

Stop Handgun Violence Response to Oxford High School Shooting

Today, news of another mass shooting broke. According to the Gun Violence Archive this is the 651st 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 was just 15 years old and was able to access a firearm to murder his classmates.

In Michigan, gun owners are not required to keep their firearms locked and unloaded to prevent children from accessing their firearms. In addition, there are no extreme risk protection orders to remove firearms from individuals in crisis and no restrictions on high-capacity magazines.

“While the details of this horrific massacre continue to emerge, our hearts and thoughts are with victims of this attack and the Oxford High School community” said John Rosenthal, founder and chairman of Stop Handgun Violence. “While the shooter’s motives are still unclear, one thing is blatantly obvious: The time for action is now. The gun lobby’s unconscionable priority of guns over lives has disastrous consequences. Over 90 Americans die each day due to gun violence, including a mass shooting of four or more every day. Unrestricted access to firearms in this country, including access for children, is a dangerous policy with dangerous consequences.”

###

Action this week: An Act to Stop Mass Shootings

This week, SHV testified at a virtual hearing of the MA Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security to support the Act Relative to Ghost Guns and Act for Crime Gun Data Reporting & Analysis.

Next month, the Massachusetts Judicial Committee will hold a hearing for An Act to Stop Mass Shootings. Your help is needed – please ask your MA state representatives to support this bill.

Thank you!

In the News:

Dorchester shooting that left 3 police officers wounded an example of systemic failure.
Air Force Sergeant Santiago from Lowell, died by suicide with a gun at Lincoln Memorial.
Woman discharges her gun in her purse inside a Northborough Walmart.
Salem, MA shooting victim was denied a restraining order by NH judge
MA State Senate approves Nero’s law; a bill named after the K-9 who was shot in Yarmouth.
Alex Jones found liable in Sandy Hook lawsuits and will pay for damages.
Online ghost gun kits sales contributing the rise in gun violence.
Gun Violence costs America $280 billion a year.
NRA secret tapes after the Columbine school shooting.

Happy Veterans Day

Did you know on average, there are more than 6,000 Veteran suicides each year?

That is why we worked to pass the Massachusetts Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) law. ERPOs can be a safety planning tool for advocates working with veterans and military family members who are worried about their loved ones safety due to access to a firearm.

Learn more at www.maerpo.org

In the News:

Connecticut man sentenced for stealing 17 guns from a Springfield, MA gun shop.
Colorado gun shop owner shoots and kills his family before himself.
Teen in Georgia shot at a bus stop on life support.
Gun owners agree on storage, background checks and responsibility.
New legislation filed in Congress to close the purchase loophole in response to the Colorado King Sooper mass shooting.
The gun industry profits from ongoing and escalating gun violence.
Upward trends in firearm purchasing, violence and political extremism are converging.
Long-time GVP advocate, Mark Glaze dies at age 51 years.

Happy Birthday John

Happy Birthday to our Founder!

November is National Inspirational Role Models Month and there is no better way to celebrate it than recognizing our founder, John Rosenthal whose birthday is today! Sign his birthday card here!

With your support, John has been in this fight since 1994 and has stayed committed to eradicating gun violence in Massachusetts for over twenty-seven years. Massachusetts now has the lowest gun death rate in the nation and the lowest gun-related costs in the United States. Show your support with a gift today.

John knows you have his back, so he doesn’t shy away from the tough debates. Recently he participated in a controversial gun owners debate hosted by Newsweek. The pro-gun extremists hammered us for weeks, but John didn’t back down. His opinion piece was then printed in Newsweek where he highlighted several Massachusetts’ successes in gun law reform that require accountability and responsibility on the part of gun owners, gun dealers, gun manufacturers and law enforcement.

We know that John is not alone in this fight and there are advocates, like you, across the Commonwealth doing this work. So we want to invite you to nominate a gun violence prevention role model. Send us an email at info@stophandgunviolence.org about your GVP role model and we’ll include their story in a November newsletter.

Thank you,

The Stop Handgun Violence Team