Celebrating 27 Years

Happy Anniversary to Stop Handgun Violence!

We’re celebrating 27 years as one of the primary advocates for gun violence prevention in Massachusetts.

Please DONATE $27 for 27 today!

We count on supporters like you who have joined our mission for gun violence prevention! Since founding SHV in 1994, Massachusetts has seen the benefits of stronger gun laws and now ranks the lowest gun deaths rate and lowest gun-related costs in our country.

We’ve worked tirelessly to reduce gun violence through public awareness (like our billboards pictured above), education (like our advocacy tool kit), passing strong gun laws and partnerships with the business community, law enforcement and community organizations.
But we’re not done. This year, SHV advocated for the Act to Prevent Mass Shootings that would limit manufacturing of weapons already banned from being sold in the state. A few months later, Smith & Wesson announced a relocation of their semi-automatic manufacturing operations to Tennessee citing our bill.

Our work has made a difference to prevent and reduce gun violence in Massachusetts. But there’s still more to do and your help is needed to keep us going.

THANK YOU for Giving Today!

The SHV Team

Our first billboard facing the Mass Pike in 1994

 

 

 

 

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6th Annual Concert Across America a success!

Thanks to all who gave to the 2021 Concert Across America!

Watch the videos at www.concertacrossamerica.org

In the News:

  • Third Sandy Hook parent wins defamation suit against Alex Jones.
  • Parkland shooter will plead guilty to 17 murders.
  • Los Angeles Police Department reports a 400% increase in ghost guns.
  • As suspected, Trump extremists brought guns to the Capitol on January 6th.
  • New Mexico among 10 states to receive CDC funding for a gun violence study.
  • CDC will finally look to study the impact of nonfatal firearm injuries.
  • TSA reports record number of guns being brought to the airport.
  • Former gun industry executive Ryan Busse turns on the NRA.

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Domestic Violence Awareness

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

When an abuser has access to a gun, a domestic violence victim is 5 times more likely to be killed.

Get more facts: Giffords Law Center

 

Extreme Risk Protection Orders can be a safety planning tool for advocates working with survivors of domestic violence who are worried about their safety due to their abuser having access to a firearm.

Find out more www.maerpo.org

Local News and Op Eds:

  • A reflection on Smith & Wesson past, present and future.
  • Like Smith & Wesson, Troy manufacturing received huge financial incentives to relocate to Tennessee.
  • Stand-off ends in Brockton; one officer wounded.
  • Brockton H.S. student surrenders his gun at school.
  • Four Northeast states join forces to reduce gun trafficking.
  • Greg Gibson, father of Galen and responsible gun owner, supports proper training.
  • Massachusetts should be proactive against upcoming Supreme Court hearings on gun control.

 

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Smith & Wesson to stop manufacture of assault weapons in MA

News of the Week:

Smith & Wesson CEO says gun legislation that we filed forced a move away from Springfield

This spring, we worked with our legislative partners to file a bill to prohibit the manufacture of assault weapons for civilian use in Massachusetts. The Commonwealth already prohibits the sale of these weapons in our state and the bill was intended to stop the export of these weapons of war to other states. Now Smith and Wesson is leaving the state and citing our bill as the reason. Smith and Wesson reports that a substantial operation will stay in Springfield, including the forge, machine shop and revolver assembly, but the company’s semiautomatic rifles and semiautomatic pistols will be made in Tennessee.

Read more: Stop Handgun Violence statement on Smith & Wesson’s HQ move to Tennessee and the Act to Prevent Mass Shooting bill.

Texas Judge ruled right-wing conspiracist and Infowars founder liable.

Alex Jones loses two lawsuits stemming from his false claims that the Sandy Hook school shooting was a “giant hoax.” In his ruling, the judge said Mr Jones had repeatedly failed to hand over legal documents and evidence to the court to support his claims about the attack.

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Stop Handgun Violence Statement on Smith and Wesson Moving Headquarters to Tennessee

Stop Handgun Violence (SHV), a Massachusetts-based non-profit organization committed to preventing gun violence, reacts to Smith and Wesson’s announcement that it will move operations from Springfield, MA to Tennessee due to pending legislation that would ban the manufacture in Massachusetts of assault weapons that cannot be legally sold in the Commonwealth.

“We’re not surprised by the news that Smith and Wesson is moving to Tennessee,” said John Rosenthal, founder of Stop Handgun Violence. “A review of the company’s manufacturing data reported to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, indicated that 98% of the firearms they manufactured in 2019 were manufactured out of state already. It is clear that Smith and Wesson is no longer the company that it was when it was founded in 1852 and has no interest in operating in a state that puts the public safety of their citizens ahead of unfettered access to deadly weapons designed for war. Smith and Wesson used to be a leader on child safety and gun owner responsibility. That changed 20 years ago when they sold to a private equity firm and began to focus their business on the sale of the most dangerous weapons available in the civilian market including military style assault weapons designed to outgun law enforcement and injure and kill as many people as possible without having to reload. Other than for police, we have banned these deadly military style assault weapons in Massachusetts. This is one of the critical reasons that urban Massachusetts has the lowest gun death rate, the lowest cost of gun violence and has effectively reduced the rate of gun deaths by 40% in the Commonwealth since 1994. We are disappointed that Smith and Wesson is continuing to move jobs out of the Commonwealth rather than keep making military style weapons for the military and law enforcement. Once again, Smith and Wesson is prioritizing profits and the manufacture of weapons of mass destruction for civilian use vs for police and the military. Thereby, once again choosing cost cutting over people and public safety.”

SHV and CTR billboard in Springfield, near Smith & Wesson

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Tragic news out of Tennesee

Gun Violence is National Epidemic.

Yesterday the 517th mass shooting of 2021 took place in a Kroger Grocery Store in Tennessee. One person was murdered and thirteen others were shot. The shooter took their own life and police continue to investigate the motive. The time for federal laws that protect all Americans is now. Tell your Senators to support a national assault weapon ban.

Annual MVP Award

Last night the MA Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence honored Cindy Diggs at the Annual Peace MVP Award. Cindy is a champion for Boston neighborhoods that are at most risk for gun violence. We congratulate Cindy for her work!

 

 

The Concert Across America

In 2016, we hosted the first Concert Across America to End Gun Violence to mobilize with music to end gun violence! Since then there have been over 500 concerts in 43 states. In its 6th year, we are excited to have a great set of musicians join us for a virtual event on Facebook.

 

In the News:

  • San Diego bans sale and possession of ghost gun components.
  • In Maine, a Biddeford man shot dead by his evicted tenant.
  • At a Missouri elementary school, parents’ argument escalate into a gun fight.
  • In Pennsylvania, guns out after an argument over baby shower gifts.
  • In the pandemic, gun violence affecting children reached epidemic levels.
  • GvPedia breaks down the myth of “Guns Make Us Safer”.

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Understanding the relationship of guns and suicide.

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

“There are more suicides where there are more guns. Understanding this relationship can help inform effective suicide prevention strategies.”

~ VPC Executive Director Josh Sugarman

58% of gun deaths in Massachusetts are suicides.

The Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) is a tool to prevent suicides.

 

In Other News:

  • A mass shooting at a middle school averted in Florida.
  • New York and major cities across the country see a rise in ghost guns.
  • The Charlotte North Carolina high school shooter killed two, including a toddler.
  • In Pennsylvania, a teen was fatally shot at a Halloween hayride.
  • In the first 9 months of 2021, Gun Violence Archive reported nearly 1,455 unintentional shootings.
  • President Biden withdraws his ATF nominee, David Chipman.

 

If you or anyone you know is in distress, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:

    Available 24 hours at 800-273-8255    

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Never Forget 9/11

Tomorrow is the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Today we remember the nearly 3,000 victims of the attacks, including the 87 individuals who left from Boston Logan Airport on American Airlines Flight 11. Our hearts are with those in our community who lost someone that day.

Pictured is the 9/11 memorial billboard that Stop Handgun Violence installed following the attacks.

On our Calendar:

  • Sept 19th: CNN premiers THE PRICE OF FREEDOM.
  • Sept 23rd: MA Coalition to PGV MVP Awards
  • Oct 2nd: Anonymous Gun Buy Back in Arlington.
  • Oct 6th: The Concert Across America!

In the News:

  • In Boston, man arrested for fatally shooting a dog in the owner’s back yard.
  • Gun shots outside a New Mexico High School.
  • Austin, Texas police officer indicted for a second deadly shooting.
  • Wisconsin Concealed Carry Law linked to increase in gun violence.
In addition to the Cardiac Activity Abortion Ban, Texas becomes the 20th state to allow “constitutional carry.”

 

 

 

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CDC Director speaks out on gun violence

For the first time in decades, the director of the CDC – the nation’s top public health agency – is speaking out forcefully about gun violence in America, calling it a “serious public health threat.”

 

In Other News:

  • A Winthrop, MA case raises the question, should you know if your neighbor owns a gun?
  • 14-year old in Danbury, Connecticut arrested in connection with mall shooting.
  • In Florida, a toddler finds a loaded gun and fatally shoots mother during a video conference call.
  • The Iron Pipeline: Watch how illegal guns keep pouring into New York.
  • Now most Texans will be able to carry handguns in public without going through training or permits.
  • The City of Kenosha and its police and county sheriff’s departments are being sued by the Huber family for openly conspired with White militia members, which gave them “license … to wreak havoc and inflict injury.”
  • Court allows former vendor, Ackerman, case to move forward against the NRA.
  • Over half a million guns flow from the United States into Mexico each year. Does US immunity for Gun Manufacturers apply extraterritorially?

On our Calendar:

  • Annual MVP Award Night to benefit MA Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence on Thursday, September 23rd at 7pm
  • Concert Across America to benefit States United to Prevent Gun Violence on Wednesday, October 6th at 8pm

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Holding the Gun Industry Accountable

Since 2014, there have been over 800 firearm homicides in Massachusetts. Nationally, during the same time period, there are almost 120,000 firearm homicide victims. Despite this massive loss of life, the gun industry has rarely been held accountable for creating and marketing these weapons. However, recent legal actions indicate that the tide is turning. A brighter future lies ahead for victims and survivors wishing to pursue justice in the courts.

Recent legal actions:

  • Tampa police offer is suing Sig Sauer for a faulty firearm.
  • Smith & Wesson must fully comply with investigative subpoena in NJ Supreme Court.
  • Remington offers $33 million settlement to Sandy Hook victim families.
  • A lawsuit, filed on behalf of the families of 4 victims of the Oregon District tragedy against Kyung Chang Industry.
  • Mexico sues gun manufacturers for trafficking.
  • FEC investigates NRA and affiliates for federal election law violations.
  • President Biden and State AG’s seek ways to hold gun dealers and manufacturers accountable for gun crimes.

Our Work Continues

Safe and accessible voting booths are essential for a healthy democracy. ALL Americans must be able to #VoteWithoutFear. We support this federal legislation, HR.4722, to keep firearms away from election sites and fulfill our promise of democracy.

 

 

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