Stop Handgun Violence and Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence Applaud Law Enforcement Letter Opposing Concealed Carry Reciprocity
Boston, MA– Today, the International Chiefs of Police Association (IACP) and the Boston Police Department distributed a letter to Congress in opposition to the gun lobby’s proposed concealed carry reciprocity legislation that included over 470 chiefs of police from 39 states.
“We applaud Boston Police Commissioner William Evans and local law enforcement from around the Country for leading the fight against national concealed carry reciprocity,” said John Rosenthal, founder of Stop Handgun Violence. “Police chiefs are on the front lines and know that this dangerous gun industry inspired legislation would dismantle every effective state gun licensing law that Massachusetts and other states have proven to reduce and prevent gun injuries and deaths. Concealed carry reciprocity has already passed the US House of Representatives and if enacted by the US Senate, would create a race to the bottom for what few gun licensing laws exist, undermine local law enforcement and dramatically increase gun violence across the Country.”
“We commend the IACP for its leadership on this issue among the law enforcement community,” said Janet Goldenberg, chair of the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence. “Concealed carry reciprocity would weaken state level gun laws and endanger our communities. We hope that the Senate will hear and respect the voices of these 470 chiefs who put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe every day.”
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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 commonsense 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
The Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violencebrings together organizations and institutions across Massachusetts to address the epidemic of gun violence that plagues our communities and takes the lives of so many of our citizens, in suburbs, in rural areas, and certainly in cities. Through education, advocacy and holding those in power accountable, the Coalition works to bring about change that will lessen the likelihood of someone you love becoming a victim of gun violence.