The Case for Gun Policy Reforms in America

The GVP Report - October 30, 2012
In The News ► A new report from researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, The Case for Gun Policy Reforms in America,  examines policies and initiatives for reducing gun violence. "When you deny high-risk people access to guns, the evidence shows that saves lives," said lead author Daniel Webster. "And when you regulate all gun sales, fewer guns get diverted to criminals." ► Michigan police are searching for a gunman linked to 24 shootings in 4 counties, most occurring near Interstate 96. A motorist was wounded Saturday when a bullet came through the driver's side door and struck him in the left hip. ► ABC News report Hidden America: Children Caught in Chicago Gang War Crossfire. Looks at the children of Chicago who are "living in a war zone" and visits with one 7-year-old boy afraid to play outside or walk to and from school. ► Thousands Gather to Mourn Slain Nassau County Cop Arthur Lopez. The 29-year-old officer was gun downed by an ex-con during a traffic stop after a hit-and-run accident. ► New York Times, Unarmed and Gunned Down by Homeowner in His 'Castle', looks at the Montana shooting death of Dan Fredenberg.  Brice Harper was not prosecuted due to the state's Castle Doctrine law.  Self-defense or a way to kill without consequences? ► The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Houston, Texas has ruled that the U.S. may ban gun dealers from selling handguns to people under age 21. The unanimous decision noted that "Congress was focused on a particular problem: young persons under 21, who are immature and prone to violence, easily accessing handguns." Community Support ► Jessica Pieklo, Care2.com,It's Open Season on Women, Thanks to the NRA. Sensible gun control is a feminist issue and the lack of any real controls on firearms in this country poses a very real and dangerous threat to our health and safety. ► Nasty Jack, NRA Attacks Barack Obama on Gun Control...So Who Cares Anymore. The NRA's presence and influence have been severely compromised in the way gun violence has taken over the country in the last year. 2013 is the year for gun control advocates. ► Bruce Reyes-Chow, Patheos.com, Asking the Question, "Do You Allow Guns on Campus?" Soon my first born will be heading off to college. We have begun making our list of questions and filters for schools. I do not want my child going to a college that has loose gun policies, so I'll be paying close attention to legislative trends. ► American Academy of Pediatrics Renews Commitment to Preventing Gun Injuries in Children. The AAP is renewing its call to reduce the destructive effects of guns in the lives of children, including counseling parents about safe gun storage and supporting legislation. Read the AAP policy statement "Firearm-Related Injuries Affecting the Pediatric Populations." ► Alexis Rhiannon, Madonna Brings a Gun Onto a Colorado Stage, Has Officially Lost Her Mind. Come on, Madonna.  Maybe it's time to sell off some of your robo-parts and buy some compassion and humility at auction. ► Cyrus Vance, Manhattan District Attorney, Gun Trafficking: A Taboo Subject in Our State and National Politics. Every child, on every block of every neighborhood, has the right to walk to school and home without fear of getting shot. And yet, the subject of gun law reform remains taboo for many of our state and national elected officials. What the Gun Lobby is Doing ► Georgia Store Offers Gun Raffle Tickets to Voters. Bring in your "I voted" sticker to Adventure Outdoors to enter a raffle for a Glock handgun or Browning rifle. The secretary of state's office warned the store that offering the raffle only to people who voted may be violating the law. ► NRA Steps Up Attacks on Obama After Gun Control Comment. After President Obama said he would like to see the assault weapons ban reintroduced, an ominous new ad began airing in swing states saying Obama is chipping away at people's right to bear arms. ► Basic Cable's Ballistic Endgame: Ted Nugent, Discovery, and the Rise of Anti-Science TV. The Discovery channel's transformation into the NRA Network is a harrowing example of "network decay." Discovery isn't the only channel to be subject to this critique, but the arrival of Ted Nugent on their roster is a new low suggestive of just how much more socially destructive television can become.		Blogs Daniel Gross, Brady Campaign, 40 Seconds and 40 Percent: The Wisconsin Spa Tragedy and the Simple Case for Background Checks. Joan Peterson, Common GunSense, Boo - Don't Mess With Guns on Halloween. Griffin Dix,  Brady Campaign, Republican Gun Laws and Murder: The Case of Ohio Josh Sugarmann, Violence Policy Center, Black Women Murdered by Men Most Often Die by Gunfire, Usually by Someone They Know. Cathie Whittenburg, OhhShoot Blog, Man hosting "shooting party" arrested when stray bullet hits nearby house.  Advocacy ►Stop Handgun Violence has updated their 250 foot billboard in Boston to read "Assault weapons have stopping power. Fortunately, so does your vote. We need a Federal Assault Weapons Ban NOW!" ►Stephen Barton, Mayors Against Illegal Guns, Candidates' Deafening Silence on Gun Violence. If we can't talk about guns after one of our country's worst mass shootings, when can we? ►Shira Goodman, CeasefirePA, Time To Get Tough on Straw Purchasers of Guns. The gun used to kill police officer Bradley Fox was one of nine guns allegedly bought by a straw purchaser for a man who had a felony record. ►The Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence's forum, Truthtelling: The Media's Role in the Conversation on Guns asked if the media is doing a good, or even adequate, job of covering gun violence.  ►The Gun Violence Prevention Center of Utah planted daffodils in remembrance of gun violence victims. This is the tenth year they have planted daffodils in Utah. Worst of the Week 45-year-old Radcliffe Haughton went to the salon in suburban Milwaukee, Wisconsin where his wife Zina worked and opened fire, killing his wife and two other women and injuring four others. The gun used in the shooting was bought from an unlicensed private seller advertised on Armslist.com. The popular online firearm vendor was investigated in a sting operation less than a year ago. The shooting was just one of a rash of recent shootings that have taken place at salons across the country.