Women and Guns

CeasefireUSA: The GVP Report - February 16, 2016
In The News ► This month, three mainstream magazines take a look at women and guns. Marie Claire partners with Harvard Injury Control Research Center on a groundbreaking national survey of women's relationship with guns.  Cosmopolitan magazine tells readers "It's Time To Talk About What Guns Have to Do With Dating. It's more than you might realize."  And Glamour spotlights eight women, all survivors of mass shootings, who are fighting to make everyone safer. ► Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who died suddenly, wrote the controversial opinion on guns, District of Columbia v Heller. His death throws the supreme court's divided stance on the second amendment into question. ► Two recent court decisions: The 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals sent a challenge to Maryland's assault weapons ban back to a lower court for further review saying it needs to be evaluated by a more rigorous standard.  The Missouri Supreme Court ruled a recent state constitutional amendment of the right to bear firearms does not allow nonviolent felons to carry guns. ► A new study in Epidemiologic Reviews, The Transmission of Gun and Other Weapon-Involved Violence Within Social Networks, Dr Melissa Tracy el al, asserts that a better understanding of the relationship between gun violence within social networks and individual gun violence risk is critical in preventing the spread of gun violence. ► A new study from Violence Policy Center, Silencers: A Threat to Public Safety, examines how the gun industry is pushing legislation to weaken federal and state regulation of silencers.The study also documents examples of criminal activity involving silencers. ► Reuters Special Report, Why Obama and other gun control advocates own stock in firearms makers. Gun company stocks are common in retirement and college savings plans.  Find out how to divest at Unload Your 401k. ► Philadelphia NBC10 investigative report, Mapping Philly's gun Violence and the Impact on Families looks at how gun violence is impacting the city neighborhood by neighborhood. Community Support ► Brave New Films, Making a Killing: Guns, Greed and the NRA, tells the stories of how guns, and the billions made off of them, affect the lives of everyday Americans. ► Portland, Maine Press Herald editorial, Waterville assault leads police chief to incorrect conclusion.  Owning a gun is actually not the way to deter criminals like the perpetrator of a recent horrific attack. ► Mike Weisser, A Gun Dealer Talks Straight About Guns. The massive increase in gun sales, particularly since 2009, did not represent new consumers.  It represents current consumers stocking up on these adult toys. ► John J. Lennon, Prison Wisdom, Easy access to guns helped me commit murder.  I've changed but the loopholes remain. The phenomenon known as straw purchasing is a dangerous loophole that has remained open for decades. I got guns this way in the mid-nineties. ► Chicago, Illinois Sun Times editorial, A good gun bill yet to draw an NRA objection. A bipartisan proposed bill would help authorities better enforce gun laws now on the books related to illegal attempts to buy weapons. ► Rick Ellison, Milford, Ohio, op-ed, Constitutional solution to guns.  The real problem is ammunition. And something can be done about that, without having even the slightest impact on the constitutional right of Americans to bear arms. ► JoeySalads uses a hidden camera to see how easy it is to buy a gun legally at a gun show in California versus illegally through an ad on Craigslist. What the Gun Lobby is Doing ► After NRA board member Ted Nugent posted an anti-Semitic graphic to his Facebook, even far-right gun groups condemned his actions. The NRA responded by saying individual board members do not speak for the organization. ► A bill offering a tax credit for gun classes advances in the Arizona House. The legislation would offer up to an $80 credit for the firearm training class needed for a concealed-weapons permit. ►A look inside the 2016 SHOT Show.  A fortified bonanza of white men and manhood, 630,000 square feet of wall-to-wall gun supporters who think more guns are the answer.		Advocacy ► Jeri Bonavia, Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort, talks with WAOW about Wisconsin's gun debate. ► Michigan Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence opposes proposed bills to allow concealed guns without a permit. ► Iowans for Gun Safety opposes bill that would allow Iowans to carry loaded firearms while driving snowmobiles or ATVs. ► New Yorkers Against Gun Violence supports proposed safe gun storage legislation. ► Coalition to Stop Gun Violence and the members of Ballots Not Bullets statement on the arrest of Cliven Bundy and remaining Malheur occupiers. ► Sandy Hook Promise programs to help identify and intervene prior to a tragic event are featured by a group of young reporters on Green, Ohio community television. ► Safe Tennessee Project opposes proposed bill to allow concealed weapons at the Capitol complex. ►Washington Ceasefire and the Smart Tech Challenges Foundation will hold a Smart Gun Symposium on Feb. 23rd in San Francisco. ► Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and Funny or Die ask What Do Most Americans Agree On? Blogs Joan Peterson, ProtectMN, Common GunSense, Broken Hearts Shannon Watts, Moms Demand Action, Corporate America's Turn Towards Gun Safety Cathie Whittenburg, States United to Prevent Gun Violence, Ohh Shoot, Teen unintentionally shoots and kills 13-year-old cousin Worst of the Week San Antonio, Texas police arrested 49-year-old Michelle Chase for the shooting death of 50-year-old William Farr.  According to reports, Farr, who is deaf, banged on Chase's door, scaring her. Chase told police after the shooting she ran to her car and drove to a friend's house. Farr was found with a small index card on him with "sorry" written on it.

Laws that make it tougher to buy guns help reduce violence

CeasefireUSA: The GVP Report - February 2, 2016
In The News ► East Bay Express investigative report, The Gunrunner and the Peacemakers, examines how California's strong firearm regulations help catch gunrunners and make it harder for felons to get their hands on guns. ► Facebook bans private gun sales. The company said it will ban users from coordinating private sales of firearms on Facebook and Instagram. The ban does not apply to licensed gun dealers. ► Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, Gun Law Trendwatch,  looks at positive and negative trends in state gun bills being considered in 2016. ► A new study in The Lancet, Policy misperceptions and support for gun control legislation, Peter Aronow and Benjamin Miller, finds that  41% of respondents believe that federal law already requires universal background checks. ► A new study in Violence and Gender, Firearm Ownership and the Murder of Women in the U.S., Michael Siegle and Emily Rothman, finds that women living in states with high rates of gun ownership are more likely to be shot and killed by someone they know than those residing in states with fewer firearms. Every 10% increase in gun ownership was associated with a 10.2% increase in gun-related murders of women. ► How America's gun manufacturers are quietly getting richer off taxpayers. Since 2003, state and local governments from Alabama to Tennessee have given more than $120 million worth of taxpayer funds to at least seven major firearms companies. ► Gun violence not a mental health issue, experts say, pointing to 'anger' and suicides. Gun violence and mental illness are public health problems "that intersect at the edges" but have little overlap. Gun ownership restrictions related to mental health are too broad and can miss people who are suicidal and have pathological anger. It's That Easy Read Daniel Ruth's column in the Tampa Bay Times  Open Carry Bills Are Bad for Tourism,  then sign the petition telling the Florida tourist industry that you and your family want a gun-free vacation. Community Support ► Sundance Film Festival takes on mass shootings and guns in America. Gun violence was the main subject of four new films at Sundance - two feature documentaries ("Newtown," "Under the Gun") one short documentary, "Speaking is Difficult," and one feature film, "Dark Night." ► 1300 churches across South Carolina take a stand against gun violence as part of Stand Up Sunday. Churches are also asking at least nine members of their congregation to come to a Statehouse rally for stricter background checks on gun purchases. ► Linda Carvel, A new game plan: Treat gun violence like smoking. Make gun violence as politically incorrect as smoking cigars, cigarettes and pipes in restaurants, schools and grocery stores.  ► Preventing Gun Violence: Public Health Perspectives examines gun violence through a public health prism. Panelists talk about patterns of violence and explore dynamics at state and Congressional level that impact public safety measures. ► Dennis Henigan, Dear Democrats, Stop Worrying About Paranoid Gun Owners. Allowing gun policy to be dominated by the need to reassure fearful gun owners will not get us the strong gun laws we need and deserve. ► Matthew Hess, Veterans should lead push for more secure gun laws.  The military's standards for weapons safety are exceptionally high. Veterans - with their weapons experience and training - have a responsibility to lead the fight for more secure gun laws. ► Gillian Brockell, What one year in mass shootings feels like. 374 mass shootings, in 365 days, in one video. Watch this motion graphic and hear the 911 calls to get a complete picture of the human toll. What the Gun Lobby is Doing ► The NRA Strikes Back in Virginia.  One month ago, Virginia announced it would no longer recognize concealed-carry permits from 25 states. On Friday, the state reversed itself. ► How has the US gun lobby been so successful?  BBC report on how the NRA transformed from a hunting and marksmanship club into a political lobbying group. ► NRA victories in Congress grow with chief lobbyist's role. A look at Chris Cox, 45, a big-game hunter from Tennessee who has used the NRA's bully pulpit and his access to Republican leaders to ward off what he says are attempts to take away Americans' guns. ► Why Do You Own A Gun? Kyle Cassidy took cross-country trips, photographing gun owners in their homes and recorded their answers to the question.		Advocacy ► CeaseFirePA calls for supporters to thank Comcast Corp for standing up to the gun lobby. ► Amanda Gailey, Nebraskans Against Gun Violence, calls filibuster that sinks bill to end local gun regulations a victory for local control.  ► Eileen McCarron, Colorado Ceasefire, Ken Toltz, Safe Campus Colorado, Alana Smart, Colorado Faith Communities United, op-ed, An Unnatural Decision ► Protect Minnesota pushes for bill to require all state gun purchasers to undergo background checks. ► Iowans for Gun Safety criticizes proposed changes to state's emergency management and security. ► Andrea Brauer, Texas Gun Sense, testifies at Texas Senate committee hearing asking for updates on new open carry law. ► MacKenzie Allen, New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence, op-ed, Buying a gun is the easy part. ► Arizonans for Gun Safety praises proposed state bill requiring background checks on all gun sales. ► Women Against Gun Violence, Arguing About Guns with Uncle Fred ► Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence joins with others in calling for a state constitutional amendment giving local communities the right to pass and enforce gun-related laws. ► Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense launches new campaign What Could Go Wrong? Guns and Alcohol Don't Mix. Blogs Joan Peterson, ProtectMN, Common GunSense, Snowplows, guns and other gun nonsense Evan DeFilippis and Devin Hughes, Armed With Reason, A gun as a defense against terrorists? The stats say it's more likely to harm your family Baldr Odinson, Ceasefire Oregon, New Trajectory, Accessories for the gun fetishist Worst of the Week A 29-year-old Newcastle, Washington man was worried about mass shootings so he brought a 9mm handgun to the movie theater.  The man, who was apparently drunk, unintentionally fired the gun in the theater, wounding a 40-year-old woman sitting nearby. The shooting victim was in serious, but improving condition at the local hospital.