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
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
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,
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
New billboards designed by Manuel Oliver of Change the Ref are located in East Springfield, Rt 291. Stop Handgun Violence in the News: Mass Live: Father of slain Parkland teen designs billboard that overlooks the Smith & Wesson factory in Springfield WWLP Channel 22: Billboards near Smith and Wesson display reminder of gun violence Western Mass News: Parkland
A NATIONAL CALL TO ACTION The Gun Violence Archive shared some sobering facts: The U.S. averaged a shooting every 12 minutes during the week of July 17-23rd. That one week in July resulted in more than 430 Americans killed and over 1,000 wounded. THIS is a national emergency. And it requires a national response. The Bureau of Alcohol,
Who could imagine a firearm manufacturer producing a lethal firearm that purposely looks like a child’s toy? This is a gun produced at Culper Precision in Utah. The only reason they recently halted production is because they were afraid of legal action from the Lego toy company. Every day, three children die from guns and many more are seriously
Until Congress enacts national gun safety laws, we’re only as safe or at-risk as the state with the weakest gun laws. ~John Rosenthal Hawaii bans ghost guns. New gun laws in Maine, including safe storage. New York gun reform include immunity lost to gun manufacturers. Rhode Island enacted 2 new gun safety bills. In Other News: Man arrested for fatal shooting in Milton, MA.
As America celebrates Independence Day, gun violence doesn’t take a break for a holiday. Gun Violence Archive tracked 375 shootings, including 18 mass shootings, in the U.S. from July 3 to the evening of July 5th. One mass shooting in Texas left 8 injured on July 4th that started as an argument between two men. New York Governor Cuomo issued an Executive
The Extreme Risk Protective Order (ERPO) is Massachusetts Law. The Massachusetts ERPO law has already helped dozens of families in crisis since it was enacted in July 2018. The state posted a link on the mass.gov website; but we believe we could do better to raise awareness and to educate the public on how to access this life-saving law. www.MaERPO.org
