Gun Violence -- The Real "Pandemic" in California
Gun violence in California is staggering in numbers, cost, and devastation to our communities.
In 2006, (the latest data available) 3,363 people were shot and killed.
Another 4,491 people were shot and wounded.
With nearly 8.000 people shot each year in California, it's no surprise that
annual costs for California gun violence are estimated to be more than $840 million.
This is the real "pandemic" that our elected officials don't want to talk about.
Although California gun laws
are the strictest in the nation,
more must be done. Weak federal laws often undermine California's progress, for example by allowing
illegal guns to be trafficked into the state.
California Chapters of the Brady Campaign educate and mobilize their
communities to advocate for sensible responsible gun laws, regulations,
and public policies at the local, state, and national levels.
We invite
you to join our efforts and help stop the gun violence in California!
Call CA Representatives Who Voted to Allow Firearms in National Parks!
Let your California Representative know you are outraged at their vote to allow guns in our National Parks! Below is a list of the 23 U.S. Representatives from California who voted to allow guns in our national parks:
- Baca
- Bilbray
- Bono-Mack
- Calvert
- Campbell
- Cardoza
- Costa
- Dreier
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- Gallegly
- Herger
- Hunter
- Issa
- Lewis
- Lungren
- McCarthy
- McClintock
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- McKeon
- McNerney
- Miller, Gary
- Nunes
- Radanovich
- Rohrabacher
- Royce
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Loaded guns do not belong in National Parks. According to the National Parks Conservation Association, this federal law is extremely damaging to public safety and the protection of park resources. The Coburn Rider allows individuals to attend ranger led hikes and campfire programs carrying loaded shotguns, rifles, and semi-automatic weapons.
California Parks that will be affected by this law include:
Cabrillo National Monument, San Diego; Channel Islands National Park, Ventura; Death Valley National Park; Devils Postpile National Monument, Three Rivers; Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site, Danville; Fort Point National Historic Site, San Francisco; Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco; John Muir National Historic Site, Martinez; Joshua Tree National Park, Twentynine Palms; Kings Canyon National Park, Three Rivers; Lassen Volcanic National Park, Mineral; Lava Beds National Monument, Tulelake; Manzanar National Historic Site, Lone Pine; Mojave National Preserve, Barstow; Muir Woods National Monument, Mill Valley; Pinnacles National Monument, Paicines; Point Reyes National Seashore, Point Reyes; Redwood National & State Park, Crescent City; Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park, Richmond; San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, San Francisco; Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Thousand Oaks; Sequoia National Park, Three Rivers; Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area, Whiskeytown; Yosemite National Park, Yosemite.
Join Us on June 17, 2009!
California Brady Campaign Lobby Day
California Brady Campaign members and supporting organizations will be
lobbying their legislators in Support of AB 962 (see below) on Wednesday,
June 17 in Sacramento. We invite you to attend and get involved in our
efforts to get this important legislation passed.
Contact our California Chapters for more information.
Keep Bullets OUT of the Hands of Gang Members!
Support AB 962: Handgun Ammunition Sales Regulation
 Did you know that it is harder to buy allergy medicine
in California than it is to buy bullets? The California Chapters of the
Brady Campaign are advocating for passage of AB 962.
AB 962 seeks to prevent gun violence by reducing the easy access to ammunition
by criminals, gang members, the dangerously mentally ill and
other persons prohibited form possessing firearms and ammunition.
The bill would ensure that sellers of handgun ammunition are legitimate, well-regulated
businesses that are required to follow procedures to deter acquisition of handgun ammunition by prohibited persons.
Please send a letter of support to the author of this bill (you can use
this sample letter).
And please share this information with any organizations you belong to and ask them for a letter of support as well.
Brady Campaign Endorses City of Los Angeles Candidates for May 19, 2009
The California Chapters of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence endorsed winning candidates in the
March 3, 2009 election. Two of them, Jack Weiss and Paul Koretz will be in the run-off election on May 19, 2009.
These two candidates are extremely qualified and strong supporters of
our efforts to make our communities safer and decrease gun violence in our neighborhoods and urban areas.
Jack Weiss for L.A. City Attorney: L.A. City Councilman Jack Weiss and Chair of the Public
Safety Committee is running for L.A. City Attorney. President of the Brady Campaign Paul Helmke stated that
"Jack Weiss, as a federal prosecutor and as a member of the L.A. City Council, has been a consistent supporter
of ensuring that the law enforcement community has the tools it needs to make Los Angeles a safer place."
Paul Koretz for L.A. City Council 5th District: Paul Koretz, former Assembly Member from
2000-2006, was a leader in the
California legislature to ban .50 caliber rifles and to require microstamping of new semi-automatic handguns.
New California Brady Campaign Blog
Interested in California gun violence prevention issues?
Check out our new California Brady blog at cablog.bradycampaign.org.
California Brady Campaign President Ellen Boneparth created the blog to share news about gun violence in California,
the California Chapter's efforts to prevent gun violence, legislative activities, special events, and
Chapter activities.
Share this Brochure: A Gun in the Home is a Danger to Your Family
Did you know that a gun in the home is actually a risk to
your family? A gun in the home is 22 times more likely to be
used in a homicide, suicide or accidental shooting than to
kill in self-defense!
Every day in America children are accidently killed when
they find the family gun. Every day in America depressed
teenagers, seniors, and other family members commit suicide with
the family gun. Every day in America someone is killed with
the family gun in a domestic violence incident.
If you don't own a gun, think twice before bringing one
into your home for the purpose of self-defense. If you do own
a gun, the best way to reduce gun risks is to remove the gun
from your home. YOU CAN HELP SAVE LIVES by downloading and
sharing or e-mailing this important brochure from the
California Brady Campaign Chapters with your family, neighbors
and friends! (download
brochure here)
CA Chapters Are Looking for a Few Good
Volunteers!
Volunteers are the heart and soul of the Brady Campaign to Prevent
Gun Violence
California Brady Chapter volunteers are moms, dads, sons and
daughters, grandmothers and grandfathers, friends and neighbors. They
are all ages and from all walks of life. They are united in their
commitment to stop the carnage and devastation from gun violence and to
make their communities safe for children.
Whether you're interested in volunteering a couple of times a year or
a couple of times a week, there's a place for you in the California
Brady Chapters. And we have a variety of opportunities to choose from
including:
- Legislative Action
- Tabling at community events
- Special event activities
- Working with gun violence victims/survivors
- Working to pass local ordinances
- Coalition building
- New chapter formation
Email us to
volunteer now!
Other California Links
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