CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS: Brady Campaign Endorsements for California Candidates

Election Day is Tuesday, November 4. It is important that we elect candidates who will work to stop the gun violence epidemic taking place in California! Following is a current list of candidates that have been endorsed by the Brady Campaign and its California Chapters:

• AD-01: Wesley Chesbro (Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Trinity, part of Sonoma)
• AD-07: Noreen Evans* (Napa, Solano, and Sonoma Counties)
• AD-11: Tom Torlakson (part of Contra Costa County)
• AD-13: Tom Ammiano (part of San Francisco County)
• AD-14: Nancy Skinner (parts of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties)
• AD-15: Joan Buchanan (parts of Alameda, Contra Costa, Sacramento, and San Joaquin)
• AD-42: Mike Feuer* (part of Los Angeles County)
• AD-45: Kevin DeLeon* (part of Los Angeles County)
• AD-47: Karen Bass* (part of Los Angeles County)
• AD-54: Bonnie Lowenthal (parts of Los Angeles County)
• AD-55: Warren Furutani* (parts of Los Angeles County)
• AD-61: Norma Torres (parts of Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties)
• AD-69: Jose Solorio* (parts of Orange County)
• AD-80: Manuel Perez (Imperial County and part of Riverside County)
  
• SD-07: Mark DeSaulnier (parts of Contra Costa County)
• SD-09: Loni Hancock (parts of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties)
• SD-19: Hannah-Beth Jackson (parts of L.A., Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties)
• SD-21: Carol Liu (part of Los Angeles County)
• SD-23: Fran Pavley (parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties)
  *Incumbent.

CA Brady Campaign Chapters to Meet in Santa Monica, Nov. 9

The California Chapters of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence will be holding their annual state conference in Santa Monica on Sunday, November 9, 2008. This is a good opportunity to meet our California activists and chapter leaders and get ideas for how you can get involved in our efforts to stop gun violence in our communities!

Click here to download a registration form.

Alternatively, please contact us through email 1ofamillion@comcast.net or call (925) 381-7814 for more information.

New 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)

Chapters Will Continue to Fight for Owner-Authorized Handguns and Ammunition Regulations in 2009

Our two priority gun violence prevention bills did not make it out of the Senate Appropriations Committee this term. The State of California is faced with a fiscal crisis, and very few bills, especially those with any fiscal implications, cleared the Senate this year.

The two measures were: AB 2062 (DeLeon) which would require handgun ammunition sellers to obtain a state license to operate and would require new regulations to ensure sellers of handgun ammunition are legitimate, regulated businesses; and, AB 2235 (DeSaulnier), which would require all newly manufactured or imported handguns in California to be "owner-authorized", or personalized in a way that would allow them to be fired only by authorized persons.

Both authors are committed to continuing to work on these efforts. In the meantime, we will continue to educate the public and solicit support from organizations.

We sincerely THANK everyone who sent letters, e-mails and/or made calls in support of these two bills, and look forward to working with you again next year!

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!

Start Making a Difference Today!
Everyone has something to contribute to halting the problem of gun violence in America. You can make a difference! Contact the California Brady Campaign today.

Calling All Retirees! The California Chapters of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence is just the organization you've been looking for. You have invaluable skills and education that you have devoted to your job for your entire career. Now put those to work solving American society's biggest problem - gun violence. We need you!

Calling All Empty-nester Parents! The kids are gone and you finally have time for yourself and to focus on issues of importance to you. Perhaps you were an activist in days gone by or have always wanted to be. You believe the old adage: "If you aren't part of the solution, then you are part of the problem." What could be more important than solving the problem of gun violence in America and our local communities. Join us!

Calling All Grandparents and Seniors! Your grandchildren and all American children are growing up in a world you can't begin to fathom. We didn't have to worry about getting shot at school, at the mall, or even in church. American society has many problems: drug addiction, gangs, mental illness, neglected children, poverty - combine all of those with easy access to guns and you have the recipe for disaster we are living today. Join us and help make America safe again for your grandchildren and all American children!

Calling All Teachers! Whether your are still teaching or retired, you know that schools are ground zero for gun violence. Teachers and students are in danger every day of being targeted by disgruntled, mentally imbalanced or just hotheaded students who have delusions of infamy and easy access to guns. Join us and work to make our schools safe again!

Calling All Medical Personnel! You are on the front lines of the gun violence public health epidemic in America. You witness and treat the senseless death and destruction and must console the families who are left asking "Why?". You know that gun violence devastates communities and drains economic resources that could be used for important medical treatment. Medical personnel do important work in other countries through "without borders" programs. However, we need that effort here in America. You can help today by joining the CA Brady Campaign. We need your expertise!

Calling All Religious Leaders! Gun violence is a moral issue directly related to the sanctity of life. You can get involved through prayer and activism and help educate your faith community by participating in God Not Guns! Join us and working together we can solve the problem of gun violence!

Email us to volunteer now!

Other California Links

• View alerts, news, and a summary of California gun laws
• Lookup firearms deaths of children and teens in California
• View the California annual "Brady Report Card."
• Read an in-depth summary of California gun laws from the Legal Community Against Violence