California’s Gun Laws are Saving Lives
California has enacted the strongest firearm laws in the nation and consistently ranks #1 on the Brady Campaign’s annual state scorecards. California has done the best job in the country adopting laws designed to make it harder for criminals and other dangerous people to access dangerous weapons. Among other benefits, these laws have: helped combat illegal firearms trafficking, reduced firearm homicides and suicides, and enabled law enforcement to seize weapons from prohibited persons.

However, more must be done at both the state and federal levels to make our communities safer. Over 6,000 people are shot in California each year, nearly half of them die. In the U.S., firearm laws remain the weakest of all industrialized nations. Weak federal firearm laws undermine California’s efforts to reduce its gun violence. In spite of this, California’s gun laws have proved effective in saving lives.

CA Continues to Reduce its Firearm Mortality Rate
The chart at the right compares firearm deaths in California with those in the rest of the country. In 2009, California’s firearm mortality rate declined to 8.1 per 100,000, while the rest of the nation was at 10.2.

In 1993, over 14,000 people were shot in California, and over 5,000 of them died. The numbers have decreased steadily since then as gun laws have been enacted. Some of California’s most important gun laws went into effect in the early 1990s including: an assault weapons ban; universal background checks of gun sales/transfers (including gun shows); a Department of Justice (DOJ)-maintained database of all handgun sales; prohibition of gun sales to persons guilty of certain violent misdemeanors; a law making it possible to hold gun owners criminally responsible for child access and misuse of their gun; and a basic handgun safety training and certificate requirement for handgun purchases. Check here for a list of California firearms laws.

Help Prevent Gun Violence in California
It is easy to get overwhelmed by statistics and studies but in the end we have to remember that gun violence takes human lives, destroys families and communities, and shreds the fabric of our society. Everyone must work together to answer the question: How can we keep dangerous weapons out of the hands of dangerous people? We are accomplishing this in California without treading on any constitutional rights. By enacting strict gun laws and regulations, we are saving lives. The rest of the country must follow California’s lead until gun violence is no longer an American public health epidemic.

YOU can help!

  ** Support Our Priority State Bill: Let your Assembly Member know to vote AYE on SB 1366 – Prevent Illegal Guns Act of 2012. Tell Governor Brown to sign SB 1366 into law.

  ** Get involved with a California Brady Campaign Chapter in your county or start one of your own.

» Click here for graph of firearm deaths in CA v. rest of U.S.
» Click here for a fact sheet on SB 1366

 Firearm deaths in California vs. the rest of the U.S. (click on graph)

On November 6, 2012, VOTE for Candidates who Support Sensible Gun Laws!
 
ASK CANDIDATES WHAT THEY WILL DO TO STOP ANOTHER AURORA MASSACRE?
It is time to hold our politicians accountable for the gun violence in this country. In this election season the Brady Campaign is requiring that candidates who seek an endorsement take a public stand to rid our communities of gun violence by signing on to the following:
 
Statement of Principle Against Arming Dangerous People

I believe that these people should not be able to buy, own or carry a gun anywhere in our nation:

--Convicted felons
--Convicted domestic abusers
--Terrorists
--People found to be dangerously mentally ill
 
The following California candidates have been endorsed by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.
 
California Senate:
    Hannah-Beth Jackson, SD-19
    Fran Pavley, SD-27
    Marty Block, SD-39

California Assembly:
    Ken Cooley, AD-08
    Paul Fong, AD-28   
    Anthony Rendon, AD-63   
    Sharon Quirk-Silva, AD-65
   
Local Races:
    Mike Feuer, LA City Attorney

» Click here for a memo template regarding safe storage of guns
» Click here to learn more about the risk of having guns in your home

A GUN + Depressed Veteran can = Suicide

According to the Secretary for California’s Department of Veteran’s Affairs, 11% of active duty military entered the service from California. Therefore, we can expect an influx of recently discharged veterans to return to California in the next few years.

In a 2009 study conducted at Stanford University, the authors estimated that about 35 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, or about 700,000, will be diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Further, according to a report of the Veterans Administration, a diagnosis of PTSD is highly related to suicide among veterans. Since veterans have experience with guns and usually own guns, suicide with guns is highly likely. It is, therefore, paramount that educational programs be launched to inform the public and veterans groups of this relationship in order to reduce the incidence of suicide with guns among veterans.

Suicide can happen in any family. Coping with PTSD, physical or mental illness, divorce, social isolation and/or loneliness can lead to suicidal thoughts. In 2012, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reported that 18 military veterans die by suicide every day. More veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars have died by their own hand than died from enemy fire. If a gun is not available, suicide attempts are less likely to be fatal and the person can often receive help.

A gun in the home increases the risk of suicide and homicide. If you know a veteran who is suicidal, immediately remove any guns in the home and contact a health professional. The following are some helpful resources.

    • To aid you in developing programs for your local community, contact the Suicide Prevention Coordinator at your local VA facility. You can identify that person using the following link: http://www.veteranscrisisline.net/GetHelp/ResourceLocator.aspx

    • Another useful resource for informing the public and mental health professionals about the importance of addressing gun safety as part of suicide prevention is the resources from Means Matter at the Harvard University at the following link: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/means-matter/

    • And for further information about the trauma experienced by Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, you will find the following link to a fact sheet from Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Against the War helpful: http://www.ivaw.org/sites/default/files/public/documents/Op%20Rec%20Fact%20Sheet_edited%2012%20Oct%2011.pdf

» Click here for "A Gun In the Home Is a Risk To Your Family" brochure

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 Campaign Chapters!

If your city or county is not listed, choose the one closest to you. Or email Karen to volunteer to start working locally for sensible gun laws to protect you, your family, and your community!

» Click here to contact us
» Click here to make a donation to help us build in California

For general inquiries about
California Brady Campaign Chapters:

Karen Arntzen
CA Chapter Services Coordinator
Phone: 925-381-7814
Email: 1ofamillion@comcast.net