Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence
 | |
| Formation | July 1993 (as Legal Community Against Violence) |
|---|---|
| Founded at | San Francisco, California, United States |
| Type | 501(c)(3) |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, California, United States |
| Website | Giffords.org |
The Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, previously known as the Legal Community Against Violence and the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, is a national public interest law center and nonprofit organization that promotes gun safety legislation in the United States and conducted litigation against the gun industry.[1][2] The Giffords Law Center publishes information about gun laws and gun control. The organization offers legal assistance to public officials, and publishes research on gun laws and gun violence.
The organization has been active in promoting gun control ordinances in California and elsewhere, as well as conducting litigation to defend gun control laws against challenges.[3]
History
The Legal Community Against Violence was established in the wake of the July 1,1993 101 California Street shooting, during which a gunman entered the offices of law firm Petit & Martin and shot fourteen people, killing eight.[4] Former Petit & Martin partners John Heisse and Chuck Erlich formed the nonprofit organization shortly after the shooting to help local communities pass their own gun control ordinances.[5][6]
Initially focusing on the local regulation of firearms in California, LCAV supported the passage of the Brady Bill and the national assault weapons ban in 1993.[6] The organization’s volunteer lawyers provided legal consultation to the city of West Hollywood when it was sued by the National Rifle Association in January 1996 for banning Saturday Night Special handguns. The lawsuit was dismissed in November 1996.[6][7]
In 2016, the organization merged with Americans for Responsible Solutions, led by former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and Navy combat veteran and retired NASA astronaut Captain Mark Kelly. In 2017, the organization changed its name to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.
Reports and state rankings
The center releases an annual gun-law scorecard for individual states. The center has argued that "its research shows that states with stronger gun laws suffer fewer gun deaths."[8]
See also
References
- ^ Hernandez, Joe (3 Nov 2021). "The NRA is being sued for allegedly breaking campaign finance law to back Republicans". NPR. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
- ^ Lodhi, Humera; Gibson, Jelani (29 October 2020). "Kansas City residents: Lack of trust drives crime". US News & World Report. Kansas City Star. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
- ^ Carter, Terry (April 2001). "Battles Won, War Continues: Lawyers' group succeeds locally with firearms initiatives, looks to branch out". ABA Journal. 87. American Bar Association: 24–25.
- ^ Richard C. Paddock, "Gun Control Push Begun at Law Firm : Massacre: Employees return to San Francisco building targeted by gunman. Some have formed a group that will call for stricter legislation." Los Angeles Times, July 7, 1993.
- ^ Richard C. Paddock, "Gun Control Push Begun at Law Firm : Massacre: Employees return to San Francisco building targeted by gunman. Some have formed a group that will call for stricter legislation." Los Angeles Times, July 7, 1993.
- ^ a b c Laura Linden, "Disarming Tactics: Why is a group of well-heeled lawyers helping empower local communities to pass stricter gun control ordinances? Take a look behind-the-scenes of the unusual grass roots organizing project that's been successfully outwitting the California gun lobby." Mother Jones, March 3, 1997.
- ^ Gregg Lee Carter, ed., Guns in American Society: An Encyclopedia of History, Politics, Culture, and the Law, (ABC-CLIO, 2002) ISBN 978-1576072684, vol. 1, pp. 354-355. Excerpts available at Google Books.
- ^ "Gun-violence group gives Ohio 'D' on firearms law scorecard - News - the Columbus Dispatch - Columbus, OH". Archived from the original on 2020-02-17. Retrieved 2020-02-17.