Coalition to Stop Gun Violence
| Formation | 1974 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. |
Membership | 48 organizations |
| Website | csgv.org |
The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV), and the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence (EFSGV or Ed Fund), its sister organization, are two parts of a national, non-profit gun control advocacy organization.
History
In 1974, the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society formed the National Coalition to Ban Handguns,[1] a group of thirty religious, labor, and nonprofit organizations with the goal of addressing "the high rates of gun-related crime and death in American society" by licensing gun owners, registering firearms, and banning private ownership of handguns with "reasonable limited exceptions" for “police, military, licensed security guards, antique dealers who have guns in unfireable condition, and licensed pistol clubs where firearms are kept on the premises.”[2][3] In the 1980s and 1990s, the coalition grew to 44 member groups.[4] In 1989, the National Coalition to Ban Handguns changed its name to the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, in part because the group felt that "assault rifles" as well as handguns, should be outlawed.[5] Today, the coalition comprises 48 member organizations.[6]
Mission
According to CSGV, its mission is to secure freedom from gun violence through research, strategic engagement and effective policy advocacy.[7] The organization has five areas of focus, regarding issues and campaigns:[8]
- Guns, Democracy and Freedom: CSGV is opposed to the "insurrectionist philosophy" which the group attributes to the National Rifle Association (NRA). The coalition contends the right "to take whatever measures necessary, including force, to abolish oppressive government” is, in fact, a plot to oppose to any stronger, activist government and degrades the institutions that protect other freedoms.[9]
- Microstamping: CSGV supports, on state and federal levels, research relating to, and the implementation of firearm microstamping, an emerging ballistic identification technology which purports to allow law enforcement to trace the serial number of a firearm from ejected cartridge case(s) recovered at a crime scene.[10] Microstamping has recently been enacted into law in the state of California.[11]
- Gun Show Loophole: CSGV believes that the ability of private individuals to engage in firearms sales at gunshows without requirement for background checks constitutes a 'loophole' in the law, and is working to change this.[12]
- Federal Legislation: Through federal legislation,[13] CSGV supports repealing the Tiahrt Amendment, renewing the Assault Weapons Ban, closing the "gun show loophole", and prohibiting individuals who are on a terrorist watch list from purchasing firearms (those on the terrorist watch list have not necessarily committed any crime, and may merely be associated indirectly with a terrorist, or share the name of such a person).[14]
Leadership
- Michael K. Beard is the President of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence/Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence, a title he has held since the inception of the respective organizations.
- Joshua Horwitz is the Executive Director of CSGV/EFSGV. Mr. Horwitz is an attorney who joined the Ed Fund in 1989 as Legal Director.
- Ladd Everitt has served as the organization's Director of Communications since May 2006.
- Manda Kelley has served as the organization's Development Officer since November 2006.
Membership
CSGV consists of 48 organizations. Among them are religious organizations, child welfare advocacy groups, public health professionals, social justice, and political action organizations.[6]
References
- ^ Wilson, Harry (2006). Guns, gun control, and elections. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 145. ISBN 0742553485, 9780742553484. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
{{cite book}}: Check|isbn=value: invalid character (help) - ^ Carter, Gregg Lee (2002). Guns in American Society: An Encyclopedia of History, Politics, Culture, and the Law. ABC-CLIO. p. 395. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
- ^ Don B. Kates, Henry E. Schaffer, John K. Lattimer, George B. Murray, and Edwin H. Cassem (1994). "GUNS AND PUBLIC HEALTH: EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE OR PANDEMIC OF PROPAGANDA?" (PDF). Tennessee Law Review. 61: 513–596.
"The position of the National Coalition to Ban Handguns is very clear... [We support] ban[ning] the manufacture, sale and possession of all handguns, except for police, military, licensed security guards and pistol clubs." Michael K. Beard, testimony on behalf of the National Coalition to Ban Handguns in support of 8-132 Before the Committee of the Judiciary 3 (Mar. 22, 1989) (transcript on file with the Tennessee Law Review;...
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Carter, Gregg Lee (2002). Guns in American Society: An Encyclopedia of History, Politics, Culture, and the Law. ABC-CLIO. p. 396. ISBN 1576072681, 9781576072684. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
{{cite book}}: Check|isbn=value: invalid character (help) - ^ Goss, Kristin (2006). Disarmed: the missing movement for gun control in America. Princeton University Press. p. 112. ISBN 0691124248, 9780691124247. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
{{cite book}}: Check|isbn=value: invalid character (help) - ^ a b "Member organizations". Retrieved 2009-03-28.
- ^ About Us
- ^ Issues & Campaigns
- ^ "Guns, Democracy and Freedom - Coalition to Stop Gun Violence". Retrieved 2010-04-02.
When gun enthusiasts talk about "freedom," they have something specific in mind—freedom from government oppression. In their view, unfettered access to firearms is the key ingredient to protecting individual rights from overreaching by government. They argue that the only way to keep centralized authority in check is to ensure that individual citizens retain the capability to confront the government with force of arms.
- ^ Microstamping
- ^ Bill Documents AB1471
- ^ "Gun Show Loophole". Retrieved 2009-03-29.
- ^ Federal Legislation
- ^ GAO-05-127