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"Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture"
by Michael A. Bellesiles
Following the publication of his book, the author was accused of falsifying the
research supporting his premise that the rise of America's gun culture was fairly
recent. Despite this, the book still offers an interesting look at the history
of the United States and the role of gun ownership and legislation
in its settlement.
"Making a Killing: The Business of Guns in America"
by Tom Diaz
A former political activist and Congressional aide, author Diaz
is unabashedly anti-gun. The book advocates extreme hard-line measures
against the gun industry and discusses the possibility of adopting
the strategies of the successful anti-tobacco lobbies.
"More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun Control Laws"
by John R. Lott, Jr.
In 1998, Lott, Jr. found himself under attack for his inability to
provide evidence to support some of his claims in his book such
as: more guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens equals less crime.
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Do you understand the Second Amendment? Many Americans don't. Read
about federal and state laws addressing the right to bear arms:
The Bill of Rights, including the Second Amendment
http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.billofrights.html
Sources on the Second Amendment and the Right to Keep and Bear
Arms in State Constitutions
http://www.law.ucla.edu/faculty/volokh/2amteach/sources.htm
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On September 25, 2002, HR 2037, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, was passed in
the House of Representatives' Energy and Commerce Committee, which protect gun manufacturers,
dealers and trade associations from citizen lawsuits arising from firearm injury, violence or
negligent conduct. A similar piece of legislation was introduced in the Senate, S. 2268.
Neither HR 2037 nor S 2268 have been brought before the full House of Representatives or
the Senate because of the sniper shootings that terrorized the DC metro-area this past
spring. The bills are expected to be re-introduced at the upcoming 108th Congressional session.
On September 25th, 2002, Governor Gray Davis signed into effect several pieces of important gun
legislation in California:
- AB 2080, the Gun Trafficking Prevention Act, which requires gun dealers and manufacturers
to check the validity of federal firearms license with the California Dept. of Justice.
- AB 2902, allows law enforcement officials in California to carry out checks of hand guns
in gun stores to ensure that they meet safety standards.
- SB 1490 bill grants assistance to cities that sue gun dealers to obtain information about
the sale and transfer of firearms.
- SB 682 and AB 496, 'twin' pieces of legislation that repeal the immunity gun manufacturers
have had from civil liability arising from the criminal use of their firearms, as well as product liability negligence.
For additional information on recent California legislative efforts and currently
existing laws concerning gun control, check out the links below:
Guns and Crime
Shows gun control laws passed in California this past year:
http://www.gunsandcrime.org/gun_laws.html
THOMAS - U.S. Congress on the Internet
An up-to-date list of bills put forth to Congress regarding gun
control.
http://thomas.loc.gov/home/textonly.html#gun
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LOCAL:
Bay Area Junk Gun Controls
Lists legislative updates on ordinances banning the sales of "junk
guns" (e.g., Saturday Night Specials).
http://www.abag.ca.gov/bayarea/junkguns/guncont.htm
East Bay Public Safety Corridor Partnership
Targeting Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, this program focuses
on comprehensive gun violence reduction strategies.
http://ojjdp.ncjrs.org/pubs/gun_violence/profile05.html
Legal Community Against Violence
An SF-based non-profit that mobilizes legal professionals nationwide
in order to reduce violence.
http://www.lcav.org
The Packard Foundation
Founded by David and Lucile Salter Packard, this private organization
uses its funds for public purposes like community-building.
http://www.packfound.org/index.cgi?page=home
Physicians for a Violence Free Society
Works via education and policy work to prevent violence promotion
of all kinds, including gun and domestic violence.
http://www.pvs.org
The Trauma Foundation
Based out of SF General Hospital and affiliated with the Pacific
Center for Violence Prevention, this organization focuses on
policy development and advocacy.
http://www.tf.org
STATE:
California Attorney General's Crime and Violence Prevention Center
Serves as a portal to statewide crime and violence prevention information.
The California Attorney General's Crime and Violence Prevention
Center creates and promotes effective policies and strategies for
law enforcement and communities to build a safer state.
http://safestate.org/
Trauma Foundation Pacific Center for Violence Prevention
A state-wide youth violent prevention initiative that follows a
public health approach to developing effective methods to prevent
violence among youth.
http://www.tf.org/tf/pcvp2.html
NATIONAL:
The Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice
Seeks alternatives to incarceration as a way to prevent at-risk
youths from committing violent acts.
http://www.cjcj.org
Center to Prevent Handgun Violence
The education affiliate of Handgun Control, Inc., The Center unites
law enforcement, educators, legal scholars, public health officials
and health care provider to search for solutions to the gun violence
epidemic.
http://www.cphv.org
Handgun Control, Inc.
Works to close goals in handgun laws and educate the public about
current gun legislation and how to petition for change.
http://www.handguncontrol.org
Join Together
Comprehensive site featuring news, activism and events for gun control.
http://www.jointogether.org/gv/
Violence Policy Center
Goals include increasing public awareness about gun violence as
a widespread public health problem rather than solely a crime issue.
http://www.vpc.org
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Armed Informed Mothers' March (AIMM)
Aims to prove that '"common sense gun laws" do not work. Site is
sponsored by the Libertarian Party of Chicago.
http://www.lpchicago.org/events/armedinformedmothersmarch.htm
Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms
Site combines current news, legislation, petitions and activism
for citizens against gun control.
http://www.ccrkba.org
Citizens for Safe Government
Based in Alabama and Georgia, this nonprofit's goal is preserving
the Second Amendment.
http://www.arms.org
Concealed Carry, Inc.
Main cause is the preservation of private citizens to keep and carry
concealed weapons.
http://www.ConcealCarry.org
Doctors for Responsible Gun Ownership
Based in Claremont, CA, DRGO contains testimonials, articles and
briefs by physicians against gun control.
http://www.claremont.org/projects/doctors/
The Firearms Coalition
Provides Second Amendment news and alerts. Founded by Neal Knox,
a writer with an interest in guns.
http://www.nealknox.com
Gun Owners Action League
A Massachusetts-based association that promotes firearms ownership
for competition, recreation, and self-protection.
http://www.goal.org
Gun owners of America
An active gun-ownership advocacy group. Has news, legislation updates,
and take-action initiatives at a national and local level.
http://www.gunowners.org
Guns Save Lives
Seeks to abolish gun control and advocates gun ownership as beneficial
to preserving human life.
http://GunsSaveLives.com
National Rifle Association
The most well-known organization against gun control, the NRA urges
gun safety education rather than new gun control laws.
http://www.nra.org
NRA Civil Rights Legal Defense Fund
Provides legal and financial aid for court cases to protect gun
ownership; also sponsors research and education toward that aim.
http://www.nradefensefund.org
National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action
The lobbying and activist arm of the National Rifle Association.
http://www.nraila.org
Second Amendment Foundation
Dedicated to Second Amendment preservation, SAF carries news, articles,
legislative action and ways to contact local representatives.
http://www.saf.org
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Artnotguns
An online journal featuring writing and art from survivors of gun
violence.
http://www.artnotguns.org
The National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children
Provides emotional support as well as resources to deal with the
criminal justice system.
http://www.pomc.com
Join together Online
An outlet for surviving families of those killed by guns; contains
stories and testimonials for survivors.
http://www.jointogether.org/gv/help/survivors/
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Handgun Epidemic Lowering Plan (H.E.L.P.) Network
An international network of medical and allied organizations and
individuals dedicated to reducing the epidemic of handgun violence.
http://www.helpnetwork.org
Project Exile
This federally supported program seeks federal prosecution of felons
in all local cases involving illegal firearm possession.
http://www.vahv.org/Exile/
For local press coverage of Project Exile's implementation in Oakland,
go to
http://www.oaklandchamber.com/html/1999_12-project-exile.html
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LOCAL:
San Francisco Department of Public Health Ð Roadmap for Preventing
Violence
Provides guidance to preventing violence for communities, public/private
agencies, and neighborhood.
http://www.dph.sf.ca.us/CHPP/vpn.htm
STATE:
California Department of Justice Firearms Division
A comprehensive source for news about gun control laws, requirements,
eligibility and policies for California.
http://caag.state.ca.us/firearms/
NATIONAL:
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
Provides news, updates and resources for the ATF, which is the nationwide
enforcement authority in matters affecting the firearms, explosives,
alcohol, and tobacco industries.
http://www.atf.treas.gov
Bureau of Justice Statistics
Contains crime and violence statistics as well as information about
the justice system.
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Includes "Most Wanted" lists and information on current ongoing
investigations, which include violent crime, organized crime, white
collar crime, terrorism, foreign counterintelligence, civil and
rights.
http://www.fbi.gov/homepage.htm
U.S. Department of Justice
Comprehensively explains the justice enforcement at a federal and
local level.
http://www.usdoj.gov
House Committe on General Reform (minority office)
Following a General Accounting Office report revealing significant problems with the regulation
of gun dealers, Rep. Henry Waxman wrote Treasury Secretary O'Neill to urge him to take action to
prevent these abuses. This letter cites as a source the "GunShots" investigation. (April 18, 2002)
http://www.house.gov/reform/min/pdfs/ (PDF)
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American Firearms Industry
Information for licensed dealers and gun retailers. Includes buyers'
guide and how to find a local dealer.
http://www.amfire.com/index.html
National Shooting Sports Foundation
Trade association designed to promote interest in shooting sports.
http://www.nssf.org
Southern Ohio Guns
The mail-order gun distributor where Sean Twomey purchased many
of his guns before reselling them illegally in the Bay Area.
http://www.southernohiogun.com
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