Coalition to Stop Gun Violence

Coalition to Stop Gun Violence
Merged intoJohns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions
Formation1974
Dissolved2022
HeadquartersWashington, D.C.
Membership48 organizations
Websitewww.csgv.org

The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV) and the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence (EFSGV or Ed Fund), its sister organization, were two parts of a national, non-profit gun control advocacy organization opposed to gun violence. Since 1974, it supported reduction in American gun violence via education and legislation. They ceased operations in 2022 after the EFSGV merged with the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Prevention and Policy to become the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions.[1]

History

In 1974, the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society formed the National Coalition to Ban Handguns,[2] a group of thirty affiliated religious, labor, and nonprofit organizations, with the goal of addressing "the high rates of gun-related crime and death in American society" by requiring licensing of gun owners, registering firearms, and banning private ownership of handguns. "Reasonable limited exceptions" were to be allowed 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.”[3][4] In the 1980s and 1990s, the coalition expanded to 44 member groups.[5]

In 1989, following the Cleveland Elementary School shooting in Stockton, California, the National Coalition to Ban Handguns changed its name to the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, in part because the group believed that assault weapons as well as handguns, should be outlawed.[6]

In 2022, the EFSGV merged with the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Prevention and Policy to become the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions.[1]

Mission

According to CSGV, its mission was: "We believe that all Americans have a right to live in communities free from gun violence. We pursue this goal through policy development, strategic engagement, and effective advocacy."[7] The organization had nine areas of focus, regarding issues and campaigns:[8]

  1. Opposition to the National Rifle Association's interpretation of Second Amendment rights.[9]
  2. Support for firearm microstamping, a ballistic identification technology intended to allow law enforcement to trace the serial number of a firearm from ejected cartridge cases recovered from crime scenes.[10]
  3. Ban the private sale of guns by instituting universal background checks.[11]
  4. Ban concealed carry.[12]
  5. Opposition to the sale of what it classifies as assault weapons to private citizens.[13]
  6. Support for "countermarketing", a strategy intended to force changes in gun industry's marketing and distribution practices.[14]
  7. Opposition to removing the duty to retreat in self-defense law (i.e., stand your ground laws).[15]
  8. Support for stricter mental health screening for firearm purchases.[16]
  9. Support for the repeal of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act.[17]

Former leadership

  • Joshua Horwitz was the Executive Director of CSGV/EFSGV. He is an attorney who joined the Education Fund in 1989 as Legal Director.
  • Michael K. Beard was the founding President of the CSGV/EFSGV.

Membership

CSGV consisted of 47 organizations in March 2016. Among them were religious organizations, child welfare advocacy groups, public health professionals, social justice, and political action organizations.[18]

The member groups were:[18]

References

  1. ^ a b "Coalition to Stop Gun Violence". InfluenceWatch. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
  2. ^ Wilson, Harry L. (2006). Guns, gun control, and elections. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 145. ISBN 978-0-7425-5348-4. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
  3. ^ Carter, Gregg Lee (2002). Guns in American Society: An Encyclopedia of History, Politics, Culture, and the Law. ABC-CLIO. p. 395. ISBN 978-1-57607-268-4. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
  4. ^ Don B. Kates; Henry E. Schaffer; John K. Lattimer; George B. Murray; Edwin H. Cassem (1994). "Guns and Public Health: Epidemic of Violence or Pandemic of Propaganda?". 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;...
  5. ^ Carter, Gregg Lee (2002). Guns in American Society: An Encyclopedia of History, Politics, Culture, and the Law. ABC-CLIO. p. 396. ISBN 978-1-57607-268-4. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
  6. ^ Goss, Kristin (2006). Disarmed: the missing movement for gun control in America. Princeton University Press. pp. 112. ISBN 978-0-691-12424-7. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
  7. ^ "Coalition to Stop Gun Violence - The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence seeks to secure freedom from gun violence through research, strategic engagement and effective policy advocacy". The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. Archived from the original on 2009-04-12. Retrieved 2009-03-29.
  8. ^ "Coalition to Stop Gun Violence - The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence seeks to secure freedom from gun violence through research, strategic engagement and effective policy advocacy". The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. Archived from the original on 2008-08-22. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  9. ^ "Guns, Democracy and Freedom - Coalition to Stop Gun Violence". Archived from the original on November 17, 2016. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
  10. ^ "Coalition to Stop Gun Violence - The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence seeks to secure freedom from gun violence through research, strategic engagement and effective policy advocacy". The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. Archived from the original on 2008-06-30. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  11. ^ "Gun Show Loophole". Archived from the original on November 27, 2008. Retrieved 2009-03-29.
  12. ^ "Coalition to Stop Gun Violence - The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence seeks to secure freedom from gun violence through research, strategic engagement and effective policy advocacy". The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. Archived from the original on 2016-11-18. Retrieved 2016-10-28.
  13. ^ "Assault Weapons - The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence".
  14. ^ "Countermarketing - The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence".
  15. ^ ""Stand Your Ground" Laws - The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence".
  16. ^ "Coalition to Stop Gun Violence - The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence seeks to secure freedom from gun violence through research, strategic engagement and effective policy advocacy". The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. Archived from the original on 2016-11-18. Retrieved 2016-10-28.
  17. ^ "Special Protection for the Gun Industry - The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence".
  18. ^ a b "Member Organisations". Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016.