California Chapter | Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence

2013 CA Bills -- SUPPORT

Important gun legislation is moving through the 2013 California Legislature. Please contact your State Senator and Assembly Member and register your SUPPORT for the following bills. If you belong to an organization or faith group ask them to send a Letter of Support on their letterhead. You can find your state representative here: http://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/

Click here to review these bills and learn more!

ABOUT CA CHAPTERS

California Brady Campaign Chapters educate and mobilize their communities to advocate for sensible responsible gun laws, regulations, and public policies at the local, state, and national levels.

We invite you to join us. You may want to become a member of a local Chapter, form a Chapter in your own community, be part of our email information network, or make a donation to the Brady Campaign. Whatever contribution you wish to make, your participation is welcome. Please contact us. We will direct you to members of our organization working in your own area.

Together, let's make the coming years a time when gun violence decreases dramatically and our communities in California become healthier and safer.

Click here to view or print a brochure about the California Brady Campaign Chapters and how to get involved.

You may also click here to view a video brochure of stories that honor loved ones killed by gun violence. Or click here to download a .pdf brochure of stories, funded by a grant from The California Wellness Foundation (TCWF). Created in 1992 as a private, independent foundation, TCWF's mission is to improve the health of the people of California by making grants for health promotion, wellness education and disease prevention.

Best Regards,

Dallas M. Stout, Psy.D.President, California Brady CampaignÂ Chapters

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 Schools Can Do More to Protect Students from Gun Violence!

Attention: Teachers, PTA, Principals, and School Superintendents!

YOU can help protect students from accidental and/or intentional shootings by reminding gun-owning parents they have a responsibility to safely store their firearms. There have been many instances of children bringing guns to school in California. Often the child has obtained the weapon from his/her home. It is the responsibility of school officials and parents to do everything possible to keep children safe at school. And, by law, it is the responsibility of parents to make sure their firearms are safely and securely stored.

Protect Our California Veterans From Suicide

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.

CONTACT CA CHAPTERS

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!