IPGV is a member of
Iowa Shares
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9/10/01
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A Vote for Campaign
Finance Reform is a Vote for Gun Violence Prevention
The NRA contributed $1.8
million to
candidates during the 2000 election year, and Fortune magazine
recognized the organization as the most powerful lobbying group in
Washington. In order to make the voices for gun violence
prevention heard, we must
curb the effects of soft money and reform campaign-financing.
That is the reason Scott Harshbarger, president of Common Cause, is
calling for action with regard to campaign finance reform
legislation.
As Harshbarger notes, “We need to make the connection with every person
who cares about gun control that there is a need for campaign-finance
reform because that’s how you’re going to break the power nexus and
legislation that
in many cases simply stops stuff from happening.” There is
currently a campaign-finance bill in the House called the Shays-Meehan
bill that would limit the influence of
soft
money. In order for it to be brought up for discussion and a
vote, a discharge petition must be signed by 218 members of the
House. Currently there are only 207 signatures—the next few days
are critical.
We—the constituents—need to tell our Representatives that the
Shays-Meehan bill deserves support and a vote in the open House.
In Iowa, Congressmen who have signed the discharge petition include:
Rep. Jim Leach (R 1st) and Rep. Leonard Boswell (D 3rd). Those
who have not signed are: Rep.
Jim Nussle (R 2nd), Rep. Tom Latham (R 5th) and Rep. Greg Ganske (R
4th). Direct emails can be sent to Representatives through the
Common Cause website, www.commoncause.org,
by entering your Zip code. Help us limit the power of major
contributors and make gun violence prevention voices heard.
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9/17/01
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IPGV Statement
Regarding the Aftermath of the Terrorist Attacks in NY, Washington
D.C., and PA
At the office of Iowans
for the
Prevention of Gun Violence, we have been reacting to the news of the
recent attacks in New York, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania as people
who are confused, heartbroken and lost. Just as individuals
throughout the nation who have organized vigils or given blood, we have
been struggling to find something that we can do to help. In the
events following the attacks, we have found that there is a definite
need for violence prevention, especially at a time when emotions run
high and people search for explanations and those accountable.
We are concerned about the developments we have seen in the last few
days with regard to violence and panic. As AP reported, Frank
Roque, 42, of Mesa, Arizona has been arrested and charged for firing at
two gas stations and a home, killing an Indian immigrant, Balbir Singh
Sodhi, 49, who worked in one of the gas stations. The clerk at
the second station was of Lebanese descent, and an Afghan family lived
in the home. A man has also been arrested in N.Y. for making an
anti-Arab threat and pointing a handgun at a gas station
employee. Other incidents include an attack on a Moroccan gas
station employee in Palos Heights, IL, the attempted hit and run of a
Pakistani woman in Huntington, N.Y., and the arrest of an armed man who
tried to set fire to a Mosque in Seattle.
Furthermore, at least six shots were fired at the Islamic Center in
Irving, Texas, shattering windows. The Daily Iowan reported on
September 13 that the Iowa City Islamic Center was also verbally
threatened. On the whole, anti-Islamic and anti-Arab threats and
actions have increased to a point of serious concern since the attacks,
despite pleas from government representatives, the media, and civilian
groups.
As a group focusing on gun violence, we are also concerned that many
people may be purchasing guns in order to enhance their feelings of
security. As USA Today reported on Sept. 14, the sales of
weapons, including handguns, shotguns and ammunition, have
skyrocketed. In fact, Koscielski’s Guns & Ammo in
Minneapolis, MN noted that sales of firearms and ammunition have
doubled since the attacks. Hoffman’s Gun Center in Newington, CT
reported the same increase. The director of the Professional Gun
Retailers Association, which represents about 4,000 gun shops, noted
that “sales are up substantially, both firearms and ammunition.”
The Orlando Sentinel also reported increases in Florida, and one owner,
Khaled Akkawe, said he sold more than 100 assault rifles and shotguns
in one day.
In response to the rush on guns, K-Mart suspended gun sales for one
day after the attacks. K-Mart said it removed all guns from store
shelves out of concern for the safety of its customers and
employees.
Wal-Mart, however, continued to sell hunting guns and ammunition, and
handgun
ammunition. Due to the abnormally high level of potential gun
buyers,
the federal background check system (NICS) has been flooded with
requests.
At a time such as this, it is important to remember that the presence
of an easily accessible firearm can enlarge a violent situation into a
fatal situation. It is advisable that, in a time of heightened
emotions and potential violence, firearms should be kept out of the
equation in order to decrease the potential lethality of violent
situations. IPGV advises against gun purchases and hopes that
individuals with guns will keep them locked up and unloaded in order to
prevent both intentional and unintentional gun violence.
The most tragic reaction we as
a people can have
to the violence enacted upon the United States is to enact more
violence
upon each other. One of the greatest strengths of our nation is
our
dedication to diversity and inter-cultural empathy. Racially or
culturally
based violence is a completely un-American action, and one that can
have
a seriously detrimental effect on our ability to deal with the
tragedies
that have so confounded us.
It is imperative that we resolve
ourselves to peace
and patience, and to direct our attention, concerns and support toward
the federal government and international community so that they may
deal with the aftermath of this event in good time and with careful
prudence. Violence among the American people will only make
governmental leaders’ important work more difficult and
complicated. Action must be taken through appropriate civil and
legal channels, and only after a considered consensus has been reached,
or it is in fact not justice, but another form of terrorism.
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9/24/01
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IPGV Agenda After Attacks
Since the
terrorist attacks
that have deeply affected and changed us all, the federal government
has focused its attention on the US response. Many legislative
matters including the education bill and the Shays-Meehan discharge
petition have been put on hold. The federal government has
maintained that it will not completely disrupt its normal activities,
for that would only demonstrate to the terrorists that they had
succeeded in disabling the US government.
However, in light of the federal government’s new and essential
obligation to addressing the attacks, it is certain that a considerable
amount of their energy will be spent on the US response and on
salvaging the economy by
assisting industries most affected by the recent economic downturn.
In light of the drastic change in the federal agenda, we feel we must
step up efforts on the state level. As we have seen, gun violence
has remained a problem on the domestic front. In Burlington, IA
just
two days ago, a man shot his girlfriend in the back with a shotgun and
then
committed suicide; the woman lived. This shooting is symbolic of
gun
violence in Iowa. Just as this shooting followed a domestic
dispute,
approximately three fourths of all gun homicides in Iowa result from an
argument or dispute between people who know each other. Also,
approximately
84% of women who are victims of a gun homicide in Iowa are killed in
domestic
situations. And, about 80% of all firearm deaths in Iowa are gun
suicides.
IPGV wants to prevent these deaths. In the upcoming 2002
legislative session, IPGV will support a Senate bill (SF 488) that
would close the gun show loophole. This loophole in federal law
allows persons in prohibited categories, such as domestic abusers, to
purchase guns at gun shows without a background check. We are
working to make the background check comprehensive for all secondary
sales.
IPGV also supports a House bill (HF 73)
that
would extend one important federal law so that it becomes Iowa state
law. Current federal law (the Lautenburg Amendment) prohibits
possession of a firearm by anyone who has been convicted of domestic
violence or is under a court restraining order due to domestic
violence. We support a bill proposed by the Iowa Attorney
General’s office that would make this Iowa state law, thereby
increasing the ability of Iowa’s law enforcement to enforce the terms
of the federal law.
Gun violence in America kills 30,000 people a year in homicides,
suicides, and unintentional shootings. We are dedicated to
reducing that number by preventing gun violence in Iowa, and we hope
you will help us.
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10/1/01
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It's First Monday!
The name of this email
list was drawn
from a national campaign called First Monday which organizes college
students across the nation in an effort to prevent gun violence.
It is supported by the American Bar Association, Physicians for Social
Responsibility, and many more.
First Monday kicks off on the first Monday of October every year with a
specific campaign, and then promotes activism with regard to that
campaign for one year. Last year, the focus of the First Monday
campaign was “Unite to End Gun Violence,” and Alliance for Justice—the
group that organizes and funds First Monday—put out a video called
“America Up in Arms,” which was shown at First Monday events across the
nation.
This year, the theme is “Gun Industry Watch,” and Alliance for Justice
has put out a new film called “Deadly Business: How the NRA and the Gun
Industry Market Mayhem to America.” The film focuses on:
Selling Death, Unregulated Industry, Political Influence, Gun
Crimesà Crime Guns, Deadlier Weapons, Deceptive Marketing,
Endangering Kids, and Fight Back.
The film will be shown at several First Monday events on October 1st in
Iowa, including Briarcliff College in Sioux City, Mt. St. Clair College
in Clinton, and the University of Iowa in Iowa City. A
representative of IPGV will be at each of these events, and we’d love
to see some of you there as well.
If you are interested in attending one of these three First Monday
events, take down the following information and join us!
Clinton
Mt. St. Clair College Auditorium
400 North Bluff Blvd.
4:00pm
Monday, October 1st
Contact: Angelica Alvarez @ 319-242-4023, ext. 3514
Sioux City
Briarcliff College, Stark Center
3303 Rebecca St.
7:30pm
Monday, October 1st
Contact: Sister Grace Anne Witty @ 712-279-5488
Iowa City
Wild Bill’s Coffee Shop, North Hall, University of Iowa
(one block west of the intersection of Clinton and Davenport)
7:30pm
Monday, October 1st
Contact: Tom Gilsenan @ 319-335-1281
Other colleges that will be participating are Clark College in Dubuque,
Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Grand View College in Des Moines,
Graceland University in Lamoni (April 18), William Penn University in
Oskaloosa,
University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls (Oct. 4, Student Union) and
Loras College in Dubuque.
Also, check out the First Monday web page: www.gunindustrywatch.com.
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10/8/01
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Gun Shows Are Not the
Only Loophole; Check the Classifieds in Your Local Newspaper
Recently there has been much discussion
of closing
the “gun-show loophole,” a loophole in federal law that allows
unlicensed sellers to sell guns at gun shows without a criminal
background check. A background check is essential because it
prevents persons in prohibited categories, such as domestic abusers and
felons, from gaining possession
of firearms. The resulting paperwork also helps in tracking
weapons
that are eventually used in crimes.
Several legislative measures have been proposed to close the gun-show
loophole by requiring all sales of guns at gun shows to be conducted
through a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL), who must do a background
check. According to a recent national survey by the respected
polling firm Lake, Snell and Perry, 92% of Americans support universal
background checks for handgun purchases, including 86% of gun owners
and 82% of NRA supporters. Many newspapers have also
editorialized in support of closing the gun-show loophole.
However, as John Johnson, Executive
Director
of IPGV has noted, “Gun shows are just one of many loopholes in the law
that allow guns to change hands without background checks—other
loopholes
include the ‘newspaper loophole,’ the ‘flea market loophole,’ the
‘estate-sale
loophole,’ and the ‘internet loophole.’ Secondary sales in these
markets
could result in the possession of a firearm by someone in a prohibited
category.”
In order to determine the magnitude of the “newspaper loophole,” IPGV
contacted 21 large circulation, national newspapers to determine their
policy on classified advertising for guns. These are the policies
as of August 2001.
Newspaper Classifed Advertising Policy
New York Times No gun ads
Washington Post No gun ads
San Francisco Examiner No gun ads
Baltimore Sun No gun ads
Chicago Tribune Rifles/Shotguns only
Philadelphia
Inquirer
Rifles/Shotguns only
Boston Globe Rifles/Shotguns only
Seattle Times Rifles/Shotguns only
LA Times Rifles/Shotguns only
Denver Post Rifles/Shotguns only
Hartford Courant Rifles/Shotguns only
Miami Herald Rifles/Shotguns only
Atlanta Journal-Star Rifles/Shotguns/Handguns
St. Louis Post-Dispatch Rifles/Shotguns/Handguns
Cincinnati Enquirer Rifles/Shotguns/Handguns
Omaha World Herald Rifles/Shotguns/Handguns
Arizona Republic Rifles/Shotguns/Handguns
Salt Lake City Tribune Rifles/Shotguns/Handguns
Houston Chronicle Rifles/Shotguns/Handguns
Minneapolis Star Tribune Would not disclose
Kansas City Star Would not disclose
IPGV followed the survey by contacting the newspapers and recommending
that they adopt a policy of no gun ads. Two newspapers, the
Chicago Tribune and the Philadelphia Inquirer, decided to take no more
gun ads after being contacted by IPGV.
Overall, Iowans for the Prevention of Gun Violence discovered that most
newspapers have not prevented unregulated secondary sales of guns
through the classifieds. The “newspaper loophole” remains
open. Just as secondary sales by private individuals at gun-shows
can be conducted
without a background check, so can sales conducted through
advertisements
in the classifieds.
The importance of closing the
“newspaper loophole”
is demonstrated by the story of Benjamin Nathaniel Smith who went on a
racially motivated shooting spree in July of 1998—killing two and
injuring
nine others before committing suicide with a handgun. Smith
purchased two handguns (.38-caliber semiautomatic handgun and
.22-caliber handgun) from Donald Fiessinger, who sold guns by
advertising in a local newspaper. Records found in Fiessinger’s
apartment showed that he had legally purchased 65 Saturday Night
Specials (inexpensive pistols) from the Old Prairie Trading Post in
Pekin, IL over a two-year period—one gun a week—and was selling them
through classified ads in the newspaper, doubling the store
price. Smith had attempted to purchase guns from a federally
licensed dealer, but had been denied when a background check showed
that his ex-girlfriend had a protective order against him.
IPGV is currently organizing a campaign to “close the newspaper
loophole” with several state gun violence prevention organizations, and
we will need your help. Keep your eyes open for gun ads in
newspapers and let us know where you’ve found them. Most
importantly, be prepared to help us close the loophole by making phone
calls, writing letters to the editor, and initiating discussion of the
“newspaper loophole,” the risks it poses, and the many reasons for
closing it.
The “newspaper loophole” was closed at the Chicago Tribune and the
Philadelphia Inquirer by letters and phone calls—this is a purely
grassroots effort with no connection to legislatures or courts.
We have the power to make this necessary change, which will decrease
the ease of weapons purchases by people in prohibited categories.
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10/15/01
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The Case Against Concealed
Carry
Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, I have noticed several
letters to the editor in Iowa newspapers supporting the move to “shall
issue” status with regard to the distribution of permits to carry
concealed
weapons. “Shall issue” states are those that make permits to
carry
concealed weapons available to everyone who is not in a prohibited
category—such
as felons and minors. Currently, Iowa is one of 15 “may issue”
states,
which require applicants to demonstrate a need to go armed in order to
obtain
a permit. The letters to which I refer have implied that the move
from “may issue” to “shall issue”—thereby arming many more people with
concealed weapons—would decrease crime levels and would, overall, be a
step toward safety
and security.
This is simply not true. The simple truth is that if there are
more guns accessible, there will be more gun violence.
First of all, it is important to cite the source of the misinformation
fueling these letters. In 1997, John Lott wrote a book called
“More Guns, Less Crime” arguing that increasing the number of people
carrying concealed weapons for safety purposes would decrease the crime
rate. Since its publication, Lott’s book has been criticized by
scholars, scientists and statisticians who have described it as being
statistically and methodically unsound, as well as being a completely
untrustworthy foundation for gun legislation. (Cook and Ludwig,
2000; Black and Nagin, 1998; Ludwig, 1997).
Lott’s conclusions are flawed for several reasons. Firstly, in
proclaiming that crime went down in permissive concealed carry states,
Lott
ignored two important points. Number one: crime went down across
the
board, not just in concealed carry states. Number two: crime went
down
twice as fast in states where it was difficult to obtain a concealed
carry
permit. Crime decreased by 24.8% in restrictive states, and only
11.4% in permissive states.
Secondly, Lott completely ignored factors that tend to affect the rise
and fall of crime rates, including poverty levels, activity in the drug
market, law enforcement techniques, and newly introduced gun
legislation.
Finally, the exit polls used by Lott to establish rates of gun
ownership for states were misused. According to the Voter News
Service, which administered the survey, these data were representative
only on a national, not a state level. Furthermore, the surveys
for each of the two years cannot be compared to establish change since
the question asked each year was not the same.
Beyond the debate on concealed carry laws and crime, it must also be
noted that criminals are not the number one source of gun
violence. According to statistics from the Iowa Department of
Public Health, in Iowa in 2000, 83% of gun deaths were suicide, 14%
were homicide, and 3% were unintentional.
Of the women killed, 90.6% were murder-suicides, domestic disputes,
or took place between friends/acquaintances; only 9.4% of homicides
were
random or took place during a felony.
For men the numbers were slightly different: 26.5% were killed during a
felony, by a stranger, in defense of the home, or by a law officer;
fully 73.5% of men were killed by someone they knew—a friend,
acquaintance or
domestic partner.
The simple fact is that an easily accessible gun can turn a violent
or argumentative situation into a fatal situation. The best way
to
decrease gun injury and death is to refrain from using a gun to settle
a situation of conflict.
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10/22/01
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Shooting Ranges are
High Risk Zones for Lead Poisoning
“Damage to the brain and central nervous system; kidney disease; high
blood pressure; anemia; and damage to the reproductive system,
including decreased sex drive, abnormal menstrual periods, impotence,
premature ejaculation, sterility, reduction in number of sperm cells,
and damage to sperm cells resulting in birth defects, miscarriage, and
stillbirth.” (from the Violence Policy Center study, Poisonous Pastime)
This week is lead poisoning awareness week. All across the
country, people will be participating in programs geared toward making
communities aware of the effects of lead poisoning and how it is
contracted. However, one critical source of lead poisoning is
frequently ignored, and as a Violence Policy Center study demonstrates,
that ignorance could be deadly.
This forgotten venue is the shooting range. If you spend time
at or near a shooting range, or if you are in frequent contact with
someone who does, you are at risk for all of the symptoms listed in the
introductory quote as well as greater tendencies towards criminal
behavior and decreased IQ. And frighteningly, the damage is
irreversible.
How exactly does a shooting range put its visitors and those close to
them at risk? As the VPC study notes, for those who spend time at
indoor shooting ranges, the primary problem is inhalation of lead
particles
that are formed with the ignition of the primer, the scraping of the
bullet
against the inside of the barrel, and even the impact of the bullet
striking
its target. When a shooter returns home, heads to work, or goes
about
his/her business in public, traces of these particles on his/her skin,
clothing, or shoes end up in the immediate vicinity. For those
with very frequent contact with shooters, the risk is greatly magnified.
How serious is the risk? Blood tests have demonstrated that
exposure to lead via a shooting range poses a substantial risk.
As the VPC study notes, “the highest blood levels ever recorded by the
Baltimore City Health Department (as of 1998) were in an attendant who
regularly swept up
in an amusement park shooting gallery.” And officials at the
California Occupational Lead Poisoning Prevention Program report
elevated blood lead levels among “recreational and competitive
shooters.”
However, most privately owned or
operated ranges
are not regulated by public health officials, and many have become a
serious threat to shooters and their families, as well as businesses
and schools located near the ranges. For example, as the VPC
study notes, one day care center in Clearwater Florida “was forced to
close and the children were required to have blood tests after it was
discovered that a nearby indoor shooting range had been venting
lead-contaminated air into the center’s playground area. Lead
levels just outside the range’s exhaust fan were found to be 8,000
times higher than the acceptable level set by the Pinellas County’s
Department of Environmental Management.”
Beyond the threat that lead bullets and shot pose to shooters, their
families, and neighbors of the ranges, there is also a reason for
concern with damage caused to the environment. Outdoor shooting
ranges create a considerable amount of pollution, most of which comes
from rifle bullets and spent shotgun pellets that find their way into
water supplies or are ingested by local wildlife.
Ranges have been charged with violating certain federal laws
restricting pollution. Several have been tried for violating the
Clean Water Act (CWA), which restricts the discharge of “pollutants”
from a “point source” into US waters without obtaining a permit.
Others have been tried
with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), which
established a “regulatory scheme for the treatment, storage, and
disposal of solid and hazardous wastes.” Still others were
prosecuted by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation
and Liability Act (CERCLA) and the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
The VPC study recommends that exposure to lead via shooting ranges
should be minimized overall and eliminated in the case of children
since there is no “safe” level for lead exposure. Furthermore,
the discontinued use of lead bullets and shot would greatly reduce the
risk of poisoning and
pollution to people, wildlife and the environment.
The good news is that this is not a dead end with respect to
activism. There are health and safety standards that can bring
shooting ranges into compliance. As the Violence Policy Center
notes, “applicable standards include not only zoning and noise
ordinances, but state, local and federal health and environmental
protection laws and regulations.”
If you are concerned about a range in your community, bring your
concerns to the attention of your local governmental representatives,
health departments, environmental groups and, of course, Iowans for the
Prevention of Gun Violence. We think this is a serious situation
that demands investigation, and we intend to pursue it.
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10/29/01
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Come to the
Quarterly Meeting fo the Des Moines Action Group
If you are dedicated to
gun violence
prevention and you are in the Des Moines area—
Come to the Quarterly
Meeting of the
Des Moines Action Group!
The Des Moines Action Group is
a group of local
activists who want to learn about gun violence prevention and prevent
gun violence in Iowa.
Representatives of Iowans for the Prevention of Gun Violence will
present on the Public Health Approach to Gun Violence and Gun Violence
Prevention After the Terrorist Attacks. There will be plenty of
time for questions, answers, and discussion. There is no charge,
and refreshments will be provided.
Join Us
October 30, 2001
7:00pm
The American Friends Service Committee Building
42nd and Grand
Des Moines, IA
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11/5/01
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Let's Close the Newspaper
Loophole!
Last
Thursday—November
1st—two very important events took place. The first was the
service held at the Newman Center in Iowa City to remember those killed
and injured in
the 1991 shooting at the University of Iowa. On November 1, 1991,
a physics student angry with certain faculty and staff of the
University of Iowa shot and killed five people and left a sixth a
quadriplegic before committing suicide. Iowans for the Prevention
of Gun Violence was conceived
on that day as the November 1st Coalition. Ten years later, the
group
has gained strength and has been able to work toward a reduction of gun
injuries and deaths in Iowa.
The second event that occurred on Thursday was an example of our
work. A press conference organized by IPGV was held in Chicago to
announce the launching of a national campaign by 16 state gun violence
prevention organizations to close the "newspaper loophole.” The
16 state organizations are requesting that newspapers change their
classified advertising policies to not accept ads for guns from
unlicensed individuals. The press conference was attended by four
TV stations, three radio stations, and one newspaper—the Chicago
Tribune.
Participants in the press conference included: John Johnson, Executive
Director for Iowans for the Prevention of Gun Violence; Robin Olds,
Executive Director, Hoosiers Concerned About Gun Violence; Ben Haley,
Policy/Program Analyst, Michigan Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence;
and Thom Mannard, Executive Director, Illinois Council Against Handgun
Violence—all of whom made statements at the press conference. A
similar press conference will be held on the east coast to announce the
efforts of several mid-Atlantic gun violence prevention groups to close
the “newspaper loophole.”
Many of us are familiar with the “gun show loophole” – a loophole in
federal law that allows secondary sales of firearms between unlicensed
individuals at gun shows without a background check of the buyer.
IPGV is currently working to close the “gun show loophole” by
supporting Senate File 488
in the Iowa legislature. However, the fact is that the “gun show
loophole” is just one of several loopholes, including the “estate
sale,”
“flea market,” “internet,” and “newspaper” loopholes.
The campaign to close the newspaper loophole is simple. First, we
must establish the newspaper’s current policy on classified advertising
for guns. Secondly, we inform the newspaper of our concerns with
the loophole that exists in these secondary sales and ask that they
consider changing their policy. Thirdly, we work with the
newspaper to help
them make the necessary changes.
In order for this effort to be successful, we at IPGV will need your
help. We need IPGV members and friends across the state to check
the
classifieds in local newspapers and tell us what you find. If the
newspaper accepts gun ads, write a letter to the editor detailing the
“newspaper
loophole” and requesting that they discontinue gun advertising in the
classifieds. Letters should include the following points:
1. Many of us are familiar with the “gun show
loophole” – a loophole in federal law that allows secondary sales of
firearms between unlicensed individuals at gun shows to take place
without a background check. Background checks keep guns out of
the hands of felons, domestic abusers, minors and others in prohibited
categories. In fact, many newspapers have already editorialized
in favor of closing the “gun show loophole.”
2. However, the “gun show loophole” is one of several
loopholes, including the “estate sale,” “flea market,” “internet,” and
“newspaper” loopholes. The “newspaper loophole” allows unlicensed
individuals to conduct sales of guns without background checks through
the
classifieds in the newspaper.
3. There is a real danger to allowing gun sales
without background checks. In 1999, Benjamin Smith, a member of a
white supremacist hate group, purchased two guns from a classified ad
in the Peoria (Illinois) Journal Star after he was denied by a licensed
gun dealer when a background check showed that he was under a court
restraining order secured by an ex-girlfriend. Smith then went on
a shooting spree, killing two and wounding nine others, before killing
himself after a police chase.
4. This is a loophole in the law that can be closed
without an act of Congress. All it takes is a simple,
common-sense decision on the part of a newspaper to stop taking gun
advertisements in the classifieds.
Let’s close the newspaper loophole! Here is a list of Iowa’s
newspapers:
The Daily Tribune
Ames
Atlantic News-Telegraph Atlantic
News-Republican
Boone
The Hawk Eye
Burlington
The Times-Herald
Carroll
The Gazette
Cedar Rapids
Centerville Daily Iowegian Centerville
Charles City Press
Charles City
Daily Times
Cherokee
Clinton Herald
Clinton
The Daily Nonpareil Council Bluffs
Creston News Advertiser Creston
Quad-City Times
Davenport
Des Moines Register Des Moines
Telegraph Herald
Dubuque
Estherville Daily News Estherville
Fairfield Ledger
Fairfield
The Messenger
Fort Dodge
The Daily Democrat Fort Madison
Iowa City Press-Citizen Iowa City
Daily Gate City
Keokuk
Le Mars Daily Sentinel Le Mars
Times-Republican
Marshalltown
Globe-Gazette
Mason City
Mount Pleasant News Mount Pleasant
Muscatine Journal
Muscatine
Newton Daily News Newton
Oelwein Daily Register Oelwein
Oskaloosa Herald
Oskaloosa
Ottumwa Courier
Ottumwa
Valley News Today Shenandoah
The Sioux City Journal Sioux City
Spencer Daily Reporter Spencer
Storm Lake Pilot-Tribune Storm
Lake
Cedar Valley Times Vinton
Washington Evening Journal Washington
Courier
Waterloo
Daily
Freeman-Journal
Webster City
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Look for ads—if there is one that disturbs you, let the newspaper know
that you are concerned. If there are no ads, let them know you’re
thankful for their concern for public safety. We want this to be
a joint venture between IPGV and the newspapers, so be positive and
proactive. When you have found an ad or written an editorial,
reply to this email and let IPGV know!
GOOD LUCK!
|
11/12/01
|
The Annual IPGV Retreat
On Saturday,
November 10,
2001, IPGV held its annual meeting to inform members of the
current trends and topics in gun violence prevention. Speakers
addressed a small crowd in the Community Room at the Coral Ridge Mall
in
Coralville. The morning started with coffee, pastry and a talk by
University
of Iowa Professor of Epidemiology, Corinne Peek-Asa, who comes to Iowa
after
a stay in Los Angeles at UCLA. Ms. Peek-Asa spoke on the
public
health approach to injury prevention and the necessity for more
comprehensive
data collection in a presentation entitled “What We Don’t Know is
Killing
Us.”
She began with an outline of the paradigm used by public health
professionals in assessing a phenomenon such as gun violence, saying
that a reliable investigation requires four stages of
action—surveillance, risk factor assessment, prevention, and
evaluation—which operate in a feedback loop. At present, due
to lack of funding for firearm death research, investigation in these
stages is far from complete, and it is impossible to know what the
actual effect of policy is on the number of gun injuries and deaths in
the United States. In order to construct an effective policy,
data collection must be improved.
As Ms. Peek-Asa noted, a data collection system called the National
Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) has been proposed to enhance
data
collection for violent death. The NVDRS is a structure which
would
relay local and state information, including coroner’s reports, media
investigations, and police reports, to a state coordinating agency
which would then send the information on to a national coordinating
agency. The national coordinating agency (the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention) would gather all state information and enter it
into a national database. The NVDRS will help violence prevention
groups and public health experts to
develop and evaluate strategies to reduce violent deaths and injuries,
including
those caused by firearms.
Implementation of the system is estimated to cost approximately $20
million a year. Currently, different amounts have been proposed
in
the US House and Senate appropriations bills containing provisions for
the
NVDRS. Now, it is just a matter of time and money before
researchers
will be able to get the system going.
Following Ms. Peek-Asa’s talk, Executive Director John Johnson’s
addressed the group on the subject of regulation of guns as consumer
products. During his presentation—entitled “Why are Teddy Bears
More Regulated than Guns?”—Johnson pointed out that where consumer
product safety regulation is implemented, deaths and injuries
decrease. Johnson cited regulation of automobiles under the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as an
example. As he noted, “Since 1966 when NHTSA was created by
Congress, automobile traffic deaths per passenger mile have decreased
by 75%. How much of a change is that? If the same
percentage were applied to the approximately 30,000 deaths from gun
violence each year, gun deaths would be reduced to about 7,500 per
year.”
After lunch and conversation, Kirsten Meredith, Communications
Coordinator for IPGV, lead a discussion of IPGV’s recent
accomplishments and its immediate goals. To finish out the day,
Jeremy Brigham, Research Associate with IPGV, spoke on the subject of
suicide prevention strategies as implemented around the country.
Because approximately 80% percent of all Iowa gun deaths are suicides,
IPGV is currently working on an Iowa-specific suicide prevention
strategy.
Members who attended the retreat received a folder containing outlines
and handouts for the presentations and a copy of Osha Gray Davidson’s
book Under Fire: The NRA and the Battle for Gun Control. IPGV
representatives expressed a hope that more people will attend next year
to broaden the discussion and solidify the gun violence prevention
community in Iowa.
|
11/19/01
|
Earl Weaver and Gun Control
by John Johnson, IPGV Executive Director
The baseball playoffs bring back
memories of when I lived in Bethesda, Maryland 1979-1993. During that
time,
I came to love the Orioles. I used to listen to their games on the
radio
all the time. Not that I relaxed in a chair and listened to the game.
Rather,
I just had the game on while I went about other daily activities around
the house and yard or was out driving around.
I liked many of the Orioles, but my favorite Oriole wasn’t Brooks
(Robinson), Eddie (Murrey), or Cal (Ripkin). My favorite Oriole wasn’t
even a player at all. It was Earl Weaver, the manager of the Orioles
for fourteen and a half seasons from 1968-1982. During this time he had
a winning percentage of .596 and the Orioles finished first or second
in the American League 13 times – and never lower than fourth.
One of my favorite parts of an Oriole’s game was “Manager’s Corner”
– a five-minute monologue by Weaver during the pre-game show in which
he
talked about baseball strategy and his managerial approach to the game.
Listening to Weaver talk about baseball, you discovered why he was
called
“baseball’s master tactician.”
In spite of his success, Weaver also had his critics. Many sports
writers and columnists criticized him for being reluctant to use the
bunt. “I’ve got nothing against the bunt – in its place,” Weaver would
say, “But most of the time, that place is the bottom of a
long-forgotten closet.”
But by listening to “Managers Corner,” you learned why he seldom
bunted. Weaver explained that the object of the bunt was to score a
run. So it only made sense to bunt when one run would win the game –
like the bottom of
the ninth of a tie game. The problem with the bunt, Weaver went on the
explain, was that, “If you play for one run, that’s all you will ever
get.”
Weaver’s approach was to go for the big inning, especially early in
the game. And he had the stats to back him up. In more than half of all
major league games, the winning team scores enough runs in one inning
to
win the game. Weaver called the three run homer a “manager’s best
friend.”
Said Weaver, “The easiest way around the bases is with one swing of the
bat.”
So what does this have to do with gun control? Simply this. Most gun
control advocates are “bunting” with legislative proposals for “trigger
locks” and “closing the gun show loophole.” But even if these bills
were to pass in the Congress, policy analysts point out that they would
have little
effect on gun deaths and injuries.
What the gun control movement needs now is a “three run homer.” For
example, regulating guns as consumer products the way we regulate
virtually
every other consumer product for safety – from children’s toys to jumbo
jets. There are only two consumer products that are exempted from
regulation
by the federal government – one is tobacco and the other is guns. Even
though guns are the second leading cause of consumer product related
death,
guns are not regulated for safety by any federal agency. There are more
federal regulations on toy guns than real guns.
Or how about a “grand slam” by restricting handgun ownership to only
law enforcement personnel. Of the approximately 30,000 gun deaths,
80,000 nonfatal injuries, and 900,000 crimes committed with guns each
year in the
U.S., 80 percent of all deaths and injuries and 90 percent of the
crimes involve a handgun.
How can anyone believe that we can dramatically reduce gun violence
in the U.S. without addressing handguns?
The gun control movement should consider the Earl Weaver approach. This
isn’t the bottom of the ninth of a tie game. It’s the middle innings
and we are behind. One run won’t do it. We need a “big inning.”
“Praised be the three run homer.” Earl Weaver
|
11/26/01
|
Weapons of War
Available at a Gun Store Near You
Implementing a plan to increase profits, the gun industry is now
marketing and selling .50 caliber military sniper rifles at gun stores
around the nation, and they are available at gun stores in Iowa.
Iowans for the Prevention of Gun Violence will hold a news conference
Tuesday, September 27, 2001, to call for a halt in the sale of .50
caliber sniper rifles. IPGV has stepped up efforts to regulate
all guns as
consumer products, especially weapons such as the .50 caliber sniper
rifle,
which pose a terrorist threat due to the extraordinary power and range
of
the military weapon, now available to the civilian market.
Iowans
for the Prevention of Gun Violence decries the fact that such guns are
not
regulated as consumer products.
“.50 caliber sniper rifles show the extremes to which the virtually
unregulated gun industry will go to make money by increasing the
lethality
of its products,” said John Johnson, Executive Director of Iowans for
the
Prevention of Gun Violence.
IPGV calls for the creation of a federal agency to oversee guns as
consumer products. Through the tactics of the gun lobby, guns and
ammunition are exempt from consumer and public safety review prior to
being sold on the open market.
“Our first step is to awaken the public to the fact that guns are not
treated like other consumer products,” said John Johnson of the Iowans
for the Prevention of Gun Violence. “Most people assume that guns
are reviewed for public safety before they are sold to the
public.
If tires and teddy bears are screened for safety issues, why are guns
granted
a special consumer waiver?”
The military style "sniper" rifle, which can accurately shoot at a
target up to 1 mile away, is also available over the Internet. A
study, "Voting from the Rooftops: How the Gun Industry Armed Osama bin
Laden, other Foreign and Domestic Terrorists, and Common Criminals with
.50 Caliber Sniper Rifles," details the gun industry-backed efforts to
increase sales of this weapon of war despite the terrorist threat .50
caliber sniper rifles pose. As the Violence Policy Center study
points out, .50 caliber sniper rifles are ideal for use as a terrorist
weapon due to its power to puncture armor, aircraft, armored
limousines, and even use for assassination, and should
therefore not be sold to the civilian market in order to prevent a
future
tragedy. The study was authored by the Violence Policy Center, a
Washington
D.C.- based nonpartisan, nonprofit public policy institute working to
reduce
gun violence.
A telephone survey conducted by Iowans for the Prevention of Gun
Violence found that the vast majority of gun stores in Iowa sell .50
caliber sniper rifles, including armor piercing ammunition. .50
caliber sniper rifles are also easily available over the internet and
range from $2,000 to $8,000.
|
12/3/01
|
Iowa's Newspaper Loophole
As many of you know, IPGV is currently organizing a campaign to “close
the newspaper loophole” with 16 state gun violence prevention
organizations.
The “newspaper loophole” is much like the “gun show loophole,” a
loophole in federal law that allows unlicensed sellers to sell guns at
gun shows without a criminal background check. A background check
is essential because it prevents persons in prohibited categories, such
as domestic abusers and felons, from gaining possession of
firearms. The resulting paperwork also helps in tracking weapons
that are eventually used in crimes.
Unregulated secondary sales of firearms occur through the classifieds,
as well. Private citizens currently sell weapons through the
classifieds in newspapers without conducting background checks on their
buyers. IPGV is working to inform newspapers of the potential
danger of these unregulated sales, and to recommend a policy of
accepting no gun ads, or at the very least, no handgun ads.
We have just completed the survey of Iowa’s newspapers, and the results
are shown in the table below. Help us close the newspaper
loophole by looking for gun ads and writing letters to the editor
expressing your
concern with unregulated secondary sales of firearms through the
classifieds. This is a grassroots effort that has already proven
effective twice! Letters and phone calls from IPGV closed the
newspaper loophole at the
Chicago Tribune and the Philadelphia Inquirer. Let’s close the
newspaper
loophole!
Iowa’s Newspapers
Newspaper
|
Circulation
|
Classified
Ad Policy
|
The
Daily Tribune (Ames)
|
10,000
|
Accepts
ads for
rifles/shotguns, has not had to deal with handguns for years.
Policy may change due to buy-out by the Omaha World Herald.
|
Atlantic
News-Telegraph
(Atlantic)
|
5,000
|
Accepts
all gun ads.
|
News-Republican
(Boone)
|
3,000
|
Accepts
ads for
rifles/shotguns only; no handguns, automatic weapons, etc.
|
The
Hawkeye (Burlington)
|
19,000
|
Accepts
all gun ads.
Runs a notice that the seller must verify the buyer’s handgun permit.
|
The
Times-Herald (Carrol)
|
6,000
|
Accepts
all gun ads.
Requests a waiver to be signed that they won't violate the law and that
the newspaper will not be held accountable for damages.
|
The
Gazette (Cedar Rapids)
|
67,000
|
Accepts
all gun ads.
Maintains a short list of guns not accepted (uzis, etc.). Runs a
notice
that the seller must verify that the buyer has a handgun permit.
|
Centerville
Daily Iowegian
(Centerville)
|
3,000
|
Accepts
all gun ads.
|
Charles
City Press (Charles
City)
|
3,000
|
Accepts
all gun ads.
|
The
Daily Times
(Cherokee)
|
3,000
|
Accepts
all gun ads.
|
Clinton
Herald
(Clinton)
|
14,000
|
Accepts
no gun ads.
Policy since Columbine. Does not advertise garage sales, etc.
which
will have guns for sale.
|
The
Daily Nonpareil (Council
Bluffs)
|
17,000
|
Accepts
ads for
rifles/shotguns only; no handguns.
|
Creston
News Advertiser
(Creston)
|
5,500
|
Accepts
all gun ads.
|
Quad
City Times
(Davenport)
|
52,000
|
Accepts
gun ads from licensed
dealers only and keeps a copy of the permit on hand.
|
Des
Moines Register (Des
Moines)
|
159,000
|
Accepts
all gun ads.
|
The
Telegraph Herald
(Dubuque)
|
29,000
|
Accepts
ads for
rifles/shotguns only; no handguns.
|
Estherville
Daily News
(Estherville)
|
2,500
|
Has
no written policy, but
would take an ad only from a licensed gun dealer.
|
Fairfield
Ledger
(Fairfield)
|
4000
|
Accepts
all gun ads.
|
The
Messenger (Fort Dodge)
|
21,000
|
Accepts
all gun ads.
|
The
Daily Democrat (Fort
Madison)
|
9,000
|
Accepts
all gun ads.
|
Iowa
City Press-Citizen (Iowa
City)
|
15,000
|
Accepts
ads for
rifles/shotguns only.
|
Daily
Gate City (Keokuk)
|
9,000
|
Accepts
ads for
rifles/shotguns only; no handguns.
|
Le
Mars Daily Sentinel (Le
Mars)
|
4,000
|
No
written policy. The
publisher would make the decision. They cannot recall running a
gun ad from a private citizen.
|
Times-Republican
(Marshalltown)
|
11,000
|
Accepts
all gun ads.
|
Globe-Gazette
(Mason City)
|
20,000
|
Accepts
all gun ads.
|
Mount
Pleasant News (Mount
Pleasant)
|
3,000
|
Accepts
all gun ads.
|
Muscatine
Journal (Muscatine)
|
8,500
|
Accepts
all gun ads.
|
Newton
Daily News (Newton)
|
8,000
|
Accepts
ads for
rifles/shotguns only; no handguns.
|
Oelwein
Daily Register
(Olewein)
|
4,000
|
Accepts
all gun ads.
|
Oskaloosa
Herald (Oskaloosa)
|
4,000
|
No
written policy, 6 months
of the paper without a gun advertisement.
|
Ottumwa
Courier (Ottumwa)
|
18,000
|
Accepts
all gun ads.
|
Valley
News Today (Shenandoah)
|
3,000
|
Accepts
all gun ads.
|
The
Sioux City Journal (Sioux
City)
|
48,000
|
Does
not accept classified
ads for guns.
|
Spencer
Daily Reporter
(Spencer)
|
4,000
|
Accepts
all gun ads.
|
Storm
Lake Pilot-Tribune
(Storm Lake)
|
3,500
|
Accepts
ads for guns, but
is very selective. The publisher said he knows most of those who
put gun ads in the paper.
|
Cedar
Valley Times (Vinton)
|
2,700
|
No
written policy, but no
gun ads have been placed in years.
|
Washington
Evening Journal
(Washington)
|
3,800
|
Accepts
all gun ads.
|
Courier
(Waterloo)
|
47,000
|
Accepts
all gun ads.
|
Daily
Freeman-Journal
(Webster City)
|
3,600
|
Has
no policy. Has
hardly any ads—auctions and antiques.
|
Let’s close Iowa’s newspaper loophole!
|
12/10/01
|
Attorney General
John
Ashcroft and the Gun Rights Exemption to the War on Terrorism
The Justice Department, headed by US Attorney General John Ashcroft,
has refused to let the F.B.I. check its records to determine whether
any of the 1,200 people detained after September 11 had bought guns,
the New York Times reported on December 6. According to officials
at
both the F.B.I. and Justice Department, an F.B.I. request for Justice
Department records, which are collected when background checks are done
on potential gun buyers, was denied by senior Justice Department
officials, who argue
that the Brady Law implementing the background check system did not
intend
for gun records to be used to investigate individuals.
As the New York Times reported, many F.B.I. and law enforcement
officials are frustrated with this decision because it “puts the
department at odds with its own priorities.” Larry Todd, a
California Police Chief and a member of the International Association
of Chiefs of Police Firearms Committee argues that the decision is
“absurd and unconscionable” and has “no rational basis in public
safety.”
Although the Justice Department decision may confuse many, it is well
in keeping with Attorney General Ashcroft’s consistent position on gun
rights in the United States. Ashcroft, a lifetime member of the
National Rifle Association who received $350,000 from the NRA for his
losing Senate race to deceased candidate Mel Carnahan, has made his
position on gun rights very clear.
After losing his Senate race, Ashcroft was appointed by George W. Bush
as Attorney General—an appointment that stirred much controversy.
In a January 17th, 2001 hearing, Ashcroft pledged to uphold the laws of
the
nation, no matter his dissenting opinion on certain laws. Then,
on
May 17th 2001, Ashcroft wrote a letter to the NRA stating that he
supports the individual right to own firearms, despite the long
standing interpretation of the Second Amendment, established in 1939 in
The United States v. Miller, that the right to bear arms is
inextricably linked to the need for a “well-regulated militia” to
defend the State.
Ashcroft has consistently challenged and undermined NICS (National
Instant Criminal Background Check System). On June 28, 2001,
Ashcroft announced that records obtained through the NICS system will
be kept for only one day. This limitation makes the use of these
records for purposes of investigation and law enforcement nearly
impossible.
Ashcroft has been sued by the D.C. based gun policy organization, the
Violence Policy Center, for unlawful suspension of the Brady Law
regulation. Ethics complaints have been filed by both the Brady
Center to Prevent Gun Violence and Common Cause, who argue that by
writing his letter to the NRA, the Attorney General violated his
ethical obligations to his client—the United States—by undermining the
official U.S. legal position in pending litigation (the Emerson case)
on the interpretation of the Second Amendment.
Finally, on July 11th, 2001, The Justice Department changed its 30-year
position on the Second Amendment. A formal legal statement was
issued, stating the Justice Department’s support of the individual
right of individuals to own firearms.
It is clear that, as California Police Chief Larry Todd notes,
Ashcroft’s decision was made “for narrow political reasons based on a
right-to-bear-arms mentality,” and that his true intention in refusing
the use of gun records for terrorism investigations is not to protect
the 1,200 individuals in question, but to stem the tide of potential
backlash if it were discovered that certain suspected terrorists had
obtained firearms within the United States because of loopholes our
nation’s gun laws.
Among those who are prohibited from buying guns in the United States
are illegal immigrants and those who have been in the country for less
than
90 days. Because investigators believe that many of those
detained fell into these two categories, they naturally hoped to
determine if any detainees had obtained weapons illegally.
Although John Ashcroft stands in the way of the investigation of
background check records obtained through NICS, there is another
organization with similar resources. As the New York Times
Reported, the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms), charged
with enforcing America’s federal firearms laws, checked its records of
guns that have been used in the commission of crimes. It found
that 34 guns seized in crimes had been bought at some point by people
on the detainee list. Apparently, the gun rights exemption to the
war on terrorism stands in the way of full investigation as well as
public health and safety.
WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW!
What you can do now:
1. Call your Senator to voice your outrage - 202 224-3121
2. Call the White House to protest this decision - 202 456-1414
3. Write a letter to the editor of your local paper using the
talking points in the Brady Center press release below.
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Contact: Brendan Daly or Amy Stilwell, 202-898-0792
December 6, 2001
Sarah Brady Statement on Ashcroft Decision to Bar Use of Gun Records in
Terrorist Investigations
(Washington, D.C.) Sarah Brady, Chair of the Brady Campaign to Prevent
Gun
Violence, issued the following statement today in response to this
morning's
front-page article in The New York Times about Attorney General John D.
Ashcroft's decision to bar the FBI from checking records to determine
whether any of the 1,200 people detained after Sept. 11 terrorist
attacks
had bought guns.
"John Ashcroft's decision to prevent the FBI from checking gun records
is
proof of what we have said since he was first nominated to become
Attorney
General: he is beholden to the gun lobby and he places his allegiance to
them above the best interests of the United States.
"Since Sept. 11, the Attorney General has resolutely sought new and
sometimes controversial measures to track possible terrorists in the
United
States - from detaining and questioning immigrants, to monitoring
lawyer-client conversations of suspected terrorists and relaxing the
F.B.I.'s 25-year-old guidelines barring surveillance of religious and
domestic political groups. Yet today's article clearly points
out the one
area where the Attorney General has not been aggressive in the battle
against terrorism: using and strengthening our nation's gun laws to
capture
these terrorists.
"It is absurd that he would use every possible tool to investigate these
suspects, except using existing records to determine whether they bought
guns.
"He contends that current law bars the use of background check records
in
law enforcement investigations, citing privacy concerns. But that is in
direct contradiction to what FBI officials have said: that it is
permissible
to check the records if someone who had been approved to buy a gun
should
not have been allowed to, including immigrants who are not permanent
residents or citizens.
"FBI and other law enforcement officials are dumbfounded and frustrated
by
this outrageous roadblock. How can they be expected to protect
homeland
security when the Attorney General strips them of critical tools they
need
and have specifically requested?
"And if the Attorney General truly believes the FBI is prohibited from
using
these background check records, why didn't he seek to change that in
anti-terrorism legislation he recently proposed? How can he
justify
allowing such a serious restriction on the FBI's investigative powers?
"When pressed on this point by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) at a
hearing
this morning on whether he would propose legislation specifically
granting
this authority to the FBI, Mr. Ashcroft evasively replied: 'I won't
comment
on any specific legislation in the hypothetical. I'd be happy to
consider
any legislation that you would propose.'
"Amazingly, the one gun law proposal that Mr. Ashcroft has made - to
destroy
the background check records after 24 hours instead of the current 90
days -
would weaken our nation's firearms laws and deprive law enforcement
of an
important resource.
"The Attorney General should use and seek every possible tool to
determine
whether potential terrorists have been obtaining weapons in the United
States. Our national security demands it."
Read the New York Times article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/06/national/06GUNS.html?ex=1008740323&ei=1&en=a3f325bf3e2baf69
Read a Washington Post article on the same subject (link thanks to an
IPGV member):
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A5676-2001Dec6.html?referer=email
|
12/17/01
|
IPGV
Season's Greetings
Hello IPGV Members and Friends!
First Monday and Every Monday will be taking a holiday vacation until
January 7th.
In the New Year, IPGV will be focusing on our legislative agenda—HSB 78
to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers and SF 488 to close
the gun show loophole. Be checking your calendars for January
22nd and 23rd, because IPGV is planning a lobby day in Des Moines, and
we’d love to see you there.
Have a happy and gun violence free holiday season!
|
|
|
