Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence

On Monday, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) removed former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy's advisory from their website that declared gun violence as a public health crisis in the United States. HHS stated that they made this decision in compliance with President Trump's Executive Order on Protecting Second Amendment Rights, which he signed last month. Last year's groundbreaking advisory from the Surgeon General contained a comprehensive review of the scientific data. It declared that gun violence in the United States was a public health crisis that required a federal cross-departmental response, and called for increased funding of community-based violence intervention programs and initiatives that addressed its root causes. Removing this report from the HHS website represents a deeply concerning trend of shuttering federal government websites that contain critical data and research. It also continues the reversal of the Biden administration's public health approach to gun violence prevention, following the closing of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention in January. By signaling that this administration will not use federal resources to address gun violence as a public health crisis, recent gains made in reducing gun violence rates across the country are in danger of reversal. Lives are literally on the line. At the Coalition, we know that the work we do at the state and local level matters more than ever right now. And that we must use a public health lens to address this crisis. As federal sources of information become more challenging to access, the Coalition is committed to making sure that our community has access to reliable public health data and evidence-based research to address gun violence in communities throughout Massachusetts. Thanks to our national partner GIFFORDS, you can view the complete downloaded advisory here: https://lnkd.in/e9peKwH8 HHS may have removed it from their website, but this document is still critically important and the facts remain the same. This advisory is a blueprint for change, and the Coalition will continue to use it to inform our public education, legislative advocacy, and community organizing work going forward.

It's always great to be in community with the Darrell Lee Jenkins Jr. Resource Center! We were incredibly honored to celebrate the Center's Meet & Greet Open House and experience the amazing community, resources, and support that the Center offers to families impacted by gun violence in Springfield.

Last week, Coalition CEO Ruth Zakarin visited the Tufts University classroom of close Coalition partner and Tufts professor Samuel M. Gebru. The 'Decoding State Government and Politics' class learned about the new gun safety law and how the Coalition successfully advocated for its passing. Thank you Sam for inviting us to speak with your class! Public education opportunities like this one are foundational to the Coalition's mission, providing young people with the civic tools they need to advocate for effective gun violence prevention reform and community safety policy. If you are interested in bringing the Coalition's civic engagement curriculum to your classroom or youth program, please reach out at?[email protected]. Learn more about?the different trainings that we offer at?https://lnkd.in/eEhm3QkN

Have you purchased your tickets yet to this year's Peace MVP Awards? Join us on Monday, April 7th at 7PM as we celebrate former New England Patriots player and youth advocate Matthew Slater! WHEN: Monday, April 7th, at 7PM WHERE: Temple Israel Boston, 477 Longwood Ave, Boston TICKETS: https://buff.ly/UeIVrRv The Peace MVP Awards is the Coalition's biggest fundraiser of the year, and a great opportunity to recognize local leaders who have made a tremendous impact on their communities. A 3-time Super Bowl champion and former Patriots team captain, Matthew Slater's commitment to investing in young people and strengthening communities exemplifies what it means to be an MVP both on and off the field. In the spirit of this year's theme, "Investing in youth is investing in peace," delicious food will be provided by New England Culinary Arts Training, a Boston-based program that provides tuition-free culinary skills to young people, formerly incarcerated people, and others facing barriers to employment. We hope you can join us! Interested in sponsoring the event? Check out our sponsorship packages here: https://buff.ly/FJZo9B6

The Coalition was thrilled to support one of our founding member organizations Louis D. Brown Peace Institute at their Mother's Day Walk for Peace Briefing yesterday! We joined community partners and member orgs (including our friends at Transformational Prison Project!) in learning essential updates about this year's walk. Join the Coalition's walk team and support the LDBPI's vital work serving families and communities impacted by murder, trauma, grief and loss. We hope to see you there on Mother's Day, May 11th! Join our Walk For Peace team here: https://buff.ly/bEtDPyM (Once you press the link, make sure you scroll down the team page and click the "join our team" button to sign up.)

On Tuesday, March 11th, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court issued a ruling on two cases that challenged the Commonwealth’s firearm licensing rules. They dismissed one (Commonwealth v Donnell), but ruled in favor of the second (Commonwealth v. Marquis). The Marquis decision affirms that non-resident gun owners in MA are equally responsible for complying with MA firearm laws as MA residents. Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell responded to the ruling, saying that the Second Amendment does not stop the state "from ensuring, through licensure, that individuals who carry firearms within its borders are 'law-abiding, responsible citizens." Beyond the Commonwealth, this ruling significantly impacts other states that face similar challenges from out-of-state firearm purchasers. It strengthens their ability to enforce their own firearm policies and build safer communities. The Coalition applauds the SJC's decision to uphold Commonwealth v. Marquis, and we are committed to ensuring that the new gun safety law is fully implemented and protected from repeal. Read more at the Boston Globe here: https://buff.ly/A93vWAd

Thank you to everyone who attended yesterday's Quarterly Meeting! We are very grateful to Sen. Cindy Creem for taking the time to speak with us about the new gun safety law and the gun lobby's efforts to repeal it. Stay tuned for action alerts to help us implement and protect this lifesaving new law. And if you're interested in getting involved with our new volunteer program, fill out our volunteer survey here: https://lnkd.in/eYrTQVuc

Reminder: Join us TOMORROW for our quarterly meeting! Registration is required, so please sign up here: https://lnkd.in/eY5T6CWA WHEN:?Wednesday, March 12th at 5:30PM WHERE:?Zoom We will be joined by Sen. Cindy Creem, one of the principal architects of the new gun safety law. Learn more about our latest efforts to protect this lifesaving piece of legislation, how you can get involved with our new volunteer program, and more!

You're invited! Join us on April 7th for the 2025 Peace MVP Awards, honoring former New England Patriots team captain and youth advocate Matthew Slater! In the spirit of this year's theme, "Investing in youth is investing in peace," delicious food will be catered by New England Culinary Arts Training, a Boston-based program providing tuition-free culinary skills to young people, formerly incarcerated folks, and others facing barriers to employment. WHEN: Monday, April 7, 2025 @ 7 PM WHERE: Temple Israel of Boston, 477 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02215 TICKETS: https://buff.ly/zD3A5CT Interested in sponsoring the event? Check out our sponsorship packages here: https://lnkd.in/eBmvkEKp

Interested in volunteering with the Coalition? We’re launching our new program this spring! And we’d love to hear from you about what you’d like to focus on and learn more about. This new program will provide training to help passionate community members become more effective advocates for gun violence prevention in their communities. If you’re interested in getting involved, please sign up with our survey below! https://lnkd.in/eYrTQVuc