Social Action Corner - Gun Violence Prevention

Legislative Appeal - Prevention of Gun Violence
The tragic and heartbreaking incidence of gun violence and mass shootings has become an all too frequent and shocking event in our country. As part of our collective healing we can take action by reaching out to our representatives and voice our concerns about the mass proliferation of firearms.

Important legislation, H4038 (https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/HD3091 ) that would ban semi-automatic weapons has been reported out of the Safety and Homeland Security Committee and will be going to the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

PLEASE write to the House Ways and Means members and the Speaker of the House in support of this legislation and CC your representative. To find your Representative you can click on this link.
Dylan Fernandez (Room 472    (617) 722-2013; Dylan.Fernandes@mahouse.gov) is the State Representative for Martha’s Vineyard (Cape and Islands). 

If you prefer to contact your representative by mail, two versions of a letter for you to print out are linked HERE and here.

Thank you for taking action in support of this important legislation!

Stacy Goldfarb,
Social Action Committee
Social Action Focus for 2022:
​
Based on conversations with Nan Logan, a Board member of Mass Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence. She lives in Falmouth and is active in Grandmothers Against Gun Violence on the Cape.
 
  • Focus on people who would not normally come to us, i.e., not come to a forum or panel.
​
  •  Focus on:
  1. Safe storage of guns
  2. Suicide
  3. Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO)
 
Focus on BE SAFE!!
  • What:
  1. Gun lock giveaway
  2. ERPO information 
 
  • Where:
  1. Farmer’s Markets
  2. Health fairs
  3. Table at library
 
  • Who to involve:  
  1. Police chiefs
  2. Rod and Gun Club
  3. Janet Goldenberg. Former president of board of Mass Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence. Was the keynote at our forum a few years ago. Has a house on MV.  
  4. Others?
 
  • Who to contact for $$ for gun lock giveaways:
  1. Police
  2. DA
  3. Hebrew Center
  4. UU
  5. Other churches
  6. Grants
  7. Others?​
Social Action Focus for 2019:

Potential Activities That Focus on Gun Violence Prevention:
 
  • Based on conversations with Nan Logan from Mass Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence
  • Janet Goldenberg, Chairwoman of the MA Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence was the keynote speaker at our May event.  She mentioned all of these ideas in her presentation.
 
  1.  Gun Lock Giveaway  --  “Lock It UP!”
  • Grandmothers Against Gun Violence on the Cape (GAGV) is happy to help local groups interested in doing gun lock giveaways. 
  • Gun locks are required by law.  GAGV tied the gun lock giveaway with an educational campaign on the importance of securing guns.  They have developed handouts that they can provide.  
  • The gun locks are inexpensive.
  • There are potential grants for helping to cover the cost.

    2. Massachusetts “Red Flag” Law
  • GAGV tied the gun lock giveaway with an educational campaign on the Massachusetts Red Flag Law: Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO).  The gun lock giveaway and “Red Flag” educational campaigns can be done together or separately. 
  • Mass. Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence and GAGV both have handouts that explains ERPO so handouts are already available. 
    3.  Community education on guns and suicide
  • Nearly two-thirds of all firearms deaths are by suicide.
  • Tie educational campaign with one or both of above.
  • There is information available that we could use so we don’t have to invent it.