Good Afternoon John,

At the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV) and Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence (Ed Fund), we are committed to reducing gun violence in all its forms and ensuring that equity is a core tenet of our work. We recognize that there is an immediate way to begin exercising our responsibility to make our country more equitable and safe for all Americans, and we look forward to working toward this goal with our partners. We hope you will join us.

In order to share the good work the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV) and Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence (Ed Fund) have been doing, we are sending out a monthly update. We want to remind you that the best way to stay up-to-date is to visit www.csgv.org and www.efsgv.org as well as follow us on social media including Facebook and Twitter. If you would like to support our work, visit www.csgv.org/donate or www.efsgv.org/donate!

As usual, don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or ideas. Thank you for your continued support.

Best,
Josh Horwitz
Executive Director

Guns, Militia Groups, and Insurrectionism
The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence is pleased to invite you to an event featuring Executive Director Josh Horwitz, who co-authored the book Guns, Democracy and the Insurrectionist Idea. On Thursday, February 4 from 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. ET, join Josh Horwitz, J.D. for a conversation on guns, militia groups, and the violence that took place on the United States Capitol.

This discussion is sponsored by the Criminal Justice Program of the Wake Forest University School of Law and the Office of the Provost and will be moderated by Kami Chavis, Vice Provost and Professor of Law and Director of the Criminal Justice Program of the Wake Forest University School of Law.

Register here! [link removed]


CSGV and the Ed Fund Mark Black History Month With Hope For a Brighter Future

The Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence and Coalition to Stop Gun Violence marked the start of Black History Month on February 1.

Executive Director Josh Horwitz said, "Black History Month is a time of reflection for me. It makes me think of my time as a civil rights lawyer, before I joined Stop Gun Violence and believing that with the privilege of getting a law degree came the responsibility of working for 'Tikkun Olam,' the Hebrew phrase meaning 'to repair the world.'

I recognize ending the cycle of gun violence is a complicated challenge everywhere. In Black communities, gun violence is deeply rooted in systemic racism. As a national organization committed to making gun violence rare and abnormal, the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence and Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence are committed to addressing gun violence as a public health issue and advocating for equitable implementation of the policies we support and for equitable programmatic funding. Moreover, we recognize and reaffirm our commitment to supporting the efforts of local advocates, as we know communities should be developing the solutions to address inequities that impact their communities.

Black lives matter. Black history matters. We stand with all of our friends, colleagues and partners in the movement for racial justice, and share their hope that together we can build a brighter future for all Americans, leaving no one behind."

Microstamping Report Release

Microstamping technology provides law enforcement with the tools to quickly link firearm cartridge casings found at the scene of a crime to a specific firearm, without having to recover the firearm itself. The Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence released a report ([link removed]) on February 2 exploring this effective and reliable technology, and laying out policy recommendations to require firearms manufacturers across the United States to incorporate this effective and reliable technology into every new semi-automatic pistols.

The online report release discussion explored this groundbreaking technology, a powerful tool to help law enforcement interrupt gun trafficking networks, solve more gun crimes, and build trust within the communities they serve. Watch a recording of the event here: [link removed]

Speaking Out in Philadelphia

"we need leaders at all levels of government to use the resources at their disposal to save the lives of the most vulnerable."

Director of Outreach and Equity Lauren Footman published an op-ed in the Philadelphia Inquirer ([link removed]) regarding gun violence, police legitimacy, and communities of color. Lauren writes, "To address the ongoing public health issues of gun violence and police brutality fueled by systemic racism, we need leaders at all levels of government to use the resources at their disposal to save the lives of the most vulnerable. There is no coincidence that in cities like Philadelphia, Black and brown communities are disproportionately impacted by the tragic combination of gun violence, COVID-19, and police brutality.

When we say Black Lives Matter, we mean they must matter in the budget and policy conversations that directly impact Black lives. Communities deserve ongoing transparency and accountability when addressing public safety, with tangible goals, measurable outcomes, and ongoing community engagement and input. Philadelphia has a roadmap. Its leaders just need to use it."

CSGV Issues Recommendations for the Biden Administration
Gun violence is a national public health emergency that has been exacerbated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While we won't know the full impact of COVID-19 on gun injuries and fatalities for some time, early indications suggest that the data will be incredibly troubling.

The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV) understands that a public health approach is necessary to address this crisis. We issued recommendations urging the Biden-Harris administration to join us in applying a public health approach to our nation's gun violence epidemic, which can help stop gun violence in all its forms -- from suicide to domestic violence to community gun violence that often goes unnoticed by the media. [link removed]

CSGV also responded to Biden's executive orders on racial equity with a statement from Executive Director Josh Horwitz. [link removed]

We will be looking not only to the president but also new personnel throughout the administration to make urgently needed changes, and to help advance firearms regulations that will keep our communities safe.

Our Work With Wisconsin's WAVE

CSGV and the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence continued our work with the Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort (WAVE) as 2021 began. This relationship is decades long; Executive Director Josh Horwitz has worked closely with WAVE on a multitude of issues. Prior to COVID-19, Director of Policy and Programming Jen Pauliukonis participated in their lobby day and provided resources regarding Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO). WAVE and the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence will be partnering on an ERPO forum this year. Additionally, WAVE was one of our initial Education to Action educational workshop expansion partners. We have worked with their team to engage most impacted communities in the policymaking process. In addition, we have supported their diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts as they consider equitable growth and expansion with the support of our Director of Outreach and Equity Lauren Footman.


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