Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence

Our CEO Ruth Zakarin was quoted in Governor Healey's press release regarding the Governor's signing of the omnibus gun bill: 'Massachusetts has taken a huge step forward today towards keeping our communities safer from gun violence. There is no one size fits all solution to the gun violence crisis that plagues our nation, and we appreciate the comprehensive, multifaceted approach that this bill takes towards ending this epidemic. We are deeply grateful to House and Senate leadership for their nearly two years of hard work on this important bill, and to Governor Healey for signing this lifesaving bill into law today." We appreciate the Governor's leadership in getting this bill over the finish line, and for the opportunity to work in partnership with her office to prevent gun violence across the Commonwealth. As the Governor states here, "This law will save lives, and I’m grateful to the Legislature and gun safety advocates for their hard work to see this through.” Read the full press release here: https://buff.ly/3y4tGpX

Thank you Governor Healey for signing the omnibus gun violence prevention bill into law this week! We are deeply grateful for your leadership and commitment to building a safer Massachusetts for all.

Big news! Today Governor Maura Healey signed the omnibus gun violence prevention bill into law. Here is Coalition CEO Ruth Zakarin's statement: "Massachusetts has taken a huge step forward today towards keeping our communities safer from gun violence. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to the gun violence crisis that plagues our nation, and we appreciate the comprehensive, multifaceted approach that this bill takes towards ending this epidemic. We are deeply grateful to House and Senate leadership for their nearly two years of hard work on this important bill, and to Governor Healey for signing this lifesaving bill into law today."

We were back at the State House today advocating for Raise the Age with our friends from Citizens for Juvenile Justice! This piece of legislation moves 18 year olds back into the juvenile system, where they can access more supports and services. We know that this move improves outcomes and decreases recidivism, which prevents violence and creates safer communities. That's why Raise the Age is one of the Coalition's top legislative priorities addressing the root causes of gun violence. Here's how you can help: 1. Contact your State Senator to thank them for getting it included as an amendment to the Economic Development bill 2. Contact your State Rep and let them know that you would like them to support this amendment as well.

📢 We're hiring! 📢 The Coalition is seeking a talented and passionate Community Organizer to join our team and help us end gun violence in every zip code. Learn more and apply here: https://buff.ly/4deyZSx Please share widely!

We're so glad that we got to spend time this afternoon with volunteers from one of our newest member organizations, Grassroots 4 GVP, appreciating their advocacy efforts for the omnibus gun bill that passed last week. Thank you for your advocacy!

Yesterday we were thrilled to spend the day in community at the Roxbury Unity Parade! Every year, Coalition community council member Toy Burton organizes this incredible event to celebrate and uplift the neighborhood of Roxbury. We're so glad we could walk in the parade again this year with so many friends and partners, including Mayor Michelle Wu, City Councilor Henry Santana, and State Rep John Moran!

REMINDER! This Wednesday, join us for a focus group about the future of the Coalition. The Coalition is currently undergoing a strategic planning process, and we'd love to get your thoughts about the Coalition's work and future goals. WHEN: Wednesday, July 24th from 6:30PM - 8PM WHERE: Zoom Register here: https://buff.ly/4bNWGzZ

We want to thank all of the advocates and partners who helped make this omnibus gun bill possible, and to everyone who showed up at the State House these past few days to advocate for its passing. Together we are building a Massachusetts that is safe for everyone in every zip code.

HUGE NEWS! Yesterday, both the MA House and Senate passed the omnibus gun violence prevention bill. Now Governor Healey just needs to sign it and then it will become law. This bill addresses untraceable ghost guns, updates licensing requirements, expands Extreme Risk Protection Order eligibility, and creates a special commission to examine community violence funding in the Commonwealth. The bill also updates crime gun data and reporting requirements, and expands public access to anonymized firearm data. We are deeply grateful to Senate President Karen Spilka, Speaker Ron Mariano, Senate Majority Leader Cindy Creem, and Chair Michael Day for their hard work throughout the session and for their commitment to preventing gun violence.