2009

GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION ORGANIZATIONS CALL ON PRESIDENT OBAMA TO USE EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY TO BAN IMPORT OF ARMOR-PIERCING PISTOL USED IN FORT HOOD ATTACK

Joint Release from Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, Violence Policy Center, Legal Community Against Violence, States United to Prevent Gun Violence, and Freedom States Alliance

November 19, 2009

Washington, D.C.—In a letter sent today to the White House, America’s six national gun violence prevention (GVP) organizations—the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, Violence Policy Center, Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, Freedom States Alliance, Legal Community Against Violence, and States United to Prevent Gun Violence—as well as 21 state and regional GVP groups strongly urged President Barack Obama to use his executive powers to ban the import into the U.S. of the FN Herstal Five-seveN armor-piercing semiautomatic pistol. A Five-seveN was used in the Fort Hood attack earlier this month that left 13 dead and 34 wounded. The Belgian-made weapon, widely available on the U.S. civilian market, is also a favorite of Mexican Drug Trafficking Organizations (DTOs), who refer to it as the “mata policia,” or “cop killer.”

STATEMENT OF CSGV PRESIDENT MIKE BEARD ON THE PASSING OF SENATOR TED KENNEDY

August 26, 2009

We at the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence are heartbroken over the passing of Senator Edward M. Kennedy, one of the finest public servants the United States of America has ever known. The senator was a man of principle who always legislated with average Americans families in mind—a precious commodity.