The Virginia Center for Public Safety

The Virginia Center for Public Safety (www.vacps.org) is a non-profit, non-partisan grass roots organization dedicated to reducing gun violence in Virginia. VACPS seeks to accomplish this mission through efforts to increase public awareness of the gun violence problem; education; and advocacy. We work to build partnerships with other organizations and individuals involved in violence prevention and provide speakers and discussion leaders to community and civic groups who have an interest in this issue. We do not advocate the abolition of firearms but we do support responsible legislation designed to keep firearms away from criminals, domestic abusers, mentally deficient persons, underage individuals, and other prohibited persons. VACPS was instrumental in the passage of Virginia's one-handgun-a-month law which has reduced the supply of weapons to criminals and gangs on the East Coast.

Working Together to Reduce Gun Deaths and Injuries

States United to Prevent Gun Violence Research and Education Fund is an association of independent state-wide gun violence prevention organizations. The purpose of States United is to allow our members to share best practices, programs and legislative ideas in order to work effectively to prevent gun deaths and injuries. If you want to get involved, check out our list of state members and contact one in your state.

On April 16th, on the anniversary of the Virginia Tech shootings, there were lie-ins across the country, 70 in 30 states, organized by the group Protest Easy Guns and helped by our state groups, the Brady Campaign and Million Mom March chapters.  Above are lie-ins in Maine organized by Maine Citizens Against Handgun Violence and in Minnesota organized by Citizens for a Safer Minnesota.  At these lie-ins people called out for our country to do something about the ease with which nearly anyone in this country can get a gun. Many asked for Congress to pass legislation to close the gun show loophole.   40% of gun sales at gun shows, through internet and newspaper ad sales, at flea markets involve no background check at all.

Here is a very moving video of a lie-in organized at The University of New Haven by students and the mother of a young women killed in a random drive by shooting as she stood on a street corner with friends prior to returning for her sophomore year.

Earlier that week the members of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition met in Washington DC to share information on law enforcement programs and legislation to combat the problem of illegal guns.  In terms of federal legislation, they also focused on closing the gun show loophole and making sure that terrorists can not get guns.  They released excellent polling data showing strong support for many sensible measures to combat illegal gun trafficking.  They also release a thorough study on how straw purchasing works and moves guns from the legal to illegal market.  And they announced a Responsible Firearms Retailer Partnership with Wal-Mart that includes a 10 point  voluntary code to help ensure that guns are sold to prohibited buyers.

We are still waiting for the Presidential candidates to issue solid policy statements on the problem of gun violence and illegal guns in this country.