Date: Mon, 17 Jul 95 20:42 EST From: Peter Nesbitt <0005111312@mcimail.com> To: Firearms Alert Subject: ANTIS: Illinois Counicl Against Handgun Violence. Is there an anti-gun group in YOUR backyard? It's time to educate gun owners of WHO the enemy REALLY is. The simple fact, is that anti-gun organizations and groups are developing a grassroots network that is spreading like Kudzu. If we do not act NOW, their vines will spread throughout our entire nation. If you know what Kudzu is, then you'll instantly realize our predicament. This file was prepared by: Peter D. Nesbitt President NRA Members' Council of Fairfield/Suisun P.O. Box 1171 Suisun, CA 94585 ================================================================= * ONTARGET The Campaign to Reduce Gun Violence in Illinois ILLINOIS COUNCIL AGAINST HANDGUN VIOLENCE * Daniel Kotowski Project Coordinator 202 S. State, #1100 Chicago, IL 60604 Ph: (312)341-0939 Fax: (312)341-9770 ONTARGET COALITION "By Our Readiness to allow arms to be purchased at will and fired at whim, we have created an atmostphere in which violence and hatred have become popular pastimes." -- Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The On Target Coalition is a networking project of the Illinois Council Against handgun Violence. Launched on January 14, 1994, the Coalition was developed to organize the people affected by gun violence and educate them about policy solutions addressing the root causes of firearms availabilityand use. In one short year, we have assembled a comprehensive network of over 200 health care professionals, law enforcement personnel, religious leaders, business people, educators, victims' and community organizations, and child advocacy & domestic violence service providers. We have also accomplished the following: o Hosted community leadership conferences in Chicago and Springfield regarding the effects of firearms on crime, healthcare and families. o Helped local municipalities and governments, such as Chicago, Northbrook and Tinley Park pass effective gun- control policies. o Coordinated media events which highlighted violence as a community and public health problem. o Arranged an educational forum focusing on the reality of women and gun violence. o Orchestrated grass roots support to pass the BradyBill, Federal Crime Bill and Illinois Safe Neighborhoods Bill. ONTARGET GOALS Every member signs a statement sheet supporting the values and goals of the Coalition project. These statements correspond to the policy initiatives of the Coalition and the action plan pursued by its members: Firearm violence has spread throughout our state-- in urban, suburban and rural areas-- and has become a serious public health and safety concern. As Coalition members, we stribe to end this violence through our respect for human life and our commitment to reducing the easy accessibility of firearms in our communities. Therefore, as a member of OnTarget/The Campaign to Reduce Gun Violence in Illinois Coalition, we will do the following: 1) Reach out to the people most affected by gun violence, especially children. 2) Teach people alternatives to gun violence. 3) Educate people about the costs of gun violence. 4) Raise awareness about the manufacture and distribution of firearms. 5) Advocate for effective gun control measures. ____________________ __________ Name Date Organization____________________________________________________ Address_________________________________________________________ Phone___________________ Fax______________________ (List of over 200 members enclosed) POLICY INITIATIVES Child Firearm Incident Prevention: Requires an adult to safely store firearms away from a child under the age of 14. Adults must use a trigger lock safety device on their firearms to prevent accidental injury to a child in that home. Firearm Commerce Regulation: Requires that the almost 8,000 federally licensed gun dealers in Illinois operate frome storefronts, apply for tax I.D. numbers, be fingerprinted and report their sales to the State police. This will help curb illegal sales by gun dealers, many of whom operate from their car trunks and basements. Firearm Industry Regulation: Expands the powers of the federal Bureau of Alcohol and Tobacco and Firearms to regulate the manufacture, sale and distribution of firearms technology that poses a significant threat to public safety. Firearm and Ammunition Tax: Creates a 5% "sin" tax on long guns, a 15% tax on handguns and a tax on ammunition. All of the funds gained from the tax would go to offset health care costs resulting from gun violence. ONTARGET EIGHT POINT ACTION PLAN The Coalition has developed the following eight point action plan for maximum effectiveness: 1) Involve individuals and organizations who can help reduce firearm violence. 2) Provide Coaltion members with information related to gun violence. 3) Education Coalition members about how to change national and local public policy regarding gun control. 4) Coordinate statewide Coalition activities and provide this information to other members of the Coalition. 5) Train Coalition members about how to conduct public information campaigns and to obtain media coverage on firearm violence reduction. 6) Organize a speaker's bureau comprising coalition members to meet with various organizations throughout the state. 7) Poll Coalition members about their activities and provide this information to other members of the coalition. 8) Mibilize all Coalition resources to change public policy and reduce gun violence in Illinois. OnTarget is funded with generous grants from chartiable foundations including: The Chicago Community Trust, The Joyce Foundation, The Fel-Pro/Mecklenburger Foundation, The New Prospect Foundation and the Smart Family Foundation. June 1995 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ILLINOIS COUNCIL AGAINST HANDGUN VIOLENCE (ICHV) MARKS SEPTEMBER 10TH FOR ANNUAL WALK The 13th annaul walk against handgun violence will happen Sunday, September 10, 1995, starting at 1:00 p.m. at Chicago's Pioneer Plaza (next to the Tribune Building, 435 North Michigan). Last year's historic event drew more than 5,000 participants to the loop on a drizzly Saturday, making it the largest gun control event in the nation in 1994. The ICHV looks forward to working again with Chicago Mayor Richard M. Dailey, Jerry Rober and the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, and everyone who made Walk '94 such a success. Because of such broadbased support, the ICHV and its many friends scored some remarkable victories in Springfield this year. By forestalling House Bill 568, we defended all local gun control laws in Illinois, and by so doing preserved each community's Constitutional Right to determine its own safety standards. Moreover, we defeated another bill that would have permitted any non-felon to carry a concealed firearm. (The vote was 29 to 28, with two abstentions, in the State Senate, but even the close ones count.) Both initiatives topped the agenda of the National Rifle Association. But it was support from individuals just like you - - private citizens, public officials, doctors, nurses, teachers, police officers, clerics and laity, parents and children -- who raised their collective voices and said, "ENOUGH." The walk is vital to the work ahead of us. Plus, it's free. Anyone can participate. Similarly, anyone can become a victim of gunfire -- 38,000 Americans die each year, 15 children a day. Please lend a hand. Help us make Walk '95 a landmark. All our efforts can continue to make a difference. Call the ICHV office at 312-341-0939 and ask for Shari Cartwright or Bob Williamson. Thank you for including this in your newsletter or newspaper. CONTACT: Shari Cartwright or Bob Williamson ICHV, 312-341-0939 202 South State Street #1100, Chicago, Illinois 60604 312-341-0930 312-341-9770 fax [Also included in this slick little package, is a "General Inormation Packet". Some of the highlights are listed below.] o Letter from the Executive Director, Shari L. Cartwright. o May/June 1995 Newsletter. o July/August 1995 Newsletter. o ICHV info sheet: - How far have we come? - Where are we going? - What can you do? - How can you find out more? o Notecards for a Non-Violent World. o Firearms Facts: - Guns and Crime: Protection Versus Peril. - Women and Guns. - Gun Sales. - Youth Suicide and Guns. - Youth Homicide and Guns. - Unintentional Gun Deaths Among Children. - Guns in Schools. - The Financial Costs of Gun Violence. - Preventing Child and Adolescent Firearm Injuries. - [end]