The Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, previously known as the Legal Community Against Violence and the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, is a national public interest law center and nonprofit organization that promotes gun control legislation in the United States and conducted litigation against the gun industry.[1][2] The Giffords Law Center publishes information about gun laws and gun control. The organization offers legal assistance to public officials, and publishes research on gun laws and gun violence. The organization is currently led by former US Congresswoman Gabby Giffords.
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| Formation | July 1993 (as Legal Community Against Violence) |
|---|---|
| Founded at | San Francisco, California, United States |
| Type | 501(c)(3) |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, California, United States |
Key people | Gabby Giffords |
| Website | Giffords.org |
Formerly called | Legal Community Against Violence, Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence |
The organization has been active in promoting gun control ordinances in California and elsewhere, as well as has conducted litigation to defend gun control laws against challenges.[3]
History
edit
The Legal Community Against Violence was established in the wake of the July 1, 1993 101 California Street shooting, during which a gunman entered the offices of law firm Petit & Martin and shot fourteen people, killing eight.[4] Former Petit & Martin partners John Heisse and Chuck Erlich formed the nonprofit organization shortly after the shooting to help local communities pass their own gun control ordinances.[4][5]
Initially focusing on the local regulation of firearms in California, LCAV supported the passage of the Brady Bill and the federal assault weapons ban in 1993.[5] The organization's volunteer lawyers provided legal consultation to the city of West Hollywood when it was sued by the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) in January 1996 for banning Saturday night special handguns. The lawsuit was dismissed in November 1996.[5][6]
In 2016, Legal Community Against Violence merged with Americans for Responsible Solutions, led by former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and Navy combat veteran and retired NASA astronaut Captain Mark Kelly. The organization changed its name to Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence in 2017.[7]
In 2019, Giffords Law Center sued the Federal Election Commission, alleging the regulatory agency failed to take action against the National Rifle Association for alleged campaign finance violations.[8] The lawsuit, filed by Giffords and the Campaign Legal Center, states the FEC did not respond to multiple complaints accusing the NRA of using shell organizations to donate more than the legal amount to the campaigns of President Trump and six Republican Senate candidates.[8][9] In response, the NRA stated “[t]his latest effort by Giffords and the Campaign Legal Center is a frivolous lawsuit based on a frivolous complaint.”[8]
Following the FEC's lack of response, the Giffords Law Center filed a federal lawsuit directly against the National Rifle Association in November 2021.[1]
Reports and state rankings
editGiffords Law Center provides comparisons of state gun laws online,[10] and annually releases the Gun Law Scorecard, a report that ranks and measures individual states’ gun death rates in correlation to their gun laws.[11][12] According to the organization, its research shows there are fewer gun deaths in states with strict gun laws.[13]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Hernandez, Joe (3 Nov 2021). "The NRA is being sued for allegedly breaking campaign finance law to back Republicans". NPR. Archived from the original on 3 Nov 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
- ^ Lodhi, Humera; Gibson, Jelani (23 October 2020). "Kansas City residents: Lack of trust drives crime". U.S. News & World Report. Kansas City Star. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
- ^ Carter, Terry (April 2001). "Battles Won, War Continues: Lawyers' group succeeds locally with firearms initiatives, looks to branch out". ABA Journal. 87. American Bar Association: 24–25.
- ^ a b Richard C. Paddock, "Gun Control Push Begun at Law Firm : Massacre: Employees return to San Francisco building targeted by gunman. Some have formed a group that will call for stricter legislation." Los Angeles Times, July 7, 1993.
- ^ a b c Laura Linden, "Disarming Tactics: Why is a group of well-heeled lawyers helping empower local communities to pass stricter gun control ordinances? Take a look behind-the-scenes of the unusual grass roots organizing project that's been successfully outwitting the California gun lobby." Mother Jones, March 3, 1997.
- ^ Gregg Lee Carter, ed., Guns in American Society: An Encyclopedia of History, Politics, Culture, and the Law, (ABC-CLIO, 2002) ISBN 978-1576072684, vol. 1, pp. 354-355. Excerpts available at Google Books.
- ^ Dumain, Emma (3 June 2019). "SC taxpayers pay for gun violence: Overall annual cost in state is $1.5B, study says". The Greenville News. Archived from the original on 29 May 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ a b c Itkowitz, Colby (24 April 2019). "NRA at center of new lawsuit against the Federal Election Commission". Washington Post. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ Oprysko, Caitlin (2 Nov 2021). "Giffords sues NRA alleging campaign finance violations". Politico. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
- ^ Moore, Daniel (23 October 2019). "Battle For Gun Control At Stalemate - With Political Gridlock In Washington, Is There A Way Forward?". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
- ^ Christie, Bob (17 Feb 2022). "Arizona Could Ease Gun Rules for Libraries, School Grounds". U.S. News & World Report. Associated Press. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
- ^ Zokovitch, Grace (24 Feb 2022). "Missouri lawmakers continue to chip away at gun restrictions". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
- ^ "Gun-violence group gives Ohio 'D' on firearms law scorecard - News - the Columbus Dispatch - Columbus, OH". Archived from the original on 2020-02-17. Retrieved 2020-02-17.