nlc public safety and crime prevention committee march 8, 2015
TRANSCRIPT
NLC PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIME PREVENTION COMMITTEE
March 8, 2015
policy
Brady is working to engage, mobilize and empower the American public to make homes, schools, workplaces and communities safe
Policy Keeping guns out of the hands of criminals and dangerous individuals (consistent with
Second Amendment); Finish the Job of background checks for all gun sales
Public Health and Safety Education Social norms regarding 300 million guns already in circulation and being purchased by
law abiding citizens
Legal Action Holding the gun industry accountable for dangerous and irresponsible practices
THE BRADY MODEL
The nation's only public interest law program devoted to defending reasonable gun laws and reforming the gun industry by representing victims of gun violence (pro bono). Founded 1989. Strategies: • Hold irresponsible gun dealers and manufactures accountable for
reckless and negligent business practices by representing victims of gun violence to ensure justice for victims and their families.
• Defend sensible gun violence prevention laws that keep communities safe
• Challenge and defeat gun laws that harm public safety
BRADY’S LEGAL ACTION PROJECT
#StopBadApples
policy
91.6% of gun dealers do not supply any crime guns About 7% of dealers have two or more traces 3% of dealers have 5+ traces and sell about 72% of guns traced to crime
#StopBadApples
policy
“I didn't think it was any of my business”
—JON SAUERS,FEDERALLY-LICENSED FIREARMS DEALER
A Bad Apple Gun Dealer facilitates illegal sales by allowing individuals who pass background checks to purchase weapons for others, or straw purchases.
Violation of federal law occurs when the straw purchaser makes a false statement to the firearms dealer by lying on the ATF form—the official firearm transaction record.
Since such a small percentage of dealers are responsible for dangerous gun sales, we can identify and stop bad apple gun dealers
STOP BAD APPLE GUN DEALERS
policy
#StopBadApples
policy
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ORGANIZEimpacted
communities
SUCCESSFUL LAWSUITS for victims
EDUCATE AND ACTIVATE
broader public
EDUCATE GUN DEALERS
REFORM• Broad adoption of
code of conduct• ATF shut down
dealers
IMPACTFewer bad apple gun
dealersFewer gun crimes
“STOP BAD APPLE GUN DEALERS” CAMPAIGN SUMMARY
policy
Shut down or reform 50% of “bad apple” gun dealers in 5 years.
Successful suits result in adherence to code of conduct, often dealer
license revocation by ATF, monetary settlement sends warning to other
“bad apples”.
Public pressure results in adherence to code of conduct.
Industry Adoption of Best Practices provide example for others
GOALS
#StopBadApples
policy
Engage and empower impacted
communities through protest events.
Educate and activate broader
public through reports, PR events,
mass media stories, petitions.
Educate and send clear message to
“bad apples”: if you sell guns to
criminals, you’ll be held accountable.
STRATEGIES
#StopBadApples
communications
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LEGAL ACTION
legal action
IMPACT OF LEGAL ACTION
#StopBadApples
legal action
#StopBadApples
“BAD APPLE” GUN DEALER CASES
legal action
1. Prevent sales of guns to straw purchasers or gun traffickers.
2. Prevent sales to persons prohibited from buying guns or toodangerous to possess guns.
3. Prevent criminals from obtaining firearms through thefts.
4. Ensure that employees are responsible, law-abiding people that are prepared to be effective gatekeepers.
5. Assist law enforcement to investigate and prevent criminal access to guns.
6. Maintain insurance for victims who are entitled to compensation.
GUN DEALER CODE OF CONDUCTThe gun dealer commits to do all that it reasonably can to prevent dangerous people from obtaining
and using firearms, including, but not limited to, doing the following:
#StopBadApples
communications
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ORGANIZING
organizing
Create public pressure and awareness against “bad apple” gun dealers:
Pressure dealers to adopt Brady Code of Conduct
Attract media attention to issue and culprits
Create deep ongoing partnership with community based organizations from GVP community and beyond (e.g., impacted communities, law enforcement, faith, Latino)
Create tools and resources for scaling and mass participation
Partner with law enforcement to develop trace reports
ORGANIZING GOALS
#StopBadApples
organizing
#StopBadApples
Campaign Launch: Chicago
Chuck’s Gun Shop in Riverdale, IL 200 protesters (victims,
impacted community) Partnership with Iocal / state
groups (faith, victim, GVP) Supported by and coordinated
with Rep. Robyn Kelly
Arizona Protest
Windy City Pawn Shop in Phoenix, AZ 175 protesters Engagement of Latino community Featured speakers Rep. Ruben Gallego
and former NCLR Chair
organizing
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#StopBadApples
organizing
Litigate existing cases and bring new ones
Follow-up on Phoenix and Chicago protests
Justice for victims brochure
Online victim stories in-take
Letters to Gun Dealers
At least 10 protests
Completion of “Bad Apple” Toolkit
SCALING THE CAMPAIGN IN 2015 #StopBadApples
policy
Brady is finalizing a national report on “bad apple” gun dealers for publication in 2015.
Highlights include: Explanation, analysis of what makes dealer a “bad apple”;
Impact “bad apple” gun dealers have on specific types of crime;
Examples of specific “bad apple” gun dealers impact on communities;
Recommendations for how to stop and/or reform “bad apple” gun dealers;
Analysis of number, geography and ranking of “bad apple” gun dealers.
NATIONAL REPORT ON “BAD APPLE” GUN DEALERS
#StopBadApples
Sean Kirkendall, Senior Policy & Public Safety ManagerGovernment Relations & National Partnerships
WWW.BRADYCAMPAIGN.ORG
THANK YOU
#StopBadApples