Arizonans for Gun Safety explained

Arizonans for Gun Safety
Type:501(c)(3)
Tax Id:86-0981306[1]
Founded Date:[2] [3]
Founder:Geraldine Hills[4]
Key People:Maya Zuckerberg (President)Macey Chandler (Vice President)
Area Served:Arizona
Services:Policy related to gun violence prevention and responsible gun ownership
Education >Advocacy
Focus:Gun safety, Gun safety policy
Method:Advocacy
Community mobilization
Outreach programs

Arizonans for Gun Safety (AzGS) is a non-profit organization that aims to reduce gun-related deaths and promote gun safety. The organization also has education programs to teach about safe storage practices, non-violent conflict resolution, and ways to address youth violence.[5]

History

In 1994 the brother of Geraldine Hill was killed by a man with an AK-47 and a history of mental illness. One year later, Hills created AzGS.[6]

Some other group members were similarly affected by gun violence. Jennifer Longdon joined and became a president of AzGS after she was paralyzed due to a random drive-by shooting.[7] Otis and Lory Smith joined the board of directors in 2000 after their daughter Shannon was killed from a stray bullet fired into the air.[8] The group was later instrumental in passing Shannon's Law, named after Otis and Lory's daughter.[9]

The group endorsed the Assault Weapons Ban of 2013.[10] [11]

In 2014 AzGS filed an Amicus Curiae for the Appellee in the case of Heller v. District of Columbia.[12] [13]

March for our Lives

AzGS was a fiscal sponsor of the 2018 March for Our Lives protests that took place in Arizona,[14] with AzGS founder Geraldine Hills helping to manage more than $14,000 that March for Our Lives raised via GoFundMe merchandise sales.[15] An estimated 15,000 people showed up at the capitol protest on March 24, 2018.[16] High-schoolers, Arizona Congressman Ruben Gallego, and Geraldine Hills all took turns at the microphone.

At the September 2019 March for Our Lives protest near the "Release the Fear" statue,[17] shoes and sandals of those affected by gun violence were placed at the base of the statue, including those of former U.S. Representative Gabby Giffords.[18]

Programs

Gun Buyback

AzGS used to facilitate gun buyback weekends, collecting thousands of guns[19] in conjunction with the Phoenix Police Department. In 2013 Governor Jan Brewer signed HB 2455 into law, requiring city or county-sponsored programs to resell (instead of destroy) guns they obtain,[20] [21] rendering police buyback programs counterproductive.[22]

Artist Robert Miley, creator of the Release the Fear, a monument constructed of melted-down weapons used in violent acts across Arizona, said this of the HB 2455: "I think we need to turn to our youth and realize the things we pass now, whatever they are, they're going to affect generations to come".[23]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Arizonans For Gun Safety in Phoenix, AZ . Org Council . 20 January 2021.
  2. Web site: Nowicki . Karen . Dr Gary Witt Global Gun Safety Awareness and Gerry Hills Arizonans for Gun Safety on Business RadioX . Business RadioX . 20 January 2021.
  3. News: Fahey . Amanda . Dafnis . Jordan . March for Our Lives taking push for gun-law reforms, voter registration on the road Cronkite News . 20 January 2021 . . 19 July 2018.
  4. News: Bland . Karina . Bland: Old letter from John McCain shows how little has changed in 20 years of gun debate . 20 January 2021 . The Arizona Republic.
  5. Web site: About Arizonans for Gun Safety . Arizonans for Gun Safety . 20 January 2021.
  6. News: Nevarez . Griselda . Gun Violence Victims Will Be Honored Sunday in Downtown Phoenix . 20 January 2021 . . 11 December 2015.
  7. Web site: 2020 Jen Longdon . Arizona List . 20 January 2021. A recent former president of Arizonans for Gun Safety, Jen worked with the City of Phoenix to organize Arizona’s largest gun buyback program which removed over 2,000 firearms from our street..
  8. News: Scott . Eugene . Leaders remember mom who spurred Shannon's Law . 19 January 2021 . archive.azcentral.com . . 2008-01-16.
  9. Web site: Faller . Mary Beth . ASU professor among top experts chosen to define firearm injury research agenda . ASU Now: Access, Excellence, Impact . 22 January 2021 . en . 18 June 2019.
  10. Web site: The Voter's Self Defense System . Vote Smart . 21 January 2021.
  11. Web site: Feinstein Records 2013 Assault Weapons Ban .
  12. Web site: Amended Notice of Intent to Participate as Amici Curiae and Representation of Consent. 21 January 2021.
  13. Web site: 14-7071 – Dick Heller, et al v. DC, et al . govinfo . 21 January 2021 . en .
  14. News: Fahey . Amanda . Dafnis . Jordan . March for Our Lives taking push for gun-law reforms, voter registration on the road . 22 January 2021 . . 19 July 2018.
  15. News: Flaherty . Joseph . Today's Phoenix March for Our Lives: What You Need to Know . 22 January 2021 . . 2018-03-23.
  16. News: Rosenblatt . Joseph Flaherty, Dillon . Just a Small Band of Students Brought 15,000 Together in Phoenix to March for Our Lives . 22 January 2021 . . 24 March 2018.
  17. Web site: Gilger . Lauren . Brodie . Mark . Groups Rally Across U.S. To End Gun Violence . KJZZ . 22 January 2021 . en . 25 September 2019.
  18. News: Smith/Cronkite . Barbara . March for Our Lives Arizona honors gun-violence victims, plans next steps on reforms . 22 January 2021 . . 26 September 2019.
  19. Web site: Arizonans for Gun Safety Tempe, AZ Cause IQ profile . CauseIQ . en.
  20. News: Bump . Philip . How Arizona Gun Buybacks Became Gun Sellbacks . 20 January 2021 . The Atlantic . 30 April 2013 . en.
  21. News: Mello . Michael . Arizona law bans destroying guns purchased in buyback programs . subscription . 20 January 2021 . . 4 May 2013.
  22. News: DeLuca . Matthew . Anonymous donation funds Phoenix gun buyback . 20 January 2021 . . 2013-05-15 . en.
  23. News: Kleinpete . Alice . Bill would change gun buyback programs . 20 January 2021 . Cronkite News.

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