Always disturbed by gun violence and its innocent victims, Nick and Amanda faithfully made annual donations to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence for over twenty years. They never thought that they would personally be touched by gun violence; but their world was turned upside-down when their bright beautiful daughter, Laura, was killed in a rampage shooting in January 2001 by a man with severe mental illness. Feeling compelled to dedicate themselves to the goal of reducing violence in our society, they became more deeply involved in gun violence prevention as well as advocating for improved mental health care in California. Laura’s Law, which allows for court ordered assisted outpatient treatment for those with serious mental illness, was named after their daughter.

Enlighten your afternoon by welcoming Nick & Amanda Wilcox to Santa Barbara and support CAGV in its efforts to raise awareness about the causes, risks, and consequences of gun violence. CAGV is the only gun control organization on the Central Coast and your support is critical to our continued success. Together we can keep advocating for a safer community. For reservations/info: 805.564.6803.

In reaction to the enactment of AB 144, Open Carry organizations across California began hosting open carry events brandishing rifles and shotguns in place of the now illegal handguns. In at least one instance, they showed up at a police fundraiser wielding unloaded rifles.

The following is excerpted from a letter by Jerry Deitchle, Chairman and CEO of BJ’s Restaurants to Dallas Stout, California Brady President and Karen Arntzen, California Chapter Advocacy Coordinator:

“Please also be assured that the safety of our guests and team members is our highest concern here at BJ’s. We do not allow our team members to bring firearms, weapons, illegal drugs or other banned items or substances into our restaurants. We don’t want our guests to bring such items into our restaurants, either. As you correctly pointed out, the accidental discharge of a firearm in a public place can cause significant damage to humans and property. We definitely want to avoid that risk.”
–Jerry Deitchle Chairman and CEO of BJ’s Restaurants

Open Carriers brought their long guns to an Occupy Protest (where they had previously been asked to leave) at Concord, California’s Todos Santos Park, December 17, from 12 to 1 pm. From their website it appeared they were attempting to “police” the protesters’ behavior by “protecting ourselves and our community in case of riots. We do not need civil unrest conducted in our communities which hurts small business even though we encourage free speech.” The California Brady Campaign is urging people for their own safety to stay away from any location where the Open Carry meet-ups are taking place. Brady will warn the community upon hearing of planned meet-ups. These individuals openly carrying long guns are protesting the signing of AB 144. However, this vigilante effort could lead to clashes resulting in accidental or intentional shootings.

The FBI performed a record number of instant background checks on potential firearm buyers in 2011 according
to new government data. Nearly 16.5 million queries were made by firearm sellers. That was up 15% from 2010, and the highest number of annual screenings performed since 1998, when the National Instant Background Check System (NICS) went into effect. Background checks are correlated with weapon purchases, so the uptick in screenings in 2011 suggests that the increase in gun sales which the FBI has been tracking for several years is continuing.

Reasons for the surge in firearm sales are speculative. Andrew Arulanandam, a spokesman for the National Rifle Association, said he believed the political uncertainty surrounding next year’s general election was prompting would-be gun buyers to accelerate purchases. He also believes that the jump in sales (purchases have doubled since 2006 according to FBI data) largely reflected concern that the Democrats elected into office in recent years, including President
Barack Obama, would curb the right to bear arms.

The reality is quite different. Gun control organizations are disappointed that not a single piece of firearm legislation has been passed, and President Obama has not said one word about gun control since before he took office other than to say he supports the Second Amendment.

Kentucky, which ranks 26th nationally in terms of population with just 4.3 million residents, generated almost 2.3 million in background checks in 2011. Texas which ranks No. 2 in population, ranked No. 2 in background checks, with 1.15 million requests in 2011. Texas was followed by Utah, which accounted for one-fourth of the overall increase in checks and sales in 2011. Utah is a popular place for gun owners from all over the country to get a concealed-firearms permit because it is cheap and easy to apply for even if buyers do not live in Utah. The permit is recognized in three-dozen other states.

USA Today reported that Black Friday 2011– the Friday after Thanksgiving – saw an increase in gun background checks of 32% over last year, totaling some 129,166 mandatory FBI background check requests. Because gun owners only have to submit one background check when purchasing multiple firearms, it is believed that gun sales exceeded 130,000 in a single day. Interestingly more women are buying guns than ever before.

Local shops are reporting that they are busier than ever, with Wholesale Sports in Kennewick, WA reporting a 35% increase in sales. Other gun retailers reported similar increases. “People are just coming in to protect themselves,” the employee said. “I think there’s just a lot of things going on in the world that are getting people thinking.”

Gun Laws are Mostly Disregarded Online

December 14, 2011. Private investigators hired by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (originator of Mayors Against Illegal Guns) found that most private gun sellers they approached online agreed to sell illegally weapons to buyers who said they couldn’t pass the background checks.

Bloomberg says investigators used Craigslist and other websites to contact 125 online gun sellers in 14 states. Private sellers aren’t required to conduct a background check before selling a gun, but it’s against federal law for them to sell to someone they believe wouldn’t pass a background check. Bloomberg said the investigators found of those 77 sellers 62% agreed to sell to buyers who said they couldn’t pass a background check.

Buying Firearms Online

In the world of the Internet you can learn about or find almost anything. If one investigates buying a cheap gun online this is part of the advice: “Check the local online classifieds. You can purchase a firearm from a private third party without going through any paperwork. If the firearm is registered to the person selling it, they are responsible for the firearm until the name is transferred to the new gun owner.”

Arizona – A State with Lax Gun Laws

During an interview with Washington Post Pulitzer Prizewinning investigative reporter James Grimaldi, National Public Radio host Terry Gross, Grimaldi said, “Essentially, there is very little obstacle to purchasing a weapon in the state of Arizona.” He went on to describe, “There are laws that require you, federally, to be at least 21 years-old to purchase a handgun. But basically state law permits anyone 21 and older to own a firearm and also, to carry it concealed in the state. That’s different than many other states, many of which have stricter gun laws.”

Additionally, Arizona also allows gun owners to carry their weapons almost everywhere in the state, including government buildings and inside the state Capitol. Exceptions exist for private businesses and doctor’s offices.

On November 30, 2010, Jared Lee Loughner went to a Sportsman’s Warehouse in Tucson, Ariz., and purchased a Glock
19 semiautomatic weapon, after passing an instant background check. He allegedly used that weapon in the January 8, 2011, shooting rampage that killed at least six people and wounded Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) and 13 others in Tucson.

Arizona’s gun laws, among the most lenient in the country, allowed Loughner to conceal and carry his firearm without a
permit, a law that was passed and signed by Governor Jan Brewer in 2010 after the former governor, Janet Napolitano had vetoed a similar law.

A Washington Post analysis of data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives shows that Arizona
is a net exporter of guns that are seized in crimes. In 2009, 1,637 guns first purchased in Arizona were recovered at out-of-state crime scenes, according to an analysis of guns traced by ATF. That means that for every 100,000 state inhabitants, 25 guns were exported from Arizona.

• These gifts will also help in achieving CAGV’s 2012 goals in expanding community educational outreach, with an emphasis on:
• Increasing awareness, in collaboration with Mayors Against Illegal Guns, of illegal guns brought into California from other states, like Arizona and Nevada; these guns are often smuggled into Mexico.
• Presenting ways for improving gun safety in the home to members of the Santa Barbara faith community.
• Bringing Nick & Amanda Wilcox to Santa Barbara as the keynote speakers for CAGV’s annual luncheon fundraiser, Sunday, April 15, 2012.
• Collaborating with other concerned organizations in gathering information to inform Santa Barbara County’s returning veterans about what local services are available to help them transition back to civilian life.
• Collaborating with our partner organizations on community outreach to promote a safer Santa Barbara.

As a valued supporter and friend of CAGV you are part of a team – whether as an active volunteer of our Steering Committee, a participant on our action alerts and email support team, an attendee and supporter of our annual luncheon and community forums, or as an annual paid member. It requires the efforts of an actively engaged community to continue the important work of CAGV. With your help we can continue our communication efforts through newsletters like this one, action alerts, a dynamic updated website, and an online presence with our blog, and social networks Facebook and Twitter. If you haven’t renewed your $25 annual membership please to do so today so that you can continue to receive CAGV newsletters throughout the year and invitations to community gatherings. Your membership renewal and contributions may be mailed to: CAGV, P.O. Box 699, Summerland, CA 93067. We thank you for your support. Together we can work to build a safer community for Santa Barbara county residents.

Washington, DC. – California is a model of sensible gun laws. Its universal background check system, strong gun dealer regulations, and assault clip ban are just some of the laws that provide a roadmap to preventing gun violence. Meanwhile, Arizona, Alaska, and Utah do not have a single common sense gun law on their books, according to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

“After the Tucson shootings, there was a public outcry, once again, over gun violence. With each new high profile shooting, people wonder why. Why do these tragedies happen? What can we do to stop them?” said Brady Campaign President Paul Helmke.

“California is a perfect example of how much more every state in America could do to protect our families and communities from the dangers and destruction of guns. Sensible gun laws save lives, as shown by states like California, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, and Hawaii. That’s why we’re issuing this ‘Scorecard’ to educate and motivate elected officials and the general public. We can and should pass stronger gun laws, on both the state and federal levels.”

For the 5th year in a row, the Brady Campaign has issued a 100-point scorecard ranking all 50 states on the basis of laws that can reduce gun violence, such as background checks on all gun sales, permit-to-purchase requirements, and limiting handgun purchases to one a month. Today’s report ranks states for laws that were enacted by the end of 2011. It reveals that 31 states still have few gun laws, while six states, including California, that rank in the top tier, have
strong and effective gun laws.

“Guns don’t fall from the sky into the hands of criminals,” said Brady Acting President Dennis Henigan. “All too often, crime guns come from gun dealers in the states that stubbornly refuse to enact common sense, lifesaving gun laws. Every day, a river of illegal guns flows out of the states with weak gun laws, victimizing families in states that are doing their best to protect their residents. It is no accident that the states with the weakest gun laws are the exporters of death and injury.”

The Brady Campaign also announced features new this year to its annual release of scores, including four “Craziest Gun Laws” awards, which go to Kansas for allowing guns in K-12 schools; Virginia for allowing guns in bars, as long as the patron doesn’t drink; Utah for allowing guns on college campuses; and Florida for being on the brink of passing a bill that penalizes doctors for talking to children and parents about guns in the home.

(—Excerpted from the Sacramento Bee, Dec. 11, 2011 by D. Morain.)

The theme is common: severe mental illness, combined with laws that are written to protect civil liberties and ignore the reality that nobody chooses to be psychotic.” How many perpetrators of gun violence are afterwards deemed to be mentally ill time and time again?

Laura Wilcox, the 1999 valedictorian at Nevada Union High School in Nevada County, California, was home for winter break from Haverford College, where she was a sophomore running for co-presidentv of the student body. Laura planned to work at the Behavioral HealthvDepartment for one week in January 2001 before returning to college.vShe was filling in for the receptionist when a patient, Scott Thorpe,vwalked in and fired four times killing Laura and another employee, Perlie Mae Feldman, 68. Thorpe found Dr. Heitzman’s (his therapist) door locked. Then Thorpe drove three miles and shot Michael Markle, 24, an employee of a diner he frequented.

Mental health worker Pamela Chase, who knew Thorpe, had alerted Dr. George Heitzman, recommending that Thorpe be hospitalized; however Heitzman took no action. Thorpe called Heitzman six times over a two-week period in December 2000, but Heitzman did not return the calls.

In May 2003, Thorpe admitted killing Wilcox, Feldman and Markle and was judged not guilty by reason of insanity. Thorpe was committed to a hospital for the criminally insane where he remains today.

California still uses a mental health treatment standard based primarily on a person’s likelihood of being dangerous instead of using a more progressive ‘need for treatment’ standard. For inpatient care, the person must be (1) a danger to self/others or (2) unable to provide for basic personal needs for food, clothing or shelter.

Amanda and Nick Wilcox, Laura’s parents worked to advocate for Assembly Bill 1421 now known as Laura’s Law which was signed by Governor Gray Davis in 2002. The law allows courts to compel a very small group of highly symptomatic individuals with severe mental illness – those with a past history of arrest or violence – to stay in treatment as a condition for living in the community. Equally important, it requires the mental health system to provide the treatment. It serves the most difficult populations and has been fully implemented in Nevada County. It is the only California County to fully embrace the law.

For outpatient care in counties that have not implemented Laura’s Law, there currently is no legal mechanism for individuals who may be potentially dangerous except for the Tarasoff ruling which mandates that therapists have a duty to warn if a patient is deemed a potential threat to him/herself or others. This translates to informing law enforcement and/or the identifiable victim.

Nick and Amanda Wilcox agree with the verdict, “so long as he never gets out.” Amanda said, “You can wallow in grief,
or you can get involved.” Nick and Amanda are Quakers and donated money to gun control groups prior to Laura’s death. They are currently volunteer lobbyists for the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence in Sacramento. Due to their dedication and continual presence in our state capitol, reasonable gun control laws continue to be passed and signed into law.

Local officials addressed the gathering, urging us to not only remember the fallen but also encouraging us to do something about it. Congresswoman Lois Capps gave an emotional speech recalling her good friend and colleague Gabrielle Giffords and called upon us to push Congress for safer gun laws:

“As we grieve for these lives lost – these wasted opportunities– we must ask the obvious question ‘isn’t there anything we can do?’ And of course the answer is yes. I’m here as a Representative of the United States Congress
to say, push us to do something.”

Santa Barbara’s Mayor, Helene Schneider, urged everyone to keep in mind the importance of civility, especially in political discourse.

Santa Barbara County Supervisor Janet Wolf reminded the crowd that on CAGV’s website it states, “Gun violence must be addressed as a health, safety, social, and economic problem.” Supervisor Wolf added, “As
policymakers we cannot ignore the ripple effects of gun violence – whether by homicide or suicide, in domestic violence, gang violence or workplace violence – the origins and impacts of the tragedies are multiple. In addition to monitoring and advocating for sensible gun legislation to prevent further tragedy, we also need to look at strengthening our mental and public health systems, and recognizing the vital role that treatment and intervention can play in reducing the incidence of gun violence in the first place.”

Santa Barbara County Supervisor Salud Carbajal rang the Bell in honor of his family members and implored the crowd to remember “There are far too many victims of gun violence, most of whom do not make the headlines. There are so many more that we rarely hear about. There are hundreds and hundreds of people who aren’t so high profile.”

CAGV received proclamations from elected officials in honor of this remembrance day from the County of Santa Barbara and the cities of Goleta and Santa Barbara. The vigil concluded with music sung by the Threshold Choir and the Unitarian Church Women’s Choir.

The City & County of Santa Barbara are joining with communities across America as One, Sunday, January 8, 2012 to honor and remember the victims of gun violence and their families who continue to mourn and suffer from this senseless act of violence in Tucson, Arizona one year ago Jan 8, 2011. By joining together in a national vigil Americans can come together as a nation to reflect upon the toll that gun violence takes on our families and communities; and to ponder upon the true nature of peace and nonviolence in our cities and our nation. We will also stand with thousands of other Americans whose loved ones have perished due to gun violence annually, reminding ourselves that all loved ones matter.

Representative Lois Capps will address the community. Mayor Helene Schneider will present a Santa Barbara City Proclamation and Supervisors Janet Wolf and Salud Carbajal will present a County Resolution. The ceremony will commence at exactly 10:00 a.m. At 10:10 a.m. the Bell will toll and the victims’ names of the Tucson gun
violence will be read. Members of the Santa Barbara faith community will also be memorializing this event in their various congregations on this day.

This national event was initiated by Brady Campaign. Our information may be seen on their website: www.toomanyvictims.com.

Please download the flyer here: Too Many Victims Flyer (650.52 kB)

RSVP on Facebook here.

Check out Mayor Booker’s passionate new video, then help spread the word by sharing it with your friends and family.

Mayors and law enforcement professionals are on the frontlines of protecting their communities every day. The decisions they make shouldn’t be overruled by Washington politicians with nothing to lose when gun violence and crime start soaring.

Watch Mayor Cory Booker’s “call to our common sense” and make sure your friends and family see it right away:

http://www.ourlivesourlaws.org/mayorbooker

Source: Mayors Against Illegal Guns