The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV) and the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence (EFSGV or Ed Fund), its sister organization, are two parts of a national, non-profit gun control advocacy organization that is opposed to

gun violence Gun-related violence is violence committed with the use of a firearm. Gun-related violence may or may not be considered criminal. Criminal violence includes homicide (except when and where ruled justifiable), assault with a deadly weapon, and ...

. Since 1974, it has supported reduction in American gun violence via education and legislation.

History

In 1974, the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society formed the National Coalition to Ban Handguns, a group of thirty affiliated religious, labor, and nonprofit organizations, with the goal of addressing "the high rates of gun-related crime and death in American society" by requiring licensing of gun owners, registering firearms, and banning private ownership of

handguns A handgun is a short- barrelled gun, typically a firearm, that is designed to be usable with only one hand. It is distinguished from a long gun (i.e. rifle, shotgun or machine gun, etc.), which needs to be held by both hands and also braced ...

. "Reasonable limited exceptions" were to be allowed for “police, military, licensed security guards, antique dealers who have guns in unfireable condition, and licensed pistol clubs where firearms are kept on the premises.” In the 1980s and 1990s, the coalition expanded to 44 member groups. In 1989, following the Cleveland Elementary School shooting in Stockton, California, the National Coalition to Ban Handguns changed its name to the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, in part because the group believed that assault weapons as well as handguns, should be outlawed.

Mission

According to CSGV, its mission is: "We believe that all Americans have a right to live in communities free from gun violence. We pursue this goal through policy development, strategic engagement, and effective advocacy." The organization has nine areas of focus, regarding issues and campaigns: # Opposition to the National Rifle Association's interpretation of

Second Amendment The second (symbol: s) is the unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), historically defined as of a day – this factor derived from the division of the day first into 24 hours, then to 60 minutes and finally to 60 seconds each ...

rights. # Support for firearm microstamping, a ballistic identification technology intended to allow law enforcement to trace the serial number of a firearm from ejected cartridge cases recovered from crime scenes. # Ban the private sale of guns by instituting

universal background checks Proposals for universal background checks would require almost all firearms transactions in the United States to be recorded and go through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), closing what is sometimes called the priv ...

. # Ban

concealed carry Concealed carry, or carrying a concealed weapon (CCW), is the practice of carrying a weapon (usually a sidearm such as a handgun), either in proximity to or on one's person or in public places in a manner that hides or conceals the weapon's pr ...

. # Opposition to the sale of what it classifies as

assault weapon In the United States, ''assault weapon'' is a controversial term used to define firearms with specified characteristics. The definition varies among regulating jurisdictions, but usually includes semi-automatic firearms with a detachable magaz ...

s to private citizens. # Support for "countermarketing", a strategy intended to force changes in gun industry's marketing and distribution practices. # Opposition to removing the

duty to retreat In law, the duty to retreat, or requirement of safe retreat,''Criminal Law - Cases and Materials'', 7th ed. 2012, Wolters Kluwer Law & Business; John Kaplan, Robert Weisberg, Guyora Binder, /ref> is a legal requirement in some jurisdictions th ...

in self-defense law (i.e., stand your ground laws). # Support for stricter mental health screening for firearm purchases. # Support for the repeal of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act.

Leadership

*Joshua Horwitz is the Executive Director of CSGV/EFSGV. He is an attorney who joined the Education Fund in 1989 as Legal Director. *Michael K. Beard is the founding President of the CSGV/EFSGV.

Membership

CSGV consisted of 47 organizations in March 2016. Among them are religious organizations, child welfare advocacy groups, public health professionals, social justice, and political action organizations. The member groups are: * American Academy of Pediatrics *

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* American Ethical Union * American Jewish Committee * American Jewish Congress *

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* American Public Health Association *

Americans for Democratic Action Americans for Democratic Action (ADA) is a liberal American political organization advocating progressive policies. ADA views itself as supporting social and economic justice through lobbying, grassroots organizing, research, and supporting pro ...

*Association of Japanese Families of Gun Violence Victims in the U. S. A. * Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America * The Bible Holiness Movement, International *

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* Child Welfare League of America, Inc. *

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*The Communitarian Network *The Council of The Great City Schools *DC for Democracy *The DISARM Education Fund *

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Friends Committee on National Legislation The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) is a national nonprofit, nonpartisan Quaker organization. As a 501(c)(4) advocacy organization, FCNL and its network lobby Congress and the administration to promote peace, justice, and environm ...

* Jesuit Conference - Office of Social Ministries * Jewish Community Center Association * Jewish Women International * Loretto Community *

National Association of School Psychologists The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) is the major national professional organization for school psychologists in the United States. Mission and purpose Its stated mission is to "represent and support school psychology thr ...

* National Association of Social Workers *

National Council of Jewish Women The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization. Founded in 1893, NCJW is self-described as the oldest Jewish women’s grassroots organization in the United States, now comprised by over 180,000 members. As of ...

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* North American Federation of Temple Youth *Pan American Trauma Association * Peace Action of Washington *

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Union for Reform Judaism The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), known as the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC) until 2003, founded in 1873 by Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise, is the congregational arm of Reform Judaism in North America. The other two arms establishe ...

* Unitarian Universalist Association *

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United Federation of Teachers The United Federation of Teachers (UFT) is the labor union that represents most teachers in New York City public schools. , there were about 118,000 in-service teachers and 17,000 paraprofessional educators in the union, as well as about 54,00 ...

* United Methodist Church Board of Church & Society *

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United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ) is the major congregational organization of Conservative Judaism in North America, and the largest Conservative Jewish communal body in the world. USCJ closely works with the Rabbinical Assembly ...

* Woman's National Democratic Club *

Women's League for Conservative Judaism Women's League for Conservative Judaism (WLCJ) is the national representative body in the United States for women within Conservative Judaism Conservative Judaism, known as Masorti Judaism outside North America, is a Jewish religious movemen ...

* YWCA of U. S. A.

References

External links

* {{Authority control 1974 establishments in the United States Charities based in Washington, D.C. 501(c)(4) nonprofit organizations Gun control advocacy groups in the United States Organizations established in 1974