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Toward a Gun-safe Society: Movement Building Strategies

NCJ Number
158057
Date Published
1994
Length
18 pages
Annotation
Groups of health professionals, children's advocates, and others concerned about the increase in gun-related violence in the United States met on October 28 and November 9, 1993 to focus on strategies required to support and sustain legislative, and other initiatives necessary to help achieve a society safe from violence by firearms.
Abstract
Participants agreed that despite increasing public and government support for more aggressive handgun control legislation, significant measures will require the development of a broadly based, strategically and tactically focused gun-safe society movement. Advocates must broaden and reframe its thrust from crime control to the universal public health goal of prevention of firearm injury and safety from violence in the streets, homes, schools, and communities. Responsible, concerned gun owners must be part of the groups aligned on behalf of gun-safe society policies. Science-based policy and research must be developed and disseminated. Also needed are media advocacy, alliance building, infrastructure development, and legislative initiatives at all levels of government. List of participants