Arizonans for Gun Safety
Founded1995 (1995)[1][2]
FounderGeraldine Hills[1][3]
Type501(c)(4)
86-0981306[4]
FocusGun safety, Gun politics
Area served
Arizona
ServicesMembership organization
Education
MethodAdvocacy
Community mobilization
Outreach programs
Key people
Geraldine Hills (President)
WebsiteAzFGS.com

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.[3] 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

The "Release the Fear" Statue, made from 8,000 pounds of metal taken from weapons of violence in Arizona,[14] was the site of the March for Our Lives Arizona protest.[15]

AzGS was a fiscal sponsor of the 2018 March for Our Lives protests that took place in Arizona,[16] with AzGS founder Geraldine Hills helping to manage more than $14,000 that March for Our Lives raised via GoFundMe merchandise sales.[17] An estimated 15,000 people showed up at the capitol protest on March 24, 2018.[18] High-schoolers, Arizona Congressman Ruben Gallego, and Geraldine Hills all took turns at the microphone.[18]

At the September 2019 March for Our Lives protest near the "Release the Fear" statue,[15] 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.[19]

Programs

Gun Buyback

AzGS used to facilitate gun buyback weekends, collecting thousands of guns[20] in conjunction with the Phoenix Police Department.[21] In 2013 Governor Jan Brewer signed HB 2455 into law, requiring city or county-sponsored programs to resell (instead of destroy) guns they obtain,[22][23] rendering police buyback programs counterproductive.[21]

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".[24]

References

  1. 1 2 Nowicki, Karen. "Dr Gary Witt Global Gun Safety Awareness and Gerry Hills Arizonans for Gun Safety on Business RadioX". Business RadioX. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  2. ↑ Fahey, Amanda; Dafnis, Jordan (19 July 2018). "March for Our Lives taking push for gun-law reforms, voter registration on the road | Cronkite News". Cronkite News. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  3. 1 2 Bland, Karina. "Bland: Old letter from John McCain shows how little has changed in 20 years of gun debate". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  4. ↑ "Arizonans For Gun Safety in Phoenix, AZ". Org Council. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  5. ↑ "About Arizonans for Gun Safety". Arizonans for Gun Safety. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  6. ↑ Nevarez, Griselda (11 December 2015). "Gun Violence Victims Will Be Honored Sunday in Downtown Phoenix". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  7. ↑ "2020 Jen Longdon". Arizona List. Retrieved 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. ↑ Scott, Eugene (2008-01-16). "Leaders remember mom who spurred Shannon's Law". archive.azcentral.com. The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  9. ↑ Faller, Mary Beth (18 June 2019). "ASU professor among top experts chosen to define firearm injury research agenda". ASU Now: Access, Excellence, Impact. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  10. ↑ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  11. ↑ "Feinstein Records 2013 Assault Weapons Ban" (PDF).
  12. ↑ "Amended Notice of Intent to Participate as Amici Curiae and Representation of Consent" (PDF). Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  13. ↑ "14-7071 – Dick Heller, et al v. DC, et al". govinfo. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  14. ↑ D'Andrea, Niki (19 January 2011). "The Release the Fear (a.k.a. "The Melted Weapons") Sculpture". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  15. 1 2 Gilger, Lauren; Brodie, Mark (25 September 2019). "Groups Rally Across U.S. To End Gun Violence". KJZZ. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  16. ↑ Fahey, Amanda; Dafnis, Jordan (19 July 2018). "March for Our Lives taking push for gun-law reforms, voter registration on the road". Cronkite News. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  17. ↑ Flaherty, Joseph (2018-03-23). "Today's Phoenix March for Our Lives: What You Need to Know". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  18. 1 2 Rosenblatt, Joseph Flaherty, Dillon (24 March 2018). "Just a Small Band of Students Brought 15,000 Together in Phoenix to March for Our Lives". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 22 January 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. ↑ Smith/Cronkite, Barbara (26 September 2019). "March for Our Lives Arizona honors gun-violence victims, plans next steps on reforms". Cronkite News. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  20. ↑ "Arizonans for Gun Safety | Tempe, AZ | Cause IQ profile". CauseIQ.
  21. 1 2 DeLuca, Matthew (2013-05-15). "Anonymous donation funds Phoenix gun buyback". NBC News. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  22. ↑ Bump, Philip (30 April 2013). "How Arizona Gun Buybacks Became Gun Sellbacks". The Atlantic. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  23. ↑ Mello, Michael (4 May 2013). "Arizona law bans destroying guns purchased in buyback programs". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  24. ↑ Kleinpete, Alice. "Bill would change gun buyback programs". Cronkite News. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
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