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MOUNT DIABLO PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER

Gun Violence Resolution – March 19, 2018

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Mt. Diablo Peace and Justice Center shares the horror and dread felt as a result of the tragedies at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook Elementary School, Columbine High School and other schools; and

WHEREAS, the proliferation of guns and gun-related violence in the United States has continued for far too long; and

WHEREAS, the repeated occurrence of violent events in a variety of venues makes it clear that this is not merely a school security issue, but a community issue; and

WHEREAS, since 1999, the number of mass shootings in schools, churches, and other public places has increased as the overall national crime rate has steadily declined; and

WHEREAS, the firearm used to murder and injure the victims at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School was an AR-15 semi-automatic assault style weapon equipped with high capacity magazines; and

WHEREAS, assault-style weapons and large capacity ammunition magazines are not suitable for civilian use of any type and constitute a demonstrated threat to the general public and law enforcement personnel; and

WHEREAS, research into reducing gun violence has shown there are numerous legislative steps we can take, including, banning semiautomatic guns, assault weapons, and large capacity ammunition feeding devices, instituting universal background checks for gun and ammunition purchases, government buyback and destruction of all banned guns and large capacity ammunition feeding devices, taxing ammunition sales, mandatory waiting periods, instituting a national gun registry, and banning guns on all schools; and

WHEREAS, instituting broad and far reaching legislation to reduce gun violence will save lives, reduce crime, and serve the public health, as well as the safety and best interests of the children, parents, and residents of our community;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors of the Mt. Diablo Peace and Justice Center urges the United States Congress, as well as state and local governments to immediately enact a series of laws to reduce gun violence and increase support services that will help ensure students across the country are safe in their schools, classrooms, and communities, and that these laws include:

-Permanently banning automatic weapons;

-Permanently banning assault weapons;

-Permanently banning large capacity ammunition feeding devices;

-Instituting government buyback and destruction of all banned guns and large capacity ammunition feeding devices;

-Instituting universal background checks for all ammunition purchases (including online and gun show purchases);

-Instituting universal background checks for all gun purchases (including online and gun show purchases);

-Levying an increased tax on ammunition and direct those taxes toward gun violence   prevention programs, and to the benefit victims of gun violence;

-Banning sales of guns and ammunition to all convicted violent criminals;

-Banning sales of guns to people deemed a danger to themselves or others by a mental health provider;

-Requiring reporting of lost or stolen guns;

-Requiring mandatory safety training before all gun purchases;

-Requiring mandatory 7-day waiting period on all gun and ammunition purchases;

-Developing a national gun registry to track all gun ownership and sales;

-Limiting the number of guns a person may own (exempting licensed collectors);

-Banning guns in all schools;

-Requiring all guns to microstamp bullets;

-Fingerprinting all gun owners;

-Requiring gun safes;

-Ensure that the FBI’s background check system is fully and continuously updated (including those prohibited as a result of mental illness, those convicted of a violent crime, persons dishonorably discharged from the military, those under a domestic violence restraining order);

-Enact federal Child Access Prevention (CAP) laws that hold adults criminally liable for unsafe storage of firearms around children;

-Supporting community improvement solutions such as wraparound services that provide sufficient access to those who need assistance, including schoolchildren;

-Providing additional support in communities and schools for mental health and substance abuse treatment and counseling;

-Enhancing and evaluating bullying-prevention programs, anti-gang initiatives, and positive behavior support programs in schools;

-Ensuring that school personnel have adequate training to maintain a safe and secure school environment, with cooperation from and in partnership with local law enforcement; and

-Requiring the national database on violence to include any incidents involving a gun or shooting; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors of the Mt. Diablo Peace and Justice Center directs the Executive Director of the Center to send a copy of this resolution to our California Senators, the member(s) of the House of Representatives who represent Contra Costa County, the President of the United States, local representatives to the California state legislature, the Governor of California, the members of the county Board of Supervisors, and the members of the city council in every city in Contra Costa County; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors of the Mt. Diablo Peace and Justice Center supports community led and student led efforts to amplify the voices of all who are calling for gun violence prevention legislation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors of the Mt. Diablo Peace and Justice Center encourages school districts, community groups, cities, and counties to pass similar resolutions.

Approved by Board and Signed by Dan Reynolds, Chair, Board of Directors, March 19, 2018