To highlight the impact of gun violence in the community, six students from I.C Norcom High School painted a mural in collaboration with the Virginia Center for Public Safety.
Talking about gun violence with teens and
the police in Portsmouth
Rev. Dr. Mark Hayes and Alexandria Williams, a high school senior in Portsmouth sit down for a podcast with the Public Information Officer for the Portsmouth Police Department to discuss the issue of gun violence in that city.
The Virginia Center for Public Safety (VACPS) is pleased to announce that the Midlothian Friends Meeting has chosen VACPS for sponsorship at their thrift shop - The Thrifty Quaker - during October 2024 in honor of the Month of Non-violence. Click the button to learn how you can contribute!
"It's About Saving Lives" mural project
From Project Coordinator Rev. Dr. Mark Hayes:
📝 In the spirit of Truth Embracing holistic-bond relationships youngsters, families, service organizations, schools, recreation centers, policymakers, community leaders, and the media can help create a solid future for "YLD" YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT MENTOR-SHIP🤜The Virginia Center for Public Safety Advocacy Through the Arts Learning Partnership approach favors embracing positive Self-Development everywhere 🤛
From WTKR-TV 3
'Enough is enough:' students paint mural in Portsmouth as plea to end youth gun violence
When you walk down the halls at I.C. Norcom, you'll first notice the orange, black and white paint lining a wall. Each brush stroke is the voice of a student.
You'll spot gravestones, candles, and more.
From WHRO Public Media:
Six I.C Norcom students painted a mural with the Virginia Center for Public Safety that will be used as an example for future state and national campaigns.
A study of firearm deaths of young people written by VACPS Board Member Andrew Goddard was recently published by the University of Richmond's Public Interest Law Review.
You can read it in its entirety by clicking the button, but here's the abstract:
Firearm violence is now the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of eighteen. This article demonstrates that widely held misconceptions about the true nature and extent of this violence have led to legislative proposals narrowly tailored toward firearm violence in schools, despite facts and data showing school firearm violence to be a small fraction of the problem. These misconceptions are caused by both the narrow focus of national media attention and the deceptive propaganda of the gun industry. The article concludes by examining several bills proposed during the Virginia General Assembly session of 2022 to show how many of the solutions that legislators are proposing are not only ineffective, but also potentially harmful.
We'll Never Forget...
A safer Virginia Capitol and a stronger democracy: progress that needs protection
Our friend Lori Haas, who is advocacy manager for the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, wrote this powerful op-ed which was published by Virginia Mercury.
From the New Journal and Guide:
Local Youth Advocate At State Capitol To Prevent Gun Violence
V
irginia Center for Public Safety (VACPS) sponsors the 32nd Annual Vigil and Advocacy Day to Prevent Gun Violence, where local youth advocates from organizations like YOURS engage in discussions with Delegate Jackie Hope Glass. As gun violence remains a leading cause of death for American minors, the event emphasizes sensible gun laws and legislative actions. The study by VACPS Board Member Andrew Goddard provides insights into misconceptions and effective approaches to address gun violence among youth.
#GunViolencePrevention #YouthAdvocacy #VACPS #LegislativeAdvocacy #MLKDay #FirearmDeathsStudy
Our friends, the very talented Richard Spano and Jim Bulleit, have gifted us with a song to honor and remember
the children massacred in Uvalde.
Watch a discussion about the ramifications of the Supreme Court's recent decision related to carrying guns
Recently, The Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health held a panel discussion following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in NYSRPA v. Bruen.
Webinar experts discussed:
- How the requirement that courts evaluate Second Amendment cases using solely text, history and tradition disregards public safety.
- Research that shows more relaxed concealed carry laws lead to an increase in violent crimes in addition to shootings by police.
- How gun laws relate to mass incarceration, the unequal burden of gun violence and how that may be exacerbated by the Supreme Court’s decision.
Watch the video:
Learn about a new approach to addressing gun violence
The 97 Percent Is a New Voice in the American Gun Debate.
New voices. New commitments. New approaches. Our mission is to reduce gun deaths by expanding the conversation around gun safety to all Americans, and by leveraging technology to make all of our communities safer.
10 years ago... We will never forget.
Our profound thanks to
The Thrifty Quaker
The Virginia Center for Public Safety (VACPS) has been gifted a generous donation from the Midlothian Friends Meeting through their thrift shop - The Thrifty Quaker
What Lessons Can We Learn?
From RetroReport.org:
In the 80s, the attempted assassination of President Reagan and the shooting of his press secretary, Jim Brady, sparked a call for gun control. Decades later, are there lessons from that effort for the students who survived the Parkland shooting?
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