Home » CO Ceasefire News: Election Cash Starts Flowing, Sweeping Mass. Gun Law Signed

CO Ceasefire News: Election Cash Starts Flowing, Sweeping Mass. Gun Law Signed

Everytown, Giffords Pony up $60M for Gun Reform Candidates

As election season heats up, gun safety behemoths Everytown for Gun Safety and Giffords are rolling out campaigns totalling $60 million to help de facto Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris defeat Republican rival Donald Trump, as well as help House candidates in battleground districts who favor tougher gun laws.

The political arm of Everytown for Gun Safety, the gun regulation group founded by former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg, announced July 31 its plans to spend $45 million over the coming months to elect favored candidates in eight of the states that could determine control of the White House, House, Senate and local offices. Previously, Giffords has announced that it plans to devote $15 million to do the same.

The money will cover paid TV and digital ads, direct mail (in English and Spanish), new polls to help allies hone their messaging and the deployment of staffers and surrogates to persuade and turn out voters. Both groups are focusing the resources on swing states like Michigan and Arizona, as well as California and New York, where a series of competitive races could decide control of the House.

Giffords Executive Director Emma Brown told NBC News that Giffords’ internal research has found not only that gun legislation has wide support but also that it particularly attracts groups of voters with the power to decide the election—primarily suburban women, Latinos and Black voters. Perceptions of Democrats among these voters improved “when we layered on guns messaging,” Brown said.

Everytown for Gun Safety president John Feinblatt said, “With MAGA Republicans pushing an extreme ‘guns everywhere’ agenda, this election is a life-or-death moment—so Everytown is going all-out to mobilize the majority of Americans who want to live free from the fear of gun violence. From sending Vice President Harris to the Oval Office to helping our own volunteers win office, we’ll elect gun sense champions up and down the ballot.”

Everytown announced a $60 million spending plan before the 2020 election aimed at defeating then-President Donald Trump and electing more Democrats who support gun regulations.
Harris has already made gun reform a major messaging point, saying she is in favor of banning assault weapons at the Federal level. In 2019, she endorsed a mandatory buyback program for military-style weapons, which Republicans attacked as “gun confiscation.”

March for Our Lives Endorses Harris

In other Presidential Election news, March for Our Lives has endorsed Harris, marking the first time the youth-led organization has endorsed a political candidate at any level. The group said in a news release that “We need an ardent defender of democracy, a gun violence prevention champion, and a leader who will listen to young people, give us a seat at the table, and fight for our future. We believe that Kamala Harris is that candidate and the right person to stand up for us and fight for the country we deserve.”

Harris oversees the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention and has met regularly with advocates and survivors of gun violence.

Mass Bans Ghost Guns, ‘Glock Switches’

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey signed a sweeping new law last week making her state one of 15, including Colorado, that now have banned ‘ghost guns,’ do-it-yourself firearms made of mix-and-match parts that carry no serial numbers.

The new law requires all ‘homemade’ guns to have serial numbers issued through a forthcoming request system that the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security and the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services will design.

The law redefines a gun frame—the part of a revolver or handgun that connects all of its components—as a ‘firearm,’ a change made to address an existing gap in state law and empower police to charge people who traffic such guns. Previously, police could find large numbers of gun parts in a residence or at a crime scene, but were unable to charge anyone present with the illegal possession of a firearm.

While their untraceable nature makes it difficult to know how many are in circulation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives reports that between 2016 and 2021, law enforcement agencies recovered more than 45,000 suspected ghost guns from potential crime scenes nationwide. Boston Police say that ghost guns represented about 10% of the 872 firearms they recovered in 2023.

The new law bans using 3D printers or similar machines to make guns unless the person is licensed to carry, as well as the sale of gun-milling machines and 3D printers with the “primary or intended function” of making guns. It also bans guns from government buildings and polling places, and expands who can ask for an extreme risk protection order—the so-called ‘red flag law’ procedure that allows family members, significant others and police departments to confiscate guns from people who pose a risk to themselves or others. Now, Massachusetts school administrators, police and health care professionals who have treated a person within the last six months are eligible to ask a court for gun removal.
Finally, it bans the possession of “Glock switches,” modified parts that turn a normal semi-automatic pistol into a selective fire machine pistol capable of fully automatic fire.

Westminster Upholds ‘Sensitive Spaces’ Law

On July 22, the Westminster City Council defeated a measure that would have exempted the city from Colorado’s new ‘Sensitive Spaces’ law, enabling concealed carry permit holders to bring their guns onto city property.

The measure, which had been heavily promoted by Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, lost 4-3 after contentious testimony. Colorado’s new law, which went into effect July 1, prohibits firearms in a number of spaces, including the state Capitol, local elected officials’ offices and meeting chambers, courts, election sites and schools (from preschools to universities). Several localities, including Castle Rock and Douglas County, have already opted out of the law.

Repeal of Gunmaker Immunity Picks up Steam

Twelve new sponsors have signed on to HR 4184, the Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act. The measure would repeal the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), a 2005 law that prohibits civil liability lawsuits against manufacturers, distributors, dealers or importers of firearms or ammunition for damages resulting from the misuse of their products.

The bill was introduced last year by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and now boasts 129 cosponsors, including CO Reps Jason Crow (D-CO6); Joe Neguse (D-CO2); Brittany Petterson (D-CO7); and Diana DeGette (D-CO1).

The bill is expected to receive priority action if Democrats take the House this fall. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) is listed among Senate ‘holdouts’ on the measure; constituents are encouraged to reach out to his office. Newtown Action Alliance is providing this prewritten email form.

LaPierre Banned from NRA for 10 Years

A New York Judge has banned former National Rifle Association Executive Director Wayne LaPierre from working for the organization for 10 years.

The New York Attorney General’s Office sued the NRA and its senior management in 2020, claiming they misappropriated millions of dollars to fund personal benefits including private jets, family vacations and luxury goods. In February, a jury found the NRA liable for financial mismanagement and found that LaPierre, the group’s former CEO, corruptly ran the nation’s most powerful gun-lobbying group.

The jury determined that LaPierre’s violation of his duties cost the NRA $5.4 million in damages, though he had already repaid more than $1 million to the organization. He must pay $4.35 million, the New York Attorney General’s Office said at the time. The group’s retired finance chief, Wilson “Woody” Phillips, was ordered to pay back $2 million.

“The NRA and its senior leaders broke the law, and funneled millions of dollars in cash and lavish perks to themselves, their families, and NRA insiders,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James this week. “The damages portion of the case we presented, as well as the earlier trial before the jury, demonstrated that the NRA had a stunning lack of accountability and its leaders engaged in illegality and self-dealing. As a result of this case, Wayne LaPierre will be banned from the NRA for 10 years for spearheading this fraud, and the court called for additional proposed reforms to the NRA. After years of corruption, the NRA and its senior leaders are finally being held accountable.”

The NRA has seen a massive drop in revenue, losing more than 1.3 million members since 2018, according to a witness called by the group at trial.

While declining to appoint an outside overseer for the group, the judge gave the NRA itself and the New York Attorney General’s office one week to discuss potential organizational reforms.

Columbine 2024: 25 Years
of Trauma Screening Aug. 6

There’s still time to register for the free screening of Columbine 2024: 25 Years of Trauma on Tuesday, Aug. 6. This short documentary explores some of the personal stories that were impacted by the Columbine High School shooting. There will also be a Q&A with the filmmakers, and a panel discussion including Columbine parent and Colorado Ceasefire Board member Tom Mauser.

Directed by Jeff Vespa, Columbine 2024 follows the lives of Columbine teacher Kiki Leyba and his wife Kallie, documenting how they were changed forever on April 20, 1999. Spanning over two decades, this film provides a nuanced glimpse into how survivors cope with unfathomable loss and trauma.

Tuesday, August 6
6 pm | Reception
7 pm – 8 pm | Film Screening and Discussion

Location
Harkins Theatres—Northfield 18
8300 Northfield Blvd, Denver, CO 80238
Free admission and concessions.

Register to Vote!

The primaries are over, but it’s not too soon to make sure you are properly registered and ready to vote this November.

If you are receiving this newsletter, you probably already know what a critical time this is for gun violence prevention legislation at the federal, state and local levels. As we have seen from recent Supreme Court decisions, your vote for candidates who support common-sense gun laws—and spreading the word among people you know—is more important now than ever. Register to vote here.