Youth at Harvard Against Handgun Violence (YHAHV) - Mike Wahl (mwahl@fas)

A group collected around advocating legislation that does not seek to remove guns from law abiding citizens, but to simply establish safety and licensing standards which will result in more responsible gun use. There is absolutely no reason why a gun club, like the Harvard Shooting Club, should be in opposition to an anti gun violence organization. HSC, working together with YHAHV, can make a powerful statement about the necessity of better firearm education, law enforcement, owner and manufacturer's liability, registration, and licensing.

The Real Facts (provided by YHAHV):

-Guns Kept in the home for self protection are 43 times more likely to kill someone you know than to kill in self defense.

-Since 1960, more than three-quarter of a million Americans have died in firearm suicides, homicides, and unintentional injuries.

- In 1995, more that 35,000 Americans died by gunfire, and in 1990 gunshot wounds alone cost $112 billion in Health Care.

A few ideas presented Oct. 2nd, 2000 at First Monday Meeting by Dr. Hemmingway to reduce gun related violence:

-Child proofing guns
-Magazine safety requirement
-Safe Storage Practices
-Personalized Firearms
-Unique Serial Numbers for ID Purposes
-Unobliteratable Serial Numbers
-Data Collection for Tracing Firearm Related Trends
-Allow for Sting Operations of Scofflaw Dealers
-Regulate Gun Shows
-Regulate Secondary Gun Transfers
-Cap Firearm Purchase to One per Month
-Reduce Gun "Running"

As a conclusion, America needs a National Firearm Regulatory Agency that collects data to make educated decisions and that also needs the legal authority to change legislation to make for  safer American communities.