POLICY:
The Gun Violence Prevention Education Center (GPEC) and the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence (ICHV) are combining forces to be a preeminent leader in the fight to reduce death and injury caused by gun violence in Illinois through education, research, organizing and enforcement around public policy. We are preparing to maximize impact by organizing operations, identifying strengths, and strategically expanding the gun violence prevention (GVP) efforts already in progress.
Using proven digital and grassroots strategies, GPEC and ICHV will come together to build a powerful network that holds institutions accountable for passing and enforcing common sense gun policies.
ILGVP COALITION
GPEC/ICHV continues to staff, organize and mobilize the Illinois Gun Violence Prevention Coalition. Since 2015, the Illinois Gun Violence Prevention Coalition from a few member organizations to over 190 today. The coalition’s focus is engaging a wide range of organizations, from hospitals to churches to domestic violence policy organizations, to coordinate gun violence actions and policy. The coalition has scored many victories including passing Gun Dealer Certification, our work to pass the Fix the FOID law and statewide engagement with leaders on this issues. With your support, the coalition can continue to grow and augment our engagement around Illinois.
COMMUNICATIONS:
GPEC/ICHV has teamed up with worldwide creative firm FCB Chicago and engaged gun violence survivors and activists to create two large scale issue advocacy projects. The Gun Violence History Book is a literal history of gun violence that is so thick that we were able to shoot it with a bullet and the bullet stopped someplace in the middle. The book begs the question: if the history of gun violence can literally stop a bullet, why can’t our lawmakers pass laws that can stop this brutal history from repeating itself. The Most Dangerous Street project highlights the need for additional funding to the parts of Chicago that experience the most gun violence through community investment by using lasers and stories to create a narrative about Chicago’s gun violence problem. These projects have garnered thousands of views and motivated people across the state to email their legislator in support of better policy.