WHO WE ARE
We are the Falmouth Gun Safety Coalition (FGSC).
We are gun owners and others in Falmouth who work to reduce gun violence through education and legislation.
We believe a ban on semi-automatic mechanisms in firearms will reduce gun violence.
We raise awareness of the enormous human, societal, and economic costs of gun violence, the depth of influence and control by gun lobbies and gun manufacturers on legislation, and the weakness of current gun laws and their enforcement.
We work with other groups to educate our communities about guns and in particular, semi-automatic mechanisms in guns. Such mechanisms are essential parts of guns mass killers use for rapid-fire capability. Originally designed for the military, many of these guns are bought legally in Massachusetts in spite of the reputation Massachusetts has for tough gun laws.
We promote common-sense legislative solutions.
WE’VE BEEN BUSY
We organized around a gun buyback in 2018 done with Falmouth Police here on Cape Cod. Over 100 guns and ammunition were turned in to the police, all of which were destroyed at a scrap metal facility. We rewarded participants with food gift cards purchased with donations from the public. To continue our work in preventing gun violence, in 2019 we defined new goals and incorporated as the Falmouth Gun Safety Coalition (FGSC). Since forming FGSC we:.
Joined the MA Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence
Created a video to demonstrate the problems with the semi-automatic mechanism.
Developed a relationship with staff from Attorney General’s office,
Connected with Gun Violence Prevention groups across the state,
Proposed a Resolution to ban guns that incorporate the semi-automatic mechanism which was accepted unanimously at the 2019 state Democrat Convention,
Helped craft legislation which was modified and introduced in the 2021-22 session as H4038 – An Act Banning Semi-Automatic Firearms,
Testified at legislative hearings on semi-automatic weapons and ghost guns,
Researched town protocols on the disposition of retired police service weapons and worked to have them destroyed rather than sold.
Wrote numerous letters to the editor of local newspapers.
With a Supreme Court scholar clarified Second Amendment concerns which suggested that Heller v. District of Columbia could support a ban on semi-automatic mechanisms.
Successfully Raised support from local and regional foundations.
OUR CONCERNS
We research gun laws and sales and have found evidence of numerous loopholes in Massachusetts gun laws. We have discovered a stunningly high increase in the number of gun sales since 2006. There were 41,160 recorded retail sales in 2006 and there were 135,641 in 2020. There were also 35,736 firearms sold through the Massachusetts Gun Transaction Portal in 2020. This method is used for private sales.
We are concerned about a lack of enforcement of the ban on “assault style” guns being sold by local gun shops.
We are troubled by the ease with which semi-automatics guns can be modified to prevent ballistics identification
We believe the lack of a mass shooting in Massachusetts is, in part, based on luck. With over 100,000 guns being sold at retail every year our “luck” won’t last forever.
WHERE WE ARE GOING
To advance one of FGSC’s goals of banning the semi-automatic mechanism which allows guns to be fired rapidly and are used in most mass killings, we are working with legislators and others stakeholders.
We will continue to work with our local legislators including Representatives Dylan Fernandes and David Vieira, Senator Susan Moran (Plymouth and Barnstable) and with Representative David Linsky of Natick who has authored much of the recent gun safety legislation in Massachusetts.
We are working with staff from Attorney General’s office, and with a noted Supreme Court scholar who helped clarify for us second amendment concerns, and who suggests that Heller v District of Columbia could support a ban on semi-automatic mechanisms.
A ban on semi-automatic mechanisms would include semi-automatic handguns. These handguns, when fitted with extended magazines facilitate high capacity rapid reloading, are just as deadly as “assault rifles” as witnessed in the Virginia Beach mass killings. FGSC is committed to reducing gun violence by using common-sense measures supported by a large majority of the American public.
From Falmouth Gun Buyback Coalition to Falmouth Gun Safety Coalition Our Falmouth Gun Buyback of June 2018 was a success. Over 100 guns and ammunition, knives, and BB guns were turned in at the Falmouth Police Station, all of which were destroyed at a metal scrapping facility. Gun owners were rewarded with food gift cards purchased with donations from a generous public. In order to continue our work in preventing gun violence, in 2019 we defined our new goals and changed our name to Falmouth Gun Safety Coalition (FGSC).