Gary Mayor Receives HCGV
Award
Scott L. King, Mayor of Gary, Indiana, received the "Courage to Make a Difference" Award from Hoosiers Concerned About Gun Violence when he was the keynote speaker at its annual meeting held at Saint Thomas Aquinas Church, Indianapolis, on November 8, 2003.
Kathleen George, President of HCGV, lauded his efforts in preventing gun violence in his city and his continued leadership in the state and nation in standing up to the gun lobby. " We would like to see other Indiana lawmakers and politicians follow in Mayor King's footsteps and address the epidemic of gun violence as a public health problem, not a political wedge issue."
Towne and Garber Presented HCGV Courage Awards
At the annual meeting, HCGV also honored two community leaders for their continuing work to reduce violence in Indiana. President Kathy George awarded the "Courage to Make a Difference" Award to Julie Garber, Director of the Manchester College Plowshares Project; and Marian K. Towne, a long standing board member of HCGV.
In presenting the awards, President George said:
"For anyone who asks what can one person do, we point to the work of Julie Garber and Marian K. Towne, who have been outstanding community leaders and who have worked tirelessly to reduce gun violence in Indiana. We are proud to honor these fine
leaders, yet we understand that our work is not finished. We hope to see more people get involved in their communities and hold lawmakers accountable for cowering to the gun lobby."
The plaque presented to Marian Towne contained a quotation from one of Marian's favorite peacemakers, Robert Kennedy, from a speech he made in Indianapolis on the evening of Martin Luther King's assassination in 1968:
"What we need in the United States is not division. . .nor hatred nor violence or lawlessness; but love
and wisdom, and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country."
Gary Wins Right to Sue
In January, 2004, the Indiana Supreme Court in a 5-0 vote ruled that the city of Gary has a right to sue gun manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors over allegations that they sold handguns they knew were likely to end up in the hands of criminals. Further, the court ruled that Gary could pursue its claim that handguns sold without safety devices such as gun locks are negligently designed.
Justice Theodore Boehm wrote the opinion making Indiana the second state supreme court to uphold a city's right to sue gun manufacturers to recover taxpayer money spent as a result of gun violence. Ohio was the first to allow such suits.
The ruling cleared the way for a trial in Lake County Superior Court unless Congress votes to ban lawsuits against the gun industry by cities and victims of gun violence. Gary is one of 33 U. S. cities that have sued the industry.
Unfortunately, the U. S. House of Representatives voted 285-140 on April 9, 2003, to ban gun lawsuits. Similar legislation is now pending before the U. S. Senate. Contact your U. S. Senator to vote against the immunity bill, S. 659.
Gary filed its first suit in August, 1999, after an undercover investigation found that gun dealers were selling weapons to gang members and felons. The Indiana General Assembly responded in 2000 by banning other cities in Indiana from suing.
HCGV Activities Planned for 2004
Kathleen George, President, announced recently that HCGV plans to participate with the Brady Campaign in sponsoring another "Million Mom March" in spring and a Gun Buy-Back in fall of 2004.
It will also focus on supporting legislation to renew and strengthen the Assault Weapons Ban, which is scheduled to expire on September 13, 2004, unless Congress and the President act to extend the ban. Contact your U. S. Congressperson to co-sponsor HR2038 and your Senator to co-sponsor S1431.
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