Gun Safety
The Goals
Our goals are moderate, achievable, and urgently needed.
Despite the political stalemate over guns in America, Metro IAF believes it is possible to:
- Significantly reduce the number of firearms-related deaths, injuries and crimes in America.
- Safeguard the ability of law-abiding Americans to own firearms for personal use.
- Modernize and stabilize the U.S. gun industry.
The following changes in the gun industry should be pursued by all parties:
Dealer Networks That Manufacturers Can Be Proud Of
Smarter,
Safer Guns
For ten years, United Power has chipped away to find ways to take on the gun industry and save lives. The Gun Safety Consortium has grown to be a national effort joining 19 law enforcement agencies in eight states and cities as disparate as Colorado State Patrol, Cleveland, St. Petersburg, Florida and Park Ridge, Illinois together to test and create new technologies for safer guns. Effective locks that make a gun operable only by the registered gun owner will reduce violent crime, accidental shootings, and suicides. It will someday lead to ‘safe’ guns that use biometrics to ensure that firearms are used only by licensed gun owners. To date, Consortium police departments have completed 150 product evaluations. We are also working with a major healthcare organization in New York to conduct an academic study of gun owner behavior related to secure gun storage. On the federal level, we have been in conversation with the ATF and Department of Justice to press for funding of these advanced technology products and support for more law enforcement departments to join the effort. In 2023 we expect to begin testing personalized guns (smart guns) with law enforcement.
Our tax dollars buy 40% of the guns in America for military and law enforcement purposes. This is enormous market power.
Associated Initiatives
DO NOT STAND IDLY BY
Since the kickoff of our campaign in March 2013, Do Not Stand Idly by has evolved into a distinct strategy for action. Despite the constant rhetoric about curbing gun violence both by politicians in Chicago as well as those in Washington, very little action has taken place to make us safer. Meanwhile, innocent people continue to be killed and massive firearm manufacturing companies continue to make unprecedented amounts of cash selling their products to whoever will buy them.
It is time to hold these corporations accountable.
Companies like Glock, Smith & Wesson, Sig Sauer, and Berretta can reform the way in which they distribute firearms to ensure they don’t fall into the wrong hands. Furthermore, they can create safer gun models to cut down on accidental gun-related deaths.
United Power, and any citizen concerned about gun violence in their city, can put the pressure on these companies NOW. Firearms corporations make a significant portion of their profits selling their products to police forces around the country. Our tax money sustains these companies. It is time our government to use its leverage to force these companies to reform their reckless policies.
