Wellesley Police Chief Calling on Congress to Take Action Against Gun Violence

Chief Terrence Cunningham, who is also Vice President of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), is among the law enforcement leaders who will be calling on Congress to take action on gun control, according to a press release (below). 

A total of 25 representatives of the National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence will come together for a press conference on Wednesday afternoon to call on congress to, 

• Require background checks on all firearm purchases;
• Add disqualifying records on prohibited firearms purchasers to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).
• Ban new semi-automatic assault weapons
• Limit high-capacity ammunition magazines to ten rounds

According to the release, "Law enforcement supports these measures because they know from experience they will prevent dangerous people from acquiring firearms and prevent weapons designed for war from inflicting the devastating carnage seen too often in communities all across America."

Cunningham joins fellow Police Chief Jim Johnson of Baltimore County, Maryland, Chief Anne Glavin from California State University, Northridge and Chief John Dixon of Petersburg, Virginia.

The Wellesley Police Chief met with.

See the previous Patch story for a WPD video news update about that trip.

The following press release was sent via the National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence:

LAW ENFORCEMENT LEADERS TO CALL ON CONGRESS TO TAKE ACTION TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE 

More Than 25 Law Enforcement Leaders Will Gather in Washington, D.C. to Demand Congress Strengthen Nation’s Gun Laws

WHAT: As part of the National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence, an alliance of the nation’s law enforcement leadership organizations, police leaders from across the country will come together in Washington, D.C. this week to demand that Congress act to end the epidemic of gun violence that kills more than 30 Americans every day. Law enforcement leaders representing the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA), the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCC), and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) will stand together at a press conference to call on Congress to:

• Require background checks for all firearm purchasers;
• Improve the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), by ensuring that disqualifying records of all prohibited firearms purchasers are contained in the system;
• Ban new semi-automatic assault weapons; and
• Limit high-capacity ammunition magazines to ten rounds

Law enforcement supports these measures because they know from experience they will prevent dangerous people from acquiring firearms and prevent weapons designed for war from inflicting the devastating carnage seen too often in communities all across America.

WHO:             

• Chief Jim Johnson, Baltimore County, MD; Chair of the National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence; and Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCC) representative to the Partnership
• Chief Anne Glavin, California State University, Northridge; President of the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA)    
• Chief Terry Cunningham, Wellesley, MA; 4th Vice President of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)    
• Chief John Dixon of Petersburg, Virginia; and 2nd Vice President of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE)

WHEN:           

Wednesday, February 27, 2013
1:15 PM EST
Media set-up by 1:00 PM 

WHERE:         

Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill
400 New Jersey Avenue, NW
Capitol Room B

About the National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence 

The Partnership is an alliance of the nation’s law enforcement leadership organizations concerned about the unacceptable level of gun violence in the United States. The Partnership is working to address the pervasive nature of gun violence and its horrific impact on community and officer safety.  The Partnership includes the following member organizations, all of which support expanding background checks to all firearm purchasers, improving records in NICS, and banning new ammunition magazines in excess of ten rounds:

• Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA)
• Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association (HAPCOA)
• International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA)
• International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)
• Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCC)
• National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE)
• National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE)
• Police Executive Research Forum (PERF)
• Police Foundation (PF)

Seven of the nine organizations have also taken positions in support of legislation banning new semi-automatic assault weapons, and enhancing penalties for straw purchasers and gun trafficking.