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99-407: Boston Schoolyard Initiative was created in 1995, following community concern and complaint about the conditions in neglected schoolyards. After comprehensive site assessments and outreach to stakeholders including community residents, environmental groups, educators and city officials, a Task Force under leadership of Mayor Thomas Menino recommended the establishment of BSI. The private sector part of

198-525: A bus tour of twenty-five states in one hundred days starting in Newtown, Connecticut . At each stop "gun violence survivors, mayors, faith leaders, and other community members will read aloud the names of Americans killed with guns since Newtown." This is to encourage members of Congress "to pass common sense gun laws." MAIG organizers issued an apology after speakers mistakenly included the name of Boston marathon bombing perpetrator Tamerlan Tsarnaev among

297-694: A failed amendment, sponsored by West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin (D) and Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey (R), that would have required background checks for all gun sales taking place at gun shows or over the internet. According to Bloomberg, Everytown was founded to match the National Rifle Association of America in political influence. The organization advocates for expanding the background check system for gun buyers through changes in state and federal laws, and supports legislation that would require background checks for all gun sales . The organization also supports state laws requiring

396-412: A family). During his 1993 mayoral campaign, his spokesperson credited this opposition to Menino believing that these ordinances too broadly defined "family" and not outright opposition to similar legislation that would more narrowly define domestic partnerships. Menino supported proposals for clean needle distribution and condom distribution as a city councilor, both of which were aimed at preventing

495-453: A gun forum for 2020 presidential candidates at The Des Moines Register Political Soapbox on August 10, 2019. Everytown has an advisory board composed of mayors, business and military leaders, and survivors of gun violence. As of January 2014, the organization's advisory board consisted of the following members: MAIG membership consists of "more than 1,000 current and former Mayors." MAIG membership dropped 15%, from 1,046 to 885, between

594-548: A law enforcement agency or prosecutor in connection with a specific criminal investigation, and any data so released is deemed inadmissible in a civil lawsuit. Representative Tiahrt stated that his amendment intended to protect the privacy of gun owners and to prevent abuse of the data by anyone outside of law enforcement agencies. Mayors Against Illegal Guns sought the repeal of the Tiahrt Amendment for these reasons: Joining Mayors Against Illegal Guns in supporting

693-635: A list of shooting victims read aloud at a gun control rally in Concord, New Hampshire —an error noted in the New Hampshire Union Leader and criticized by the New Hampshire Republican Party, amongst others. Further inspection found that the list also contained the names of at least ten murder suspects including former Los Angeles Police Department officer-turned-fugitive Christopher Dorner . In response,

792-484: A longtime friendship with outgoing mayor Flynn. However, their relationship was noted to have become somewhat terser during the period in which Flynn was preparing to hand over the office to Menino. One cause for their rift was that, after Menino had promised he would appoint 100 new police officers when he took office, Flynn beat him to the chase and did so himself, which angered Menino. Upon Flynn's resignation on July 12, 1993, Menino became acting Mayor of Boston until

891-679: A number of environmentally-focused actions. In the last year of Menino's tenure, the city faced the Boston Marathon bombing , an incident of domestic terrorism . Menino was a liberal member of the Democratic Party . Menino led a powerful political machine in Boston and also played roles in national politics, such as serving as president of the United States Conference of Mayors from 2002 to 2003, bringing

990-515: A pilot program, concepts and designs for Outdoor Classrooms within schoolyards. The BSI has designed and created 26 Outdoor Classrooms for K-5 schools and 2 in High Schools. Teachers unfamiliar with working with students outside the school classroom may be concerned that if they take students outside they will lose control of student attention and focus. Through evaluation of student and teacher use of renovated schoolyards and Outdoor Classrooms,

1089-457: A recent rise in its crime rate. However, Menino had stayed above the fray, largely not responding to her attacks. In the 2009 general election , Menino faced Michael F. Flaherty after Sam Yoon and Kevin McCrea were eliminated in the nonpartisan primary. Menino won 50.52% of the vote in the primary and 57.27% of the vote in the general election. In May 2002, Menino was elected president of

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1188-559: A reputation as a councilor, "for diligence and attention to detail." In 1993, Menino was voted by his fellow councilors to serve as president of the Boston City Council over Maura Hennigan . This had been somewhat an upset victory . In 1986, Mayor Flynn offered Menino the position of Parks and Recreation Commissioner. In response to Flynn's proposal, Menino said it "surprised" him, but that he does "think about all opportunities that come before [him]." Menino did not assume

1287-485: A result of the NRA's letter-writing campaign. Mayor Bloomberg, however, has said that while 60 mayors have left the organization since the NRA's campaign was launched, another 110 mayors have joined. Some of the NRA's criticism has included attacks on Bloomberg, MAIG's co-founder. In a cover story of their news magazine America's 1st Freedom , the NRA has described Mayor Bloomberg as "a billionaire, Boston-grown evangelist for

1386-479: A slew of stories in The Boston Globe and The Boston Herald during her campaign with negative allegations that hurt her public image. Menino won 73.37% of the vote in the primary election and 76.06% of the vote in the general election. In 2005 , Menino won 67.52% of the vote against Maura Hennigan. Menino faced a negative campaign from Henigan, who blamed Menino for the city's high cost of living and

1485-506: A specific investigation, say, for identifying and targeting trafficking patterns." Congressman Tiahrt responded to MAIG's position on his amendment in a congressional statement in 2007: At issue was a campaign urging repeal of the Tiahrt Amendment, which prohibits the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) from releasing gun trace data to the public. The ATF gun trace database contains investigation-specific information and

1584-688: A study by municipal government of homelessness . He also advocated as for the Boston City Hospital to be reorganized. In March 1993, President Clinton nominated Mayor Flynn to be the United States Ambassador to the Holy See . Mayor Flynn accepted the nomination, effectively making Menino, who was President of the Boston City Council at the time, the presumptive future acting mayor. Menino had had

1683-406: A third-grader pressing the trigger on an officer's holstered weapon, where the firearm discharged to the floor. Everytown's basis for a school shooting is defined as "any time a firearm discharges a live round inside a school building or on a school campus or grounds". USA Today reported that the "real number" of school shootings since January 1, 2018, was six. By Time 's standards, the number

1782-547: Is Everytown's brown coat student wing. After the February 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman-Douglas High School in Parkland Florida, many students implored Everytown for Gun Safety to found a branch dedicated to student activism. In response, Everytown founded the student organization and began accepting applications from students who wanted to found their own chapters of the group in early 2018. Two days after

1881-476: Is an American non-profit organization which advocates for gun control and against gun violence . Everytown was formed in 2013 due to a merger between Mayors Against Illegal Guns and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America . The organization works to "support efforts to educate policy makers, as well the press and the public, about the consequences of gun violence, and promote efforts to keep guns out of

1980-453: Is behind the Tiahrt repeal campaign. The group claims to have the support of numerous police chiefs across the country, which is also misleading according to National FOP President Chuck Canterbury : "The mayors would have you believe that law enforcement supports giving them the information on gun traces because many of their employees--namely police chiefs, who often serve at the pleasure of

2079-565: Is made available to law enforcement agencies and prosecutors for criminal investigations. The ATF and the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), the nation's largest law enforcement organization, support the Tiahrt Amendment and have requested its reauthorization every year since 2003. Both organizations claimed repeal of the Tiahrt Amendment would jeopardize ongoing criminal investigations and risk the lives of undercover law enforcement officers ... The organization Mayors Against Illegal Guns

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2178-642: Is on the rise, making sure that our law enforcement officers have all the tools they need to fight crime should be our top priority. But instead of providing those tools, the Tiahrt Amendment ties the hands of police in their effort to halt illegal gun trafficking and sales. I am proud to join the Mayors Against Illegal Guns in their fight against this dangerous legislation. Our communities and the brave men and women who risk their lives everyday to protect us deserve more from Congress. His administration, however, sought only minor modifications to

2277-505: The 2004 Democratic National Convention to Boston, and co-founding the group Mayors Against Illegal Guns with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg . After the end of his mayoralty, he was appointed professor of the practice of political science at Boston University . He also served as co-founder and co-director of the Initiative on Cities , an urban leadership research center based at Boston University. Menino's post-mayoralty life

2376-465: The 2008 New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary . Menino spoke at the 2012 Democratic National Convention . In September 2012, he endorsed Democratic nominee Elizabeth Warren in the 2012 United States Senate election in Massachusetts . Throughout Menino's tenure, the city of Boston had an operating surplus. This led Moody's Investors Service and Standard & Poor 's to boost

2475-544: The Boston City Council and had been elected president of the City Council in 1993. Dubbed an "urban mechanic", Menino had a reputation for focusing on "nuts and bolts" issues and enjoyed very high public approval ratings as mayor. During his tenure, Boston saw a significant amount of new development, including the Seaport District , the redevelopment of Dudley Square (today known as "Nubian Square"), and

2574-479: The Boston City Council . Menino's overall vote total of 17,561 would not be surpassed by any district council candidate until Matt O'Malley received 18,204 votes in 2013 . The 1983 Boston mayoral election coincided with the City Council election, and Menino endorsed Raymond Flynn for mayor over Mel King . Menino represented District 5 for nine years. He ran unopposed for re-election in November 1985 . He

2673-486: The Boston Teachers Union sued, questioning Menino's powers as acting mayor to make such an appointment. A judge dismissed the lawsuit for lack of standing. In early August 1993, Menino signed a grant agreement with the state which advanced $ 3.7 million in state funds to be allotted for the construction of a materials recycling facility in the city. Menino put a freeze on water utility rates in place in

2772-523: The Great Depression . Menino initially ran a low-profile campaign, having informally indicated his intentions ahead of taking office as acting mayor for months. After taking office as acting mayor, Menino ran a sort of " Rose Garden campaign " that played up his acting incumbency and leveraged the perks of the office. He formally declared himself as a candidate for mayor on August 16, 1993, after many other candidates had already formally entered

2871-729: The March for Our Lives rally was held in Washington, D.C., Everytown announced a $ 1 million grant program would be made available to accelerate already-burgeoning growth. Students Demand Action chapters, in addition to pursuing goals set by student leaders and advisors, work with Everytown for Gun Safety's national office as well as local and state Moms Demand Action chapters to coordinate advocacy. In early 2019, Moms Demand Action hosted legislative advocacy days in coordination with local Students Demand Action chapters in multiple states. According to Everytown, over 200 groups have been founded as of

2970-556: The Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in December 2012 and a count reported in February 2014. NRA president James W. Porter , said "there's very little political will to take on any of these gun issues." Some mayors said the group had moved from being against illegal guns to simply being against guns. MAIG chairman John Feinblatt said the group has the same principles as before and that the membership drop

3069-553: The South Shore and into Plymouth County . After United States congressional apportionment left Massachusetts only 10 congressional seats, Donnelly's district disappeared, and Menino chose not to challenge Representatives from the other districts. Menino opposed several domestic ordinances that would have expanded rights to same-sex couples in domestic partnerships , including the 1991 Family Protection Act (which would have extended benefits to any household registering itself as

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3168-498: The Stoneman Douglas High School shooting on February 14, 2018, Everytown stated that the shooting was the 18th school shooting of the year, a statistic The Washington Post called "flat wrong". The instance Everytown counted as the first school shooting of the year regarded a 31-year-old man's suicide in the parking lot of a Michigan school that had been closed for seven months. Another instance regarded

3267-507: The United States Conference of Mayors . He held this role for thirteen months. Menino brought the Democratic National Convention to Boston in 2004 . The convention was controversial due to fundraising difficulties, security concerns, protests by unions, and inconvenience to residents. But Menino estimated that the convention generated $ 150 million in business for the city; meanwhile, other estimates suggest that

3366-459: The nanny state " who leads a "cabal". James O. E. Norell, contributing editor, said Bloomberg is "Beholden to nothing except his own ambitions, the mayor has established himself as a kind of national gun-control vigilante." The cover of the issue, according to The New York Times , depicts Bloomberg as a "giant octopus, looking fierce and slightly insane, with serpentine arms swirling behind him". The NRA's web site lists 73 mayors that have quit

3465-469: The 'Tiahrt amendment.' For the men and women in uniform who are fighting illegal guns, it is a matter of officer safety and good police work." NY Police Commissioner Ray Kelly , the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the FOP have all requested this language to protect investigations and law enforcement officers. Hopefully it is true that not one law enforcement officer ever died prior to

3564-458: The 15 drafted and signed a statement of principles and set a goal to expand their membership to 50 mayors by the end of 2006. That goal was met six months ahead of schedule and led to its current membership of more than 900 mayors, with members from both major political parties and 40 states. Menino supported the 2008 presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton , sending his own campaign workers to New Hampshire to work for her candidacy ahead of

3663-458: The 60 votes necessary for passage in the Senate. After the Senate vote, Mayors Against Illegal Guns ran ads in 13 states either in support of Senators who voted to pass the legislation or in opposition to lawmakers who voted against it. The group spent approximately $ 12 million on these advertisements. Mayors Against Illegal Guns also ran a bus tour, similar to the bus tour it organized following

3762-765: The ATF under the Bush administration (2001–2008) was unable to produce any evidence that law enforcement officers were harmed by the agency's release of crime gun trace data prior to 2003. In July 2007, after the House Appropriations Committee rebuffed attempts to repeal the amendment, the Senate Appropriations Committee went further, approving a bill that, according to The New York Times , "threaten[ed] law enforcement officials with prison time for using gun tracing data beyond

3861-650: The BSI has developed methods to enhance the use of the outdoors in schoolyards to support required school curriculum. Professional development workshops and the writing of curriculum are used by BSI to connect programs in science and literacy to the Schoolyard and Outdoor Classroom. Both the schoolyard and Outdoor Classroom have been shown to be a valuable expansion of the learning environment in Boston Public Schools. The Boston Schoolyard Initiative supports

3960-524: The BSI partnerships is a group of philanthropies called the Boston Schoolyard Funders Collaborative. As a result of this collaborative effort, BSI has renovated 74 schoolyards into places for active play with modern and safe play equipment and play surfaces. In 2004, observing the need and opportunity to create stronger connections between everyday curriculum and the outdoor environment, the BSI began developing, through

4059-541: The Boston Redevelopment Authority. Menino again worked on Timilty's campaign in the 1979 Boston mayoral election . Menino was elected Boston city councilor for the newly created District 5 in November 1983 , capturing 75 percent of the vote against Richard E. Kenney. Timilty would later claim that District 5's boundaries had been effectively designed with the goal of designing a district that would be guaranteed to elect his protégé Menino to

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4158-580: The MAIG, including 15 in Pennsylvania, alone. Mayor Mary Wolf of Williamsport, Pennsylvania , said she resigned "because she thought [MAIG] was attempting to erode all gun ownership, not just illegal guns." John Tkazik, mayor of Poughkeepsie, New York , who is a member of the NRA and a former member of MAIG resigned, saying he and 50 others also resigned because "MAIG became a vehicle for Bloomberg to promote his personal gun-control agenda - Violating

4257-495: The Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens ... It did not take long to realize that MAIG's agenda was much more than ridding felons of illegal guns; that under the guise of helping mayors facing a crime and drug epidemic, MAIG intended to promote confiscation of guns from law-abiding citizens. The NRA has said that MAIG has used mayor's names without permission or were otherwise misidentified. Following

4356-508: The aftermath of the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida , the group launched a campaign asking companies providing streaming services to remove the NRA's online channel ( NRATV ) from their offer. On April 27, 2023, Moms Demand Action announced the appointment of its first executive director, Angela Ferrell-Zabala , who was previously Senior Vice President of Movement Building for Everytown. Students Demand Action for Gun Sense in America

4455-435: The amendment during the most recent appropriations cycle. Moms Demand Action has also advocated against constitutional carry , also known as permitless carry , unrestricted carry , or Vermont carry , which refers to legislation that legalizes the public concealed or open carry of firearms without a license or permit. On March 21, 2022, Indiana became the 24th state to legalize constitutional carry; Moms Demand Action

4554-529: The amendment, vowed to "score" the vote of legislators. The amendment was defeated 58 to 39, the first time the NRA had lost a vote on the Senate floor in a decade. After the 2011 Tucson shooting in which Representative Gabby Giffords (D-AZ) was injured, the organization started a petition called "Fix Gun Checks" to require background checks for all gun purchasers, which received 250,000 signatures. The group also released research demonstrating that 18 states had submitted fewer than 100 mental health records to

4653-677: The background check system, and lent its support for the Fix Gun Checks Act, introduced by New York Senator Charles Schumer and Representative Carolyn McCarthy . The group drove a truck on a two-month tour of the country with planned stops in several states to raise awareness about gun violence. In 2012, the organization worked with retired military leaders to successfully overturn a Congressional amendment prohibiting military commanders and mental health professionals from inquiring about or keeping records of firearms and ammunition in service members' private possession. In April 2013,

4752-550: The city in their areas, believing that development should happen in every neighborhood. In 2001, Governing magazine named Mayor Menino Public "Official of the Year" for effective neighborhood development in Boston. This model has spread to other cities as a result of its effectiveness. Menino oversaw the development of the Seaport District in South Boston , also known as the "Innovation District". Menino also gave priority to

4851-443: The city's bond rating a combined nine times over the course of Menino's mayoralty. Menino was a cofounder of Mayors Against Illegal Guns. Menino supported abortion rights. He also supported public funding of abortions. Menino was a supporter of gay rights . By the time he was elected mayor in 1993, Menino had already taken the public position of supporting that gay and lesbian couples be allowed to act as foster parents . At

4950-414: The city, which were at rising due to the need to pay off the expenses of a court-ordered cleanup of Boston Harbor . Menino's freeze was popular with the city's residents, though there were questions as to whether an acting mayor actually held the authority to take such action. Menino would win the 1993 Boston mayoral election, becoming mayor. This made him the city's first non-Irish American mayor since

5049-833: The city. He was among the first mayors in the United States to extend such benefits to same-sex partners of municipal employees. Menino came out in support of same-sex marriage in 2003. At one point, Menino refused to partake in the South Boston St. Patrick's Day parade due to their exclusion of gays. In 2012, Menino headed the Mayors for Freedom to Marry effort. In 2012, Menino came out against having Chick-fil-A open restaurants in Boston, citing their opposition to same-sex marriage and what he called Boston's status as "a leader when it comes to social justice and opportunities for all." Menino would state that he knew there

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5148-558: The city." McGregory also reported that some of Menino's City Council colleagues believed that Menino had an undistinguished legislative record as a city councilor. During his acting mayoralty, Menino temporarily appointed Alfreda Harristo to fill a vacancy on the Boston School Committee . After Harristo cast the decisive vote in the Boston School Committee's rejecting of a teacher contract proposal,

5247-434: The coalition. The initial group consisted of 15 mayors who signed a statement of principles. By the end of 2014, there were 855 mayors in the coalition. In April 2014, MAIG merged with Moms Demand Action to form Everytown for Gun Safety. The launch of Everytown occurred nearly one year after the U.S. Senate debated a series of changes to federal gun laws in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting , including

5346-605: The convention generated $ 14.8 million for the city. On April 25, 2006, Menino and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg hosted a summit at Gracie Mansion in New York City, during which the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition was formed. The coalition stated its goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets"—Menino remained co-chair there until he left the office. The initial group consisted of 15 mayors;

5445-711: The creation of a federal gun trafficking statute. Prior to the inception of Everytown, a priority goal of Mayors Against Illegal Guns was to repeal the Tiahrt Amendment , named after its sponsor, former Congressman Todd Tiahrt (R-KS). Since its passage in 2003 as an amendment to the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, the Tiahrt Amendment has forbidden the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) from releasing information from its firearm trace database to anyone other than

5544-448: The design process with a community based Schoolyard Design Workbook, and protocols for maintenance and sustainable use of schoolyards. BSI works with school communities to help schoolyards to become places for Environmental education ; summer educational programs; health, fitness and wellness programs; and in some cases sites for community gardening . Thomas Menino Thomas Michael Menino (December 27, 1942 – October 30, 2014)

5643-455: The enactment of the Tiahrt protection—Rep. Tiahrt joins the FOP, ATF and others in supporting a policy that will keep it that way." Kelly, however, has participated in events calling for the repeal of the Tiahrt Amendment. The ATF under the Obama administration has issued no formal position on the amendment. While a Senator, President Barack Obama stated: At a time when bloodshed on our streets

5742-512: The end of 2013, Moms Demand Action had grown into an advocacy group with 130,000 members and chapters in all 50 states. The group has cited the example of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) as a model for its establishment. Moms Demand Action has lobbied members of Congress to expand background checks for individuals purchasing guns, and claims to have persuaded Starbucks to ban guns from its coffee shops. Moms Demand Action endorses congressional candidates. An ad campaign launched by

5841-507: The end of 2018. In September 2009, the NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) stated that Mayors Against Illegal Guns is not "only concerned with 'illegal' guns" but is actually "anti-gun". The NRA encouraged members to ask their mayors to resign from MAIG. In October 2009, NRA spokeswoman Rachel Parsons stated that "the coalition's participating mayors from both large and small cities dropped from 463 to less than 400" as

5940-455: The existing Fenway Park was instead renovated. After new ownership abandoned the idea of replacing Fenway Park, Menino supported their efforts to renovate the stadium, and also launched a review of the potential new development in the surrounding neighborhood. Following a 2004 rezoning effort of the neighborhood surrounding Fenway Park, the area began to see major new developments. Mayors Against Illegal Guns Everytown for Gun Safety

6039-499: The focus of MAIG was to promote legislation that made rifles and magazines illegal. In 2009, at least four mayors issued public statements in reaffirmation of their membership and praise of the coalition, in response to the NRA's letter-writing campaign. One mayor reaffirmed her membership while stating "Nothing that this organization has lobbied for has been to get rid of guns altogether or to take away people's Second Amendment rights". Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America

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6138-667: The group announced plans to support a similar initiative in Nevada . On December 8, 2014, the Nevada initiative qualified to be on that state's 2016 ballot. The initiative passed, but is on hold due to state Attorney General Adam Laxalt 's interpretation of the ballot language regarding involvement of the FBI making it unenforceable. On October 4, 2017, the initiative support campaign, Nevadans for Background Checks, filed suit against Laxalt and Governor Brian Sandoval , demanding that they implement

6237-442: The group compared laws concerning assault weapons with laws that have successfully banned other things in certain areas of the United States, including Kinder Surprise chocolates, certain books , and dodgeball . In December 2013, Moms Demand Action announced that it had merged with Mayors Against Illegal Guns to form Everytown for Gun Safety. As of October 2017 , it says it has 4 million members. In February 2018, in

6336-510: The group issued a statement explaining that it used a list compiled by Slate.com as its source. During the 2014 elections, Everytown endorsed over 100 candidates for office in 28 states. Everytown was active in supporting the passage of Washington State Initiative 594, a successful ballot initiative that changed Washington State law to require background checks for all gun purchases. According to public records, Everytown's expenditures in support of Initiative 594 total over $ 3.2 million, and

6435-563: The group, Everytown supported the passage of laws intended to block convicted domestic abusers and people subject to domestic violence restraining orders in six states in 2014: Louisiana, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin. The organization supports gun safety technology and laws requiring safe storage of firearms to prevent accidental child gun deaths, citing the high rate of firearm injuries among American children compared to other countries. The organization also favors strengthening penalties for gun trafficking through

6534-571: The hands of criminals". The group has focused on efforts to require universal background checks on firearms purchases. The organization also produces research and studies on gun violence. Everytown for Gun Safety is largely financed by Michael Bloomberg . Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG) was formed in April 2006 during a summit co-hosted by mayors Michael Bloomberg of New York City and Thomas Menino of Boston at New York's mayoral residence, Gracie Mansion . Bloomberg and Menino co-chaired

6633-668: The law. Everytown has announced that it will consider ballot initiative campaigns in Arizona , Maine , and Oregon . In December 2015, the organization teamed up with the National Basketball Association (NBA) to produce a series of ads calling for an end to gun violence, without offering specific policy recommendations. NBA players featured in the ads included Stephen Curry and Carmelo Anthony . The ads first aired on Christmas Day that year. Everytown, Moms Demand Action, and Students Demand Action sponsored

6732-431: The mayor--have publicly backed their coalition," explained Canterbury. "But the officers in the field who are actually working illegal gun cases know that releasing sensitive information about pending cases can jeopardize the integrity of an investigation or even place the lives of undercover officers in danger. That is why the Fraternal Order of Police has always supported language protecting firearms trace data, now known as

6831-495: The negative impact of pricing longtime residents out of neighborhoods. More than 12,000 new college dormitory rooms were constructed in Boston during Menino's tenure. In 2010, legislation was passed creating a downtown business improvement district , something Menino had been pushing for since the 1990s. Menino also known for focusing on neighborhood development in Boston, organizing services by neighborhood, and appointing neighborhood coordinators who serve as ambassadors from

6930-483: The organization led efforts to pass legislation in the U.S. Senate to require a background check for all gun sales in commercial settings. Known as the Manchin-Toomey Amendment (Amendment 715 of the 113th Congress), the legislation would have expanded the requirements for conducting background checks to cover all gun sales made over the internet and at gun shows. The amendment ultimately failed to win

7029-451: The organization sought an injunction to block the distribution of blueprints for 3D printed firearms by Defense Distributed . The group also advocated for the prohibition of bump stocks following the 2017 Las Vegas Shooting . In April 2008, Walmart — the largest retailer of firearms in the U.S. — voluntarily adopted a number of new sales practices at the behest of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, to "help ensure that guns do not fall into

7128-495: The position but was re-elected in November 1987 , with 87 percent of the vote. He also announced a candidacy for Suffolk County sheriff in 1986, but abandoned his candidacy afterward. In 1992, he planned to run for the United States Congress seat that Rep. Brian J. Donnelly (D-Dorchester) was vacating. This 11th district seat stretched from the Boston neighborhood of Dorchester through communities on

7227-411: The race. A number of actions that he took immediately after taking office were characterized by analysts as shoring up his image for a mayoral run. When running for mayor, Menino pledged to serve "only two terms, and that's it for me." However, his tenure ultimately exceeded this in length. Menino ran for a third term in 2001 and clarified that "I promised I'd serve two terms–in every century." Menino

7326-403: The redevelopment of Dudley Square (today known as "Nubian Square"). Over his tenure, there was roughly $ 330 million of private development there. Menino was involved with negotiating with Boston Red Sox ownership and the state of Massachusetts a deal to provide public funds to build a new baseball stadium near the existing Fenway Park . However, the Boston City Council rejected the deal, and

7425-412: The redevelopment of the area surrounding Fenway Park . However, during his mayoralty, gentrification priced some longtime residents out of neighborhoods, and allegations were made of favoritism by Menino towards certain developers. During Menino's tenure as mayor, crime in Boston fell to unprecedented lows, and the city came to rank among the safest large cities in the United States. Menino also undertook

7524-595: The remainder of his tenure as City Councilor. He earned a reputation for having a strong understanding of the city budget of how to allocate funds to assist residents. He was known to be a "vigilant watchdog of the city budget," as hailed by The Boston Globe . He was a founding member of the City Council's Tourists and Tourism Committee which was created in 1991. Menino received praise for what The Boston Globe ' s Adrian Walker called "aptitude for details of city government", and some criticism for his closeness to Mayor Flynn. Walker also wrote that Menino had received

7623-782: The repeal of the Tiahrt Amendment were 10 national law enforcement organizations, including the International Association of Chiefs of Police , the International Brotherhood of Police Officers , the Major Cities Chiefs Association and the Police Executive Research Forum ; state law enforcement associations representing 22 states; and individual police chiefs representing 39 states. The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence has pointed out that

7722-451: The reporting of mental health records to the national background check system. Everytown supports banning assault weapons . Everytown has supported laws that prohibit domestic abusers from obtaining firearms. Internal research produced by Everytown concludes that states that require background checks for private handgun sales have lower rates of intimate partner gun violence than states that do not require background checks. According to

7821-420: The same ballot, was rejected with 55.3% voting no and 44.7% voting yes. The group also supported the reelection of Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper (D) and Colorado State Senators who supported the 2013 passage of gun violence prevention laws in the state, including a law that requires background checks on all gun sales. Following on the organization's successful advocacy of Washington State Initiative 594,

7920-544: The shooting of Giffords, entitled "No More Names". The No More Names tour visited 25 states in 100 days to build local support for passing gun violence prevention legislation in Congress. No More Names is a program launched on June 14, 2013 (the six month anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting ) with the stated purpose to "pass common-sense laws, including comprehensive background checks, that will reduce gun violence and save lives." The program revolves around

8019-743: The state legislative committee on housing and urban development, and served as an aide to state senator Joseph F. Timilty . Menino met at the age of nineteen Joseph F. Timilty, who became a political mentor to him, in 1961. Menino began working in sales at Metropolitan Life Insurance in 1963. He left the insurance industry in 1968 after Timilty got him an entry-level position at the Boston Redevelopment Authority . Menino worked on Timilty's 1971 and 1975 mayoral campaigns. In retribution for Menino working on Timilty's effort to unseat him, Mayor Kevin White fired Menino from

8118-432: The time of his 1993 mayoral campaign, Menino took a position supporting an existing municipal executive order which allowed city employees sick leave or bereavement time in instances in which a domestic partner or other household member has taken ill or died. In 1998, Menino signed an executive order allowing domestic partners and dependents of gay, lesbian, and unmarried municipal employees to receive health benefits from

8217-503: The transmission of HIV/AIDS . Menino's support for condom distribution included supporting distribution in schools. In his role as Ways and Means Committee chairman, Menino advocated for increasing the funding of AIDS programs. In 1988, Menino authored a 5-point plan outlining steps to stop the spread of AIDS among users of intravenous drugs , including use of needle exchanges, community health vans, street outreach workers, and increased drug rehabilitation facilities. Menino sponsored

8316-432: The upcoming November 1993 election. He was the first Italian American to lead the city. Some initially saw Menino as likely to be a sort of "caretaker" of the office, with Brian McGrory of The Boston Globe writing at the start of Menino's acting mayoralty, that to some, "Menino is believed to be a caretaker, a known quantity, a moderate compromise builder who is unlikely to bring great change or wreak serious harm on

8415-887: The wrong hands". Senior Vice President J. P. Suarez stated that Walmart signed the 10-point code of the "Responsible Firearms Retailer Partnership" to help the corporation "fine tune the things we're already doing, and further strengthen our standards". He added, "We hope other retailers will join us in adopting the code." In 2009, Mayors Against Illegal Guns lobbied against the Thune Amendment on concealed firearms, taking out full paper ads in hundreds of newspapers and directly lobbying then Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter . The Thune Amendment, often referred to as "Concealed Carry Reciprocity", would have changed federal law to require each U.S. state to recognize permits from all other states. Currently, each state decides which other states' permits they will recognize. The NRA, which supported

8514-470: Was "just the natural course of events that mayors leave and join our coalition based on the electoral cycle." However, several founding mayors ended up in prison such as Kwame Kilpatrick, mayor of Detroit. Meanwhile, in Rockford , Illinois, Mayor Larry Morrissey believed "Mayors Against Illegal Guns" would be a group focused on guns that were illegally possessed by prohibited persons , but instead found

8613-640: Was a liberal and a Democrat . Menino led a powerful political machine in Boston. In 2009, the Boston Globe wrote that "Menino has assembled the most extensive political operation in modern Boston history over his 16 years in office, rivaling that of legendary mayor James Michael Curley . He's done it the old-fashioned way, by blurring the lines between politics and policy, between city work and campaign work, delivering services to everyday residents and warnings to his rare foes—many of them intended to strengthen his electoral standing." In 1997 , Menino

8712-573: Was a factory foreman at Westinghouse Electric , and his grandparents lived on the first floor of his parents' Hyde Park home. In his youth, the Italian-American Menino was exposed to anti-Italian prejudice. After graduating from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Jamaica Plain in 1960. Menino enrolled in three night classes at Boston College before abandoning his college education. Menino had decided that college

8811-505: Was again re-elected in November 1989 (running unopposed) and November 1991 (capturing 82 percent of the vote). In 1984, Menino was named chairman of the council's Planning and Development Committee. In 1988, he became chairman of the City Council's Finance Committee. This committee was renamed the City Council Ways and Means Committee in 1990, a name that it continues to hold today. He remained chairman of this committee for

8910-484: Was among the top five contributors to the Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility, the Washington state group formed to support the passage of Initiative 594. Everytown also opposed Washington State Initiative 591, a countermeasure to Initiative 594 supported by gun rights groups. Initiative 594 was approved on November 4, 2014, with 59.3% voting yes and 40.7% voting no. Initiative 591, which appeared on

9009-403: Was an American politician who served as the mayor of Boston , from 1993 to 2014. He was the city's longest-serving mayor. He was elected mayor in 1993 after first serving three months in the position of "acting mayor" following the resignation of his predecessor Raymond Flynn (who had been appointed United States ambassador to the Holy See ). Before serving as mayor, Menino was a member of

9108-563: Was founded on December 15, 2012, one day after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting . The organization was founded for mothers to advocate for violation of the second amendment and gun ownership prevention as a campaign of the Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund. The group was founded by Shannon Watts in Indianapolis , Indiana and originally began as a grassroots Facebook group page titled "One Million Moms for Gun Control". By

9207-498: Was initially founded in Indianapolis, Indiana and, even so, the bill was able to pass despite staunch opposition by the organization. Everytown has filed amicus curiae briefs in support of New Jersey's high-capacity magazine ban , California's may-issue permitting law, and New York's may-issue permitting law. A brief was filed challenging Florida's state preemption law against local firearm ordinances. In July 2018,

9306-653: Was little he could do as mayor to prevent the company from opening restaurants in the city, but maintained that they were not welcome in the city. During Menino's tenure, the city's total square footage of office and residential space increased by 11%, and 80 million square feet of development was constructed. Menino often faced criticism accusing him of playing "favorites" with developers. Between 2000 and 2010, Boston saw 20,500 new units of housing constructed, including 5,500 units of affordable housing . The influx of millions of dollars of new high-priced housing during Menino's tenure contributed to gentrification , which had

9405-486: Was not for him much to his father's dismay. Carl Menino once recalled his son's reasons for opting out of higher education: "Truman didn't go to college," the younger Menino would tell his father (President Harry S. Truman was Menino's favorite president and was his personal hero). Menino eventually received an associate degree in Business Management in 1963 at the now-defunct Mount Ida College , which

9504-439: Was re-elected, running formally unopposed after no challenger managed to collect enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot. In the 2001 mayoral general election , Menino faced Peggy Davis-Mullen , with a third opponent, Althea Garrison , having been eliminated in the nonpartisan primary. Menino was heavily favored to win, with an approval rating near 85%. Davis-Mullen lacked in name recognition and additionally faced

9603-519: Was then known as Chamberlayne Junior College. During his tenure as a Boston city councilor in 1984, Menino enrolled as an undergrad at the University of Massachusetts Boston . He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in community planning in January 1988. Prior to running for office, Menino worked as a housing relocation specialist for the Boston Redevelopment Authority, was a research assistant for

9702-399: Was ultimately elected to a fifth term in 2009. Menino served an unprecedented and unsurpassed five terms as mayor of Boston. On March 28, 2013, Menino announced that he would not seek a sixth term. After Menino's death, Katherine Q. Seelye of The New York Times wrote that Menino "presided over one of the most successful urban renaissances in modern American history" as mayor. Menino

9801-511: Was unexpectedly cut short as he was diagnosed with an advanced form of cancer of unknown primary origin in March 2014 and died from the disease seven months later. Menino was born on December 27, 1942, in Readville , a part of Boston's Hyde Park neighborhood. He was the son of Susan and Carl Menino, both of Italian descent. Readville was a largely Italian-American community. Menino's father

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