135-478: Giffords is an American advocacy and research organization focused on promoting gun control . The organization draws its name from one of its co-founders, Gabby Giffords , a former Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives . Rep. Giffords was shot along with 18 others at a constituent meeting in Tucson in 2011 . The organization has three parts: a 501(c)(4) lobbying arm, a 501(c)(3) research arm, and
270-578: A Circuit Court judge for Accomack and Northampton counties. Wescott Northam's own father, Thomas Long Northam, had served as a judge in the same court. Thomas Long Northam died when Wescott Northam was only fourteen, and a few years later, the family farm in Modest Town, Virginia , where Wescott had been born, was sold. The farm had first come into the family through Ralph Northam's great-great-grandfather, James, who along with his son, Levi Jacob, had owned slaves – one of whom, Raymond Northam,
405-440: A Ku Klux Klan hood on Northam's page in the yearbook. A spokesman for Eastern Virginia Medical School confirmed that the image appeared in its 1984 yearbook. Shortly after the news broke, Northam apologized for appearing in the photo and issued a statement saying: Earlier today, a website published a photograph of me from my 1984 medical school yearbook in a costume that is clearly racist and offensive. I am deeply sorry for
540-537: A class action lawsuit was publicly disclosed, which had been filed the previous October, claiming that Latino teenage detainees at the Shenandoah Valley Juvenile Center had been physically abused by staff members there. Most of the plaintiffs were being held at the facility on immigration charges. The abuse described in the lawsuit was alleged to have occurred from 2015 through 2018. The Shenandoah Valley Juvenile Center denied all claims in
675-598: A neurologist at the Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters in Norfolk, VA where his clinical interests are epilepsy and neuromuscular disorders . Northam was born in the town of Nassawadox on Virginia's Eastern Shore on September 13, 1959. He and his older brother of two years, Thomas, were raised on a water-side farm, just outside Onancock, Virginia . The family grew a variety of crops and tended livestock on their seventy-five-acre (30 ha) property. As
810-637: A pediatric residency at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas , followed by a child neurology fellowship at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. and Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland . During Operation Desert Storm , he treated evacuated casualties at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. Northam was discharged from the U.S. Army in 1992 at
945-516: A super PAC . It was previously known in a different configuration as Americans for Responsible Solutions . Giffords has written that when she and her husband, Mark Kelly , launched the organization, they "wanted to prove that it's possible to stand up for the Second Amendment while also standing up for stronger gun laws that keep us safe." The mission of the organization is to shift American gun culture through information and challenge
1080-663: A trigger lock in their owners' homes. The study found that the law's enactment was associated with "a prompt decline in homicides and suicides by firearms in the District of Columbia." A 1996 study reanalyzed this data and reached a significantly different conclusion as to the effectiveness of this law. In 1993, Kleck and Patterson analyzed the impact of 18 major types of gun control laws on every major type of gun-involved crime or violence (including suicide) in 170 U.S. cities, and found that gun laws generally had no significant effect on violent crime rates or suicide rates. Similarly,
1215-425: A 1997 study found that gun control laws had only a small influence on the rate of gun deaths in U.S. states compared to socioeconomic variables like poverty and unemployment. Philosophy professor Michael Huemer argues that gun control may be morally wrong, even if its outcomes would be positive, because individuals have a prima facie right to own a gun for self-defense and recreation. A 2007 article published by
1350-473: A 2001 study by the same research team concluded that the law "may have had an impact on homicide rates, at least for older victims." A 1994 study found that after this law came into force in 1978, suicide rates decreased over time in Ontario , and that there was no evidence of method substitution. The same study found that "These decreases may be only partly due to the legislation." In 1991, Canada implemented
1485-401: A 2011 UN study, after identifying a number of methodological problems, it stated "notwithstanding such challenges, a significant body of literature tends to suggest that firearm availability predominantly represents a risk factor rather than a protective factor for homicide. In particular, a number of quantitative studies tend towards demonstrating a firearm prevalence–homicide association." In
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#17327718897571620-737: A Congressman from Virginia and as a diplomat in the Obama administration . The primary campaign was often described as a proxy battle between the Bernie Sanders / Elizabeth Warren wing of the Democratic Party, represented by Perriello, and the Hillary Clinton wing, represented by Northam, although this take was dismissed as little more than a "talking point" by The Washington Post ' s editorial board, which praised both candidates and wrote, "the policy differences between
1755-400: A bachelor's degree in biology. He became only the second Governor of Virginia to have graduated from VMI, the first since Westmoreland Davis (class of 1877, elected governor in 1917). Northam went on to Eastern Virginia Medical School , earning his Doctor of Medicine in 1984. From 1984 to 1992 he served as a United States Army medical officer. During his Army service, he completed
1890-495: A ban on carrying guns in Colombia was associated with reductions in homicide rates in two cities in the country, namely, Cali and Bogotá . Ralph Northam Ralph Shearer Northam (born September 13, 1959) is an American physician and politician who was the 73rd governor of Virginia from 2018 to 2022. A pediatric neurologist by occupation, he was an officer in the U.S. Army Medical Corps from 1984 to 1992. Northam,
2025-792: A beneficial effect on firearm homicide rates in that country. According to the study, "other factors found to be associated with homicide rates were median age, unemployment, immigration rates, percentage of population in low-income bracket, Gini index of income equality, population per police officer, and incarceration rate." A 2013 study of the 1995 Canadian gun control law Firearms Act, 1995 reported little evidence that this law significantly reduced rates of lethal gun violence against women. On May 1, 2020, after deadly shootings in Nova Scotia , Justin Trudeau's Liberal government banned 1,500 kinds of military-style semi-automatic rifles, including
2160-553: A campaign to register voters in the hopes of removing NRA -backed lawmakers from office. Giffords has also brought together former military commanders and other veterans to urge political leaders to address America's 'gun violence crisis.' Gun control Gun control , or firearms regulation , is the set of laws or policies that regulate the manufacture, sale, transfer, possession, modification, or use of firearms by civilians. Most countries allow civilians to own firearms, but have strong firearms laws to prevent violence. Only
2295-648: A few countries, such as Namibia , Yemen and the United States are categorized as permissive. Jurisdictions that regulate civilian access to firearms typically restrict ownership of certain lethal firearms, and require a mandatory gun safety course or firearms license to own or carry a weapon. In some countries, such as the United States , gun control measures can be implemented at the national, state, or local levels. Gun control refers to domestic and international attempts to regulate, and harmonize
2430-520: A first in Virginia history. Residents from every county in Virginia attended Northam's inauguration (which reportedly marked another first for the state) and twenty-six groups participated in the inaugural parade, which was described as the largest and most diverse in state history. Leading up to his inauguration, Northam announced that he would establish a new cabinet-level position, Chief Workforce Advisor, which would be responsible for coordinating
2565-616: A gun under these laws. They also found that multiple other gun regulations intended to prevent prohibited individuals from obtaining guns, such as "rigorous permit-to-purchase" laws and "comprehensive background checks", were "negatively associated with the diversion of guns to criminals." A 2016 systematic review found that restrictive gun licensing laws were associated with lower gun injury rates, while concealed carry laws were not significantly associated with rates of such injuries. Another systematic review found that stricter gun laws were associated with lower gun homicide rates; this association
2700-538: A larger-than-expected nine-point margin of victory. Northam was sworn in as Governor of Virginia at noon on January 13, 2018, at the State Capitol. He became the second Eastern Shore native to serve as Governor of Virginia, after Henry A. Wise (who was elected in 1855) and the second alumnus of Virginia Military Institute to serve as governor, after Westmoreland Davis (who was elected in 1917). A majority of Northam's cabinet-level officials were female,
2835-812: A member of the Democratic Party , was the 40th lieutenant governor of Virginia from 2014 to 2018 before winning the governorship against the Republican nominee Ed Gillespie in the 2017 election . Prohibited by the Virginia Constitution from running for a consecutive term, Northam left office in January 2022 and was succeeded by the Republican Glenn Youngkin . As governor, Northam's most notable accomplishments included expanding Medicaid coverage as allowed under
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#17327718897572970-490: A modest reduction in suicide rates among youth aged 14 to 17 years." Two 2015 studies found that the permit-to-purchase law passed in Connecticut in 1995 was associated with a reduction in firearm suicides and homicides. One of these studies also found that the repeal of Missouri's permit-to-purchase law was associated with "a 16.1% increase in firearm suicide rates," and a 2014 study by the same research team found that
3105-575: A moratorium against evictions. One was subsequently issued but expired in June. Northam then requested that the moratorium be extended and the court agreed to do so in August. In July, after the initial moratorium had lapsed, eviction cases were opened throughout the state, and those cases continued to proceed even after the moratorium was extended in August. The extended moratorium expired September 7. The Supreme Court of Virginia denied Northam's request for
3240-631: A national freeze on the sale, purchase, or transfer of handguns by individuals within Canada. It also established new "red flag" and "yellow flag" laws, allowing courts and Chief Firearms Officers (CFOs) to issue emergency weapons prohibition orders and temporarily suspend licenses, respectively. Moreover, the bill increased maximum penalties for firearms-related offenses, including smuggling and trafficking, from 10 to 14 years imprisonment. Additionally, Bill C-21 prohibited mid-velocity 'replica' airguns that closely resemble real firearms and discharge projectiles at
3375-464: A new cabinet-level position, Chief Diversity Officer. This position would be responsible for advancing equity and inclusion throughout the state government's operations. Virginia is considered to be the first state in the country to establish such a position at the cabinet-level. On September 9, Northam named Janice Underwood as the inaugural Chief Diversity Officer. Underwood had previously led diversity initiatives at Old Dominion University . Among
3510-628: A powerful element in the 2018 election cycle. The Washington Post editorial board cited the work of Giffords and wrote that the election marked a "shift in the politics of gun control; no longer is it a third rail to be avoided at all costs." NPR reported that 95 candidates endorsed by Giffords PAC won House seats. According to the AP VoteCast election day survey, 61% of voters said gun laws should be more strict. In addition to endorsing and supporting state and federal candidates and lobbying for stronger gun laws, Giffords and Kelly have spoken out about
3645-504: A range of issues to curb gun violence including requiring criminal background checks for gun purchases, reducing gun trafficking , conducting gun violence research, and regulating semi-automatic assault weapons. Giffords has played a role in passing more than 200 new gun laws in 45 states and Washington, D.C. Through the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, the organization releases an annual scorecard to consider
3780-662: A spokesman, the CDC has limited funding and has not produced any comprehensive study aimed at reducing gun violence since 2001. A 1998 review found that suicide rates generally declined after gun control laws were enacted, and concluded, "The findings support gun control measures as a strategy for reducing suicide rates." A 2016 review found that laws banning people under restraining orders due to domestic violence convictions from accessing guns were associated with "reductions in intimate partner homicide". Another 2016 review identified 130 studies regarding restrictive gun laws and found that
3915-478: A study that demonstrates that background checks may decrease suicides and violent crime; child-access prevention laws may decrease the number of suicides and unintentional injuries and deaths; minimum age requirements may decrease suicides; and prohibitions associated with mental illness may decrease suicides and violent crimes. On the other hand, concealed-carry laws may increase violent crimes and suicides, while stand-your-ground laws may increase violent crime. Bans on
4050-424: A teenager, Northam worked on a ferry to Tangier Island and as a deckhand on fishing charters ; he also worked on a neighbor's farm and as a "stock boy" at Meatland grocery store . He and Thomas attended desegregated public schools. Northam graduated from Onancock High School, where his class was predominately African American. Northam's mother, Nancy B. Shearer, was originally from Washington, D.C. She
4185-610: A two-term Republican incumbent, 17,307 votes to 14,499. He was re-elected in November 2011, defeating Ben Loyola Jr., a defense contractor, 16,606 votes to 12,622. One of Northam's first major activities as a state legislator was to lead an effort to pass a ban on smoking in restaurants in Virginia. The bill failed the first time, but it passed the next year and Governor Tim Kaine signed it into law. In 2009, Northam – a self-described "conservative on fiscal issues and liberal on social issues" – was
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4320-681: A velocity between 366 and 500 feet per second. In 1988 and 1996, gun control laws were enacted in the Australian state of Victoria , both times following mass shootings . A 2004 study found that in the context of these laws, overall firearm-related deaths, especially suicides, declined dramatically. A 1995 study found preliminary evidence that gun control legislation enacted in Queensland , Australia, reduced suicide rates there. A 2006 study by gun lobby-affiliated researchers Jeanine Baker and Samara McPhedran found that after Australia enacted
4455-588: Is thoughts and prayers ...Your thoughts and prayers aren't going to stop the next shooting." The group has also participated in a range of state and national advocacy campaigns and events. In March 2018, when survivors of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida organized the March for Our Lives , Giffords helped bring more than 200 people from Parkland to participate. The organization has helped link local and regional groups into
4590-548: Is no evidence that sanctuary cities increase crime or gang activity, and that Virginia communities with higher immigrant populations have lower crime rates. Later that month, the Latino Victory Fund , which was supporting Northam's campaign, released an ad in which a pickup truck , adorned with a Gillespie bumper sticker, a " Don't tread on me " license plate, and a Confederate flag , chases down minority children and corners them in an alley – one of
4725-432: Is seen as a right or a privilege. The study concluded that both the United States and Yemen were distinct from the other countries surveyed in that they viewed gun ownership as a basic right of citizenship, and therefore their gun control policies were more permissive. In the remaining countries sampled, civilian gun ownership is considered a privilege and their corresponding gun control policies are more restrictive. At
4860-529: Is taught in public schools, and establishing sensitivity training for state agencies. On March 22, 2019, Northam signed a bill, introduced by the chairman of Virginia's Legislative Black Caucus, Lamont Bagby , establishing the Virginia African American Advisory Board; this board is designed to consist of twenty-one non-legislative citizens appointed by the governor, at least fifteen of whom must be black; additionally,
4995-820: The Speaker of the House of Delegates , the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus , senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner in a joint statement with Rep. Bobby Scott , former Governor Douglas Wilder , and both the Republican Party of Virginia and Democratic Party of Virginia , called on him to resign. Derrick Johnson , the president and CEO of the NAACP ; Planned Parenthood ; and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy similarly called for Northam's resignation. President Donald Trump decried
5130-460: The 2013 election . Northam competed against U.S. Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra for the Democratic nomination. On June 11, 2013, Northam won the Democratic primary over Chopra with 54% of the vote to Chopra's 46%. On November 5, 2013, Northam was elected as Virginia's 40th Lieutenant Governor over Republican E. W. Jackson , receiving 55% of the vote to Jackson's 45%. Northam was
5265-530: The Affordable Care Act , abolishing the death penalty, legalizing marijuana, and raising the minimum wage. While Governor, Virginia was named CNBC's "best state for business" twice, the only state to be awarded the title two years in a row. Northam also led the state during the COVID-19 pandemic , where he was the only governor in the United States who was a licensed doctor. Northam is currently
5400-711: The Democratic Governors Association , former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton , Senator Bernie Sanders , Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , and former Vice President of the United States Joe Biden . Faced with increasing calls for his resignation from fellow Democrats, Northam reportedly considered leaving the Democratic Party and trying to hold on to the governorship as an independent . After issuing his apology and as pressure mounted for his resignation, Northam called friends and family to determine whether
5535-553: The Journal of Injury Prevention states that approximately 60% of firearms used to commit violent crime can be traced to 1% of licensed dealers. This finding indicates that, although gun laws effectively regulate approximately 99% of purchases made from licensed dealers, a majority of gun-related violent crimes are perpetrated using guns that were purchased in violation of regulations. The Journal of Injury Prevention article advocates for increased monitoring of gun vendors in tandem with
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5670-578: The National Firearms Agreement (NFA), a gun control law, in 1996, gun-related suicides may have been affected, but no other parameter appeared to have been. Another 2006 study, led by Simon Chapman , found that after this law was enacted in 1996 in Australia, the country went more than a decade without any mass shootings, and gun-related deaths (especially suicides) declined dramatically. The latter of these studies also criticized
5805-708: The National Rifle Association of America ) had suicide rates that were approximately 3/100,000 people lower than in other states, and that these states' suicide rates were 4/100,000 people lower than those of states with the least restrictive gun laws. A 2003 study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine looked at the restrictiveness of gun laws and suicide rates in men and women in all 50 U.S. states and found that states whose gun laws were more restrictive had lower suicide rates among both sexes. In 2004, another study found that
5940-545: The Organisation of African Unity (OAU). The provisions of this declaration recommend that the signatories would establish the illegal possession of small arms and light weapons as a criminal offence under national law in their respective countries. High rates of gun mortality and injury are often cited as a primary impetus for gun control policies. A 2004 National Research Council critical review found that while some strong conclusions are warranted from current research,
6075-566: The Seattle, Washington area in the United States. The overall suicide rate was essentially the same in the two locations, but the suicide rate among 15 to 24 year olds was about 40 percent higher in Seattle than in Vancouver. The authors concluded that "restricting access to handguns might be expected to reduce the suicide rate in persons 15 to 24 years old, but ... it probably would not reduce
6210-481: The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus to develop strategies for closing the racial disparity in Virginia's maternal mortality rate , increasing affordable housing and funding for public transportation, supporting minority-owned businesses, removing Confederate monuments from public spaces, removing racist remnants of the Jim Crow era from state lawbooks, rethinking the state's approach to how African American history
6345-475: The firearms regulations in Switzerland such as banning the sale of new assault weapons, denying concealed-carry licenses to some individuals, and prohibiting firearm sales to people convicted of multiple alcohol-related offenses will decrease gun-related deaths and injuries. Rifles and shotguns are relatively easy to obtain, while handguns and some semi-automatic rifles are restricted. With respect to
6480-459: The "relative strength or weakness" of gun laws in each state as well as the rate of gun deaths. The Giffords Law Center also files amicus curiae briefs and takes other legal action to protect, enforce and strengthen gun regulations. Giffords supports candidates with gun control in their platforms through its super PAC. The PAC spent $ 8 million in the 2014 election cycle on independent expenditures for and against 20 candidates. The largest share of
6615-631: The 2018 election Malinowski unseated Lance as Democrats took back the majority in the House of Representatives. As of June 2018, the group had raised nearly $ 13 million and had donated more than $ 177,000 directly to federal candidates. As part of its 2018 campaign work, Giffords worked with VoteVets to rally support for seven congressional candidates who support stronger gun laws. All seven are Democrats. The group also dedicated millions to successfully unseat four NRA-backed incumbent House members. Commentators and editorial pages noted that work by Giffords and other gun violence prevention organizations had been
6750-527: The Canadian Firearms Act, which aimed at ensuring that guns were stored safely. A 2004 study found that although firearm suicide rates declined in the Quebec region Abitibi-Témiscamingue after the law was passed, overall suicide rates did not. A study in 2005 also found that overall suicide rates did not change after passage of Bill C-17. A 2008 study reached similar conclusions with regard to
6885-531: The Centre for International Crime Prevention, located in Vienna. who were to report on national systems of civilian firearm regulation every two years. These plans never reached fruition and further UN-led efforts to establish international norms for the regulation of civilian-held firearms were stymied. Responding to pressure from the U.S. government, any mention of the regulation of civilian ownership of small arms
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#17327718897577020-676: The Criminal Law Amendment Act, a gun control law passed in Canada in 1977, some studies have found that it was ineffective at reducing homicide or robbery rates. One study even found that the law may have actually increased robberies involving firearms. A 1993 study found that after this law was passed, gun suicides decreased significantly, as did the proportion of suicides committed in the country with guns. A 2003 study found that this law "may have had an impact on suicide rates, even after controls for social variables," while
7155-646: The Democratic nomination with 56% of the vote to Perriello's 44%. In the general election, Northam faced Ed Gillespie , who had previously served as Counselor to the President under George W. Bush , chair of the Republican National Committee , and chair of the Republican Party of Virginia . Northam's campaign funds were heavily depleted by the end of the primary race. He was left with around $ 1.75 million, which amounted to roughly half of Gillespie's remaining funds. Northam quickly gained
7290-663: The NFA on gun-related deaths found that the law "did not have any large effects on reducing firearm homicide or suicide rates," although David Hemenway has criticized this study for using a structural break test despite the fact that such tests can miss the effects of policies in the presence of lags, or when the effect occurs over several years. Another study, published the same year, found that Australia's gun buyback program reduced gun-related suicide rates by almost 80%, while non-gun death rates were not significantly affected. Other research has argued that although gun suicide rates fell after
7425-407: The NFA was enacted, the NFA may not have been responsible for this decrease and "a change in social and cultural attitudes" may have instead been at least partly responsible. A 2011 study found that "Australia's prohibition of certain types of firearms" has not prevented mass shootings. In 2016, Chapman co-authored another study that found that after the NFA was passed, there were no mass shootings in
7560-510: The Northam campaign's decision to release LiUNA's flyers omitting Justin Fairfax. Northam held campaign rallies with former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Joe Biden during the general election campaign. According to The Washington Post , while campaigning for governor, Northam owned stock in several companies "doing extensive work in Virginia". Northam stated during
7695-594: The PAC continued to endorse and support candidates on both sides of the aisle, including three Republican candidates they identified by focusing on legislation that broke with Republican orthodoxy on guns laws. The organization particularly faced criticism over its endorsement of incumbent Republican Leonard Lance in New Jersey's 7th District over Democratic challenger Tom Malinowski . It was noted that both Lance and Malinowski supported gun legislation favored by Giffords. In
7830-521: The Shenandoah Valley Juvenile Center with recommendations for new practices, such as improved training for facility staff members. Northam urged the juvenile center to adopt these recommendations, and the center responded with plans to do so. As youth held in Virginia facilities on immigration charges are there through outside contracts with the federal government, the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice lacked oversight of these youth when
7965-441: The United States found that the four handgun laws examined ( waiting periods , universal background checks, gun locks, and open carrying regulations) were associated with "significantly lower firearm suicide rates and the proportion of suicides resulting from firearms." The study also found that all four of these laws (except the waiting-period one) were associated with reductions in the overall suicide rate. Another study, published
8100-1110: The United States have "a significant deterrent effect on male suicide". A 2013 study by the American Medical Association found that in the United States, "a higher number of firearm laws in a state are associated with a lower rate of firearm fatalities in that state." A 2016 study published in The Lancet found that of 25 laws studied, and in the time period examined (2008–2010), nine were associated with reduced firearm mortality (including both homicide and suicide), nine were associated with increased mortality, and seven had an inconclusive association. The three laws most strongly associated with reduced firearm mortality were laws requiring universal background checks , background checks for ammunition sales, and identification for guns. In an accompanying commentary, David Hemenway noted that this study had multiple limitations, such as not controlling for all factors that may influence gun-related deaths aside from gun control laws, and
8235-620: The United States reduced suicide rates. Another 2016 study found that U.S. states with lenient gun control laws had more gun-related child injury hospital admissions than did states with stricter gun control laws. A 2017 study found that suicide rates declined more in states with universal background check and mandatory waiting period laws than in states without these laws. Another 2017 study found that states without universal background check and/or waiting period laws had steeper increases in their suicide rates than did states with these laws. A third 2017 study found that "waiting period laws that delay
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#17327718897578370-422: The United States, gun rights activists argue gun laws are too restrictive or should not be altered, and gun control activists argue gun laws are too permissive. Both camps center their arguments upon the legal and traditional interpretations of the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. In 1983, a cross-sectional study of all 50 U.S. states found that the six states with the strictest gun laws (according to
8505-638: The ability of a relatively simple change in policy to have a major impact on suicide rates." A 2013 study showed that after the Military of Switzerland adopted the Army XXI reform, which restricted gun availability, in 2003, suicide rates – both overall and firearm-related – decreased. Another 2013 study looking at four restrictive gun laws passed in Norway found that two of them may have reduced firearm mortality among men, but that
8640-423: The advantage however – by the end of the summer, his available funds had grown twice as large as Gillespie's, with two months left in the campaign. Northam led Gillespie among small donors, as well: "5,900 donations under $ 100 to Gillespie's 2,100." In October 2017, the Northam campaign released a small number of flyers omitting Northam's running-mate for lieutenant governor, Justin Fairfax . These were released at
8775-441: The agency at the time. The funding provision's author has said that this was an over-interpretation, but the amendment still had a chilling effect, effectively halting federally funded firearm-related research. Since the amendment, the CDC has continued to research gun violence and publish studies about it, although their funding for such research has fallen by 96% since 1996, according to Mayors Against Illegal Guns . According to
8910-663: The board includes five members of the governor's cabinet. The board's purpose is to advise the governor on how to best serve African Americans living in the state. Comparable boards for the state's Latino and Asian communities had already existed, and Bagby called the African American Advisory Board "far overdue". Upon establishing the board, Northam said that it would "ensure the voices of all Virginians are heard, particularly those from underrepresented and historically disenfranchised communities." In May of that year, Northam announced his intent to establish
9045-501: The campaign that if elected governor, he would place his financial investments into a blind trust , so as to avoid any potential conflicts of interest. According to a November 3, 2017, report by the Virginia Public Access Project, Northam raised $ 33.8 million to Gillespie's $ 24.5 million. Northam was elected 73rd Governor of Virginia on November 7, 2017, defeating Ed Gillespie in the general election with
9180-407: The children in the ad then wakes up, revealing the scene to have been a nightmare. Although Northam and his campaign were not involved with the ad, Northam initially defended it, saying Gillespie's own ads "have promoted fearmongering, hatred, bigotry, racial divisiveness," and adding, "I mean, it's upset a lot of communities, and they have the right to express their views as well." The ad was pulled
9315-678: The country (as of May 2016 ), and that gun-related death rates declined more quickly after the NFA than they did before it. The study also found, however, that non-gun suicide and homicide rates declined even more quickly after the NFA, leading the authors to conclude that "it is not possible to determine whether the change in firearm deaths can be attributed to the gun law reforms." - Map describes policy regarding obtaining new firearms regardless whether firearms that were produced before ban were grandfathered . A 2007 study found evidence that gun control laws passed in Austria in 1997 reduced
9450-401: The damage this conduct has caused. I am ready to do that important work. The first step is to offer my sincerest apology and to state my absolute commitment to living up to the expectations Virginians set for me when they elected me to be their Governor. Prior to issuing his apology, Northam had privately reacted in confusion to the photo and told several people that he did not believe that he
9585-425: The decision I made to appear as I did in this photo and for the hurt that decision caused then and now. This behavior is not in keeping with who I am today and the values I have fought for throughout my career in the military, in medicine, and in public service. But I want to be clear, I understand how this decision shakes Virginians’ faith in that commitment. I recognize that it will take time and serious effort to heal
9720-507: The effect of state gun laws on gun-related homicides was "limited". A 2005 study looked at all 50 states in the U.S. and the District of Columbia , and found that no gun laws were associated with reductions in firearm homicide or suicide, but that a " shall-issue " concealed carry law (mandatory issue of a license when legal criteria met) may be associated with increased firearm homicide rates. A 2011 study found that firearm regulation laws in
9855-594: The entire Quebec province; this study also found that C-17 did not seem to increase the rate at which the firearm suicide rate was declining. Other researchers have criticized this 2008 study for looking at too short a time period and not taking account of the fact that the regulations in C-17 were implemented gradually. A 1990 study compared suicide rates in the Vancouver, British Columbia , Canada metropolitan area (where gun control laws were more restrictive) with those in
9990-477: The evidence was more inconclusive with respect to all of the laws they studied. A 2014 study found that after South Africa 's Firearm Control Act was passed in 2000, homicide rates in the country declined, and concluded that "stricter gun control mediated by the FCA accounted for a significant decrease in homicide overall, and firearm homicide in particular, during the study period [2001–2005]." A 2000 study found that
10125-422: The first Democrat since Tim Kaine in 2001 to be elected Lieutenant Governor of Virginia . In February 2015, just over a year into his term as lieutenant governor, Northam confirmed his interest in running for Governor of Virginia in 2017 . He made these intentions official on November 17, 2015, via an email to supporters. In the Democratic primary, Northam faced Tom Perriello , who had previously served as
10260-539: The following day in the hours after the terrorist attack in New York City , in which a man killed several people by running them over with a truck. Northam then distanced himself from the ad, re-emphasizing that it was not released by his campaign and saying that it is not one that he would have chosen to run. A spokesman for the campaign said that the Latino Victory Fund's decision to pull the ad
10395-462: The former for using a time-series analysis despite the fact that, according to Chapman et al., "calculating mortality rates and then treating them as a number in a time series ignores the natural variability inherent in the counts that make up the numerator of the rate." Chapman et al. also said that Baker and McPhedran used the Box–Jenkins model inappropriately. A 2010 study looking at the effect of
10530-406: The gathering limit. Although schools were originally scheduled to reopen in Virginia after two weeks, on March 23, Northam extended their closure for the remainder of the school year. At this time, there were over 250 known cases of COVID-19 in the state. On April 6, Northam began encouraging the use of face masks by those occupying public spaces. On May 26, he announced a statewide policy requiring
10665-616: The general population, thereby possibly increasing state suicide rates, and that "the tendency for veterans to live in states without handgun legislation may exacerbate this phenomenon." California has exceptionally strict gun sales laws, and a 2015 study found that it also had the oldest guns recovered in crimes of any states in the U.S. The same study concluded that "These findings suggest that more restrictive gun sales laws and gun dealer regulations do make it more difficult for criminals to acquire new guns first purchased at retail outlets." Another 2016 study found that stricter state gun laws in
10800-767: The group's spending was in the race for the House seat previously held by Gabrielle Giffords in Arizona's second district. The group supported the incumbent, Democrat and Giffords's former aide Ron Barber , against Republican Martha McSally . McSally narrowly won the seat. Overall during the 2014 election cycle, the PAC devoted $ 4.9 million to oppose Republican candidates, $ 2.4 million in support of Democratic candidates and $ 860,000 in support of Republican candidates. In 2016, Giffords spent more than $ 2 million supporting New Hampshire Democrat Maggie Hassan in her bid to unseat Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte , who had voted against expanding background checks for gun purchases. Hassan won
10935-472: The gun control law Bill C-17. According to a 2004 study, after this law was passed, firearm-related suicides and homicides, as well as the percentage of suicides involving firearms, declined significantly in that country. A 2010 study found that after this law was passed, firearm suicides declined in Quebec among men, but acknowledged that this may not represent a causal relationship. In 1992, Canada promulgated
11070-418: The implementation of multiple such laws simultaneously was associated with a decrease in gun-related deaths. According to Vox , "The authors are careful to note that their findings do not conclusively prove that gun restrictions reduce gun deaths. However, they did find a compelling trend whereby new restrictions on gun purchasing and ownership tended to be followed by a decline in gun deaths." According to
11205-514: The initiation of an international study of the issue. In July 1997, ECOSOC issued a resolution that underlined the responsibility of UN member states to competently regulate civilian ownership of small arms and which urged them to ensure that their regulatory frameworks encompassed the following aspects: firearm safety and storage; penalties for the unlawful possession and misuse of firearms; a licensing system to prevent undesirable persons from owning firearms; exemption from criminal liability to promote
11340-556: The injustice of special interests risking individual safety all while changing U.S. policies to support safer gun laws. The organization known as Giffords began as a nonprofit and super PAC Americans for Responsible Solutions (ARS) which Giffords launched with her husband, retired astronaut and U.S. Navy aviator (and future United States Senator) Mark Kelly in 2013 shortly after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting . In its first electoral cycle, Kelly said
11475-548: The international and regional level, diplomatic attention has tended to focus on the cross-border illegal trade in small arms as an area of particular concern rather than the regulation of civilian-held firearms. During the mid-1990s, however, the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) adopted a series of resolutions relating to the civilian ownership of small arms. These called for an exchange of data on national systems of firearm regulation and for
11610-412: The investigation began. In September of that year, the department expanded its authority to include oversight of youth held through any outside contract in Virginia facilities. On February 1, 2019, images from Northam's medical school yearbook were published on the far-right website Big League Politics . The photos showed an image of an unidentified person in blackface and an unidentified person in
11745-406: The issues that Underwood has focused on as Chief Diversity Officer are supporting small businesses owned by women, minorities, and disabled veterans, reducing inequities in health care, and diversifying employment in the state's public and private sectors. On March 12, 2020, Northam declared a state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic . At the time, there were seventeen known cases of
11880-485: The lawsuit, while Northam called the allegations "disturbing" and directed state agencies to conduct an investigation. Around two months later, the investigation concluded with no findings of ongoing abuse. Allegations of past abuse were not included within the scope of the investigation, and the lawsuit is still pending. The investigation resulted in the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice presenting
12015-523: The limited evidence currently available "does not mean that these policies are ineffective ... Instead, it partly reflects shortcomings in the contributions that science has made to policy debates." Other studies have examined trends in firearm-related deaths before and after gun control laws are either enacted or repealed. A 2004 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found evidence that child access prevention laws were "associated with
12150-409: The mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother." Conservative politicians and media figures characterized Northam's comments as promoting infanticide . After the yearbook photo was publicized, many conservative media outlets compared the two controversies and described them as a "bad week" for the governor. According to The Washington Post ,
12285-547: The need to intensify our response to outbursts of gun violence. Immediately following the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas , Ms. Giffords issued a statement that she was praying for her former colleagues in Congress to "find the courage it will take to make progress on the challenging issues of gun violence." In a press conference on the steps of the U.S. Congress, Kelly echoed the call for more action, saying, "All we're hearing
12420-511: The optimization of gun sale regulation, as a means to decrease violent crime perpetrated with a firearm. In 2009, the Public Health Law Research program, an independent organization, published several evidence briefs summarizing the research assessing the effect of a specific law or policy on public health, that concern the effectiveness of various laws related to gun safety. Among their findings: RAND Corporation did
12555-498: The organization aimed to devote as much money to support pro-gun control candidates as the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) had spent in the 2012 election. In 2016, ARS merged with the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence , adding legal expertise and state-level research on gun laws to its work. In 2017, the group changed its name from Americans for Responsible Solutions to Giffords. Giffords works on
12690-594: The organization. As Fairfax is black, while Northam and Herring are both white, some activists criticized the decision to accommodate LIUNA's request. All houses that received the LIUNA flyers also received standard campaign flyers including Fairfax. During the campaign, Gillespie and President Donald Trump accused Northam of being responsible for the increased activities of the MS-13 gangs and of being "in favor of sanctuary cities that let dangerous illegal immigrants back on
12825-636: The overall suicide rate." A study that looked at provincial gun ownership rates, and associated suicide rates found no significant correlations with overall suicide rates. A 2011 study looked at gun control passed in Canada between 1974 and 2004 and found that gun laws were responsible for 5 to 10 percent drops in homicides. The study found that the homicide reduction effects of Canadian gun legislation remained even after accounting for sociodemographic and economic factors associated with homicide rates. A 2012 study looked at gun control laws passed in Canada from 1974 to 2008 and found no evidence that these laws had
12960-416: The photo actually depicts him. The following morning, Northam told staffers that he was convinced he was not in the photo. Sleep-deprived and ignoring the protests of some staffers, Northam held a press conference that afternoon, in which he publicly denied that he was either of the men in the photo, but did admit to having "darkened [his] face" with shoe polish as part of a Michael Jackson costume around
13095-550: The photo was sent as a tip to Big League Politics, the website that first published the photo on February 1, by one or more medical school classmates who were concerned about Northam's abortion comments. The Virginia Senate 's Democratic leader, Dick Saslaw , was among the few politicians who initially defended Northam, but later joined with the rest of his caucus in calling for Northam's resignation. Most other prominent Virginia politicians, including former governor Terry McAuliffe , under whom Northam served as lieutenant governor,
13230-633: The photo, as well as Northam's earlier comments on abortion, as "unforgivable". Several prominent national Republicans, such as House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Republican National Committee chair Ronna Romney McDaniel joined in calling for Northam's resignation. Major national Democratic officials also called for Northam to step down, including 2020 presidential candidates Tulsi Gabbard , John Delaney , Pete Buttigieg , Julian Castro , Cory Booker , Kirsten Gillibrand , Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ,
13365-532: The popular AR-15 and its variants. The ban was enacted via an Order In Council . A 2020 study examining laws passed from 1981 to 2016 found no significant changes in overall homicide or suicide rates following changes in legislation. In addition, it also found that firearm ownership by province was not correlated to overall suicide rates by province. On October 21, 2022, under Justin Trudeau's government, Bill C-21 came into effect, aiming to address gun violence and strengthen gun control. The legislation introduced
13500-492: The pressure on him to issue a statement, even though at the time, Northam was still confused about the photo's origins. Two days earlier on January 30, Northam had made controversial comments about abortion during a WTOP interview about the Repeal Act , where he stated that if a severely deformed or otherwise non-viable fetus was born after an unsuccessful abortion attempt, "the infant would be resuscitated if that's what
13635-464: The progressive group Democracy for America stated that it stopped direct aid of Northam's campaign. Howard Dean , who founded Democracy for America, but left the organization in 2016, wrote on Twitter that the organization had discredited itself and called its decision to stop aiding Northam's campaign "incredibly stupid". Democracy for America had already stopped collecting data for Northam and had ceased mentioning him in get-out-the-vote calls, due to
13770-793: The purchase of firearms by a few days reduce gun homicides by roughly 17%." A 2017 study in the Economic Journal found that mandatory handgun purchase delays reduced "firearm-related suicides by between 2 and 5 percent with no statistically significant increase in non-firearm suicides," and were "not associated with statistically significant changes in homicide rates." Another 2017 study showed that laws banning gun possession by people subject to intimate partner violence restraining orders, and requiring such people to give up any guns they have, were associated with lower intimate partner homicide rates. A 2021 study found that firearm purchase delay laws reduced homicide – the authors suggested that it
13905-509: The rank of major , after having completed eight years of service. Since 1992, Northam has been a pediatric neurologist at Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters in Norfolk, Virginia . Prior to entering politics, Northam voted for Republican George W. Bush in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections, a fact that opponents raised in later Democratic primaries. Northam says that he
14040-712: The rates of firearm suicide and homicide in that country. In Brazil , after disarmament laws were passed in 2003, gun-related mortality declined by 8% in 2004 relative to the previous year, the first decline observed in a decade. Gun-related hospitalizations also reversed their previous trend by decreasing 4.6% from 2003 to 2004. A 2006 study found that after gun control laws were passed in New Zealand in 1992, suicides committed with guns declined significantly, especially among youth. This study however found that overall suicide rates did not change significantly. A case-control study conducted in New Zealand found that gun ownership
14175-439: The regulation of, the private and industrial manufacture, trade, possession, use, and transport of a class of weapons typically identified as small arms . This class of arms commonly includes revolvers , self-loading pistols , rifles and carbines , so-called assault rifles , and some categories of machine gun . In the United States, the term gun control itself is considered politicized. Many gun control advocates prefer
14310-724: The repeal of this law was associated with a 16% increase in homicide rates. A 2000 study designed to assess the effectiveness of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act found that the law was not associated with reductions in overall homicide or suicide rates, but that it was associated with a reduction in the firearm suicide rate among individuals aged 55 or older. A 1991 study looked at Washington, D.C. 's Firearms Control Regulations Act of 1975 , which banned its residents from owning all guns except certain shotguns and sporting rifles , which were also required to be unloaded, disassembled, or stored with
14445-414: The request of Laborers' International Union of North America , which had endorsed only part of that year's Democratic ticket. Northam and that year's Democratic nominee for Attorney General, Mark Herring , were both endorsed by LIUNA and were both included on the flyer. LIUNA withheld its endorsement from Fairfax and explained that Fairfax opposes the construction of natural gas pipelines that are favored by
14580-532: The sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines may increase the sale price for these items. An August 2019 article entitled, "Gun control really works" published by Business Insider looks at a dozen studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , The Journal of the American Medical Association , Rand Corporation, the journal Preventive Medicine , Everytown for Gun Safety , Johns Hopkins University , and others. They conclude that mirroring
14715-469: The same time. Reaction to the press conference was intensely negative and calls for Northam's resignation continued. CBS News also unearthed Northam's Virginia Military Institute yearbook, which listed "Coonman", a racial slur , as one of Northam's nicknames; Northam told reporters that two people referred to him by that name, and said that he regretted the presence of the nickname in his yearbook. Northam says that he does not understand why that nickname
14850-552: The same year, found that states with permit to purchase, registration, and/or license laws for handguns had lower overall suicide rates, as well as lower firearm suicide rates. A 2014 study found that states that required licensing and inspections of gun dealers tended to have lower rates of gun homicides. Another study published the same year, analyzing panel data from all 50 states, found that stricter gun laws may modestly reduce gun deaths . A 2016 study found that U.S. military veterans tend to commit suicide with guns more often than
14985-456: The scandals could negatively impact Democratic success in the coming elections. Northam's approval rating fell to 40% in the immediate aftermath of the scandal but recovered significantly by the end of his term. Facing widespread calls for his resignation, Northam chose to remain in office but made a public commitment to focus the remainder of his gubernatorial term on addressing Virginia's racial inequities. He and his cabinet then joined with
15120-582: The school, including five members of their yearbook staff at the time. Despite the yearbook scandal, as well as those surrounding Virginia's other two elected statewide officials : Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax and state Attorney General Mark Herring , the Democratic Party of Virginia won control of both the Virginia Senate and the Virginia House of Delegates in the statewide elections that November , amid some predictions that
15255-623: The seat. The PAC also endorsed Republicans including two senate candidates, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Mark Kirk of Illinois. Giffords and Kelly wrote that Toomey and Kirk "broke from the gun lobby" to support a bill to close the gun-show loophole. They also supported the Democratic candidate in two Senate races as well as a handful of House contests. Overall, Giffords spent $ 2.7 million on political races in 2016. Giffords supported two gubernatorial candidates in 2017 who supported stronger gun laws. Ralph Northam in Virginia and Phil Murphy in New Jersey, both Democrats, won their races. In 2018,
15390-404: The small arms arsenals of non-state armed groups and gangs have been estimated to account for, at most, 1.4% of the global total. With few exceptions, most countries in the world actually allow some form of civilian firearm ownership. A 2011 survey of 28 countries over five continents found that a major distinction between different national gun control regimes is whether civilian gun ownership
15525-624: The state of our knowledge is generally poor. The result of the scarcity of relevant data is that gun control is one of the most fraught topics in American politics, and scholars remain deadlocked on a variety of issues. Notably, since 1996, when the Dickey Amendment was first inserted into the federal spending bill, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been prohibited from using its federal funding "to advocate or promote gun control", thwarting gun violence research at
15660-571: The state's workforce development programs. To fill the position, Northam appointed Megan Healy , who had previously served as assistant vice chancellor for academic services and employer partnerships at the Virginia Community College System and as the director of STEM-H during the McAuliffe administration. Healy's husband served on Northam's transition team. In June 2018, six months into Northam's governorship,
15795-559: The streets." Gillespie and Trump said that Northam had been the deciding vote to stop a Republican bill in the state Senate which would have banned sanctuary cities and that this contributed to the surge in MS-13 violence; a notion that FactCheck.org found to be "misleading". The Washington Post and CNN noted that there are no actual sanctuary cities in Virginia. Gillespie himself acknowledged that Virginia did not have sanctuary cities. The Washington Post furthermore noted that there
15930-523: The subject of an attempt by state Senate Republicans to get him to switch parties. This action would have given Republicans control of the State Senate, but after news of the imminent switch broke on Twitter, Democrats held a closed-door meeting, and Northam reiterated that he was not leaving the party. He later said, "I guess it's nice to be wanted, but I'm a Democrat, and that's where I'm staying." Northam ran for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia in
16065-546: The surrender by citizens of illegal, unsafe or unwanted guns; and, a record-keeping system to track civilian firearms. In 1997, the UN published a study based on member state survey data titled the United Nations International Study on Firearm Regulation which was updated in 1999. This study was meant to initiate the establishment of a database on civilian firearm regulations which would be run by
16200-582: The topic of slavery has always bothered me. My family's complicated story is similar to Virginia's complex history. We're a progressive state, but we once had the largest number of slaves in the union." In high school, Northam was voted "Most Likely to Succeed" and graduated as salutatorian . He was a member of his school's basketball and baseball teams. Northam graduated from the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in 1981, where he served as president of VMI's honor court and received
16335-542: The two, though real, are not enormous". The Washington Post endorsed Northam primarily on the basis of his "experience" and "temperament". In its endorsement, the publication explained that the next governor would likely have to work with a Republican-controlled legislature and wrote, "If any Democratic governor can nudge GOP majorities in his direction, it's Mr. Northam. That matters in a state where governors, barred from running for consecutive terms, have one brief shot at getting things done." On June 13, 2017, Northam won
16470-468: The use of 29 explanatory variables in the analysis. Other studies comparing gun control laws in different U.S. states include a 2015 study which found that in the United States, "stricter state firearm legislation is associated with lower discharge rates" for nonfatal gun injuries. A 2014 study that also looked at the United States found that children living in states with stricter gun laws were safer. Another study looking specifically at suicide rates in
16605-544: The use of facemasks in public indoor spaces. On September 25, Northam and his wife Pamela both tested positive for COVID-19 after one of their staff members became infected. The governor was asymptomatic while his wife suffered mild symptoms. By the end of 2020, over 4,800 Virginians were confirmed dead due to the virus. The pandemic prompted Northam in March 2020 to request that the Supreme Court of Virginia issue
16740-713: The use of terms like "gun-violence prevention", "gun safety", or "common-sense regulation" to describe their objectives. In 2007, a global supply of 875 million small arms were estimated to be in the hands of civilians, law enforcement agencies, and national armed forces. Of these firearms, 650 million, or 75%, were estimated to be held by civilians. U.S. civilians account for 270 million of this total. A further 200 million are controlled by national military forces. Law enforcement agencies may have some 26 million small arms. Non-state armed groups have about 1.4 million firearms. Finally, gang members hold between 2 and 10 million small arms. Together,
16875-458: The virus in Virginia. On March 13, Northam closed all Virginia schools, and on March 15, he imposed statewide restrictions to allow no more than 100 people at public gatherings. On the seventeenth, he set even stricter limits on public gatherings, allowing no more than ten people together in most areas; grocery and retail stores, pharmacies, medical facilities, manufacturing plants and distribution centers, and transportation hubs were all exempted from
17010-499: Was "appropriate and the right thing to do." FOX 5 DC reported that the Northam campaign had accepted $ 62,000 as an in-kind media contribution from the Latino Victory Fund. During the final week of the campaign, Northam stated that he would continue opposing a preemptive ban on sanctuary cities in Virginia, as he had done while serving in the lieutenant governor position, although he also stated that if any sanctuary cities emerged in Virginia, he would support banning them. In response,
17145-410: Was a part-time nurse at Northampton-Accomack Memorial Hospital, and her father was a surgeon. Nancy Shearer died in 2009. Northam's father, Wescott B. Northam, served as a lawyer and is a veteran of World War II ; he entered politics in the 1960s, serving three terms as Commonwealth's Attorney for Accomack County, Virginia . After losing election to a fourth term, Wescott Northam was appointed as
17280-568: Was apolitical at the time and regretted those votes, saying: "Politically, there was no question, I was underinformed." Northam first ran for office in 2007 in the 6th Senate district , which includes the Eastern Shore of Virginia ; Mathews County , on the Middle Peninsula ; and parts of the cities of Norfolk and Virginia Beach . He was unopposed for the Democratic nomination. On November 6, 2007, he defeated Nick Rerras ,
17415-454: Was bestowed on him. A months-long investigation into the photo that appeared in the 1984 Eastern Virginia Medical School yearbook could not “conclusively” determine who is in the photo or even how the image came to be there. A team hired by EVMS released a 55-page report on May 22, 2019, saying: “We could not conclusively determine the identity of either individual depicted in the photograph.” McGuireWoods contacted over 80 people connected to
17550-551: Was driven by reductions in gun purchases by impulsive customers. In 2015, Daniel Webster and Garen Wintemute reviewed studies examining the effectiveness of gun laws aimed at keeping guns out of the hands of high-risk individuals in the United States. They found that some laws prohibiting gun possession by people under domestic violence restraining orders or who had been convicted of violent misdemeanors were associated with lower violence rates, as were laws establishing more procedures to see if people were prohibited from owning
17685-399: Was either of the men depicted in the photo. Early that evening, he had also told Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax that although he had no recollection of the photo, he considered it a possibility that he was one of the two men depicted. According to The Washington Post , "two people familiar with the events of that evening" said that Northam "decided to take the blame" for the photo due to
17820-559: Was especially strong for background check and permit-to-purchase laws. A 2020 review of almost 13,000 studies by RAND Corporation found only 123 that met their criteria of methodological rigor, "a surprisingly limited base of rigorous scientific evidence...". Only 2 of the 18 gun policies examined had supporting evidence. Among the policies for which RAND found supporting evidence were that child-access prevention laws reduce firearm injuries and deaths among children and that "stand-your-ground" laws increase firearm homicides. RAND also noted that
17955-399: Was freed to enlist in the 9th Regiment of Colored Troops ( Union Army , Civil War ). Ralph Northam was unaware of his family's slave-owning history until his father conducted research into their ancestry during the time of Northam's gubernatorial campaign. Upon learning about this part of his family's history, Northam said, "The news that my ancestors owned slaves disturbs and saddens me, but
18090-454: Was removed from the draft proposals for the 2001 UN Programme of Action on Small Arms. Although the issue is no longer part of the UN policy debate, since 1991 there have been eight regional agreements involving 110 countries concerning aspects of civilian firearm possession. The Bamako Declaration, was adopted in Bamako, Mali, on 1 December 2000 by the representatives of the member states of
18225-478: Was significantly associated with a greater risk of gun suicides, but not suicides overall. A 2010 study looked at the effect of a policy adopted by the Israeli Defense Forces that restricted access to guns among adolescents on suicide rates, and found that "Following the policy change, suicide rates decreased significantly by 40%." The authors concluded that "The results of this study illustrate
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