This month, San Francisco experienced a series of very troubling shootings. Six people shot during a car-to-car gun battle along the Embarcadero. Three people shot in a nightclub in Balboa Park. Nine shot at a block party in the Mission District.
Gun violence is not unique to San Francisco. I’ve always believed that when tragedy strikes, we must channel our grief and anger into action.
That’s why I’ve teamed up with Supervisor Catherine Stefani on legislation banning firearms in sensitive places such as hospitals, houses of worship, parks, and election facilities. Study after study shows that when people can carry firearms in public places, rates of violence increase. Our legislation will help reduce gun violence, and bring everyone some peace of mind as they go about their lives. You can read more about our legislation in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Recently, my office has ramped up efforts to ask judges in civil proceedings to issue gun violence restraining orders, to keep firearms out of the hands of individuals who are a danger to themselves or others. Our office has now successfully obtained GVROs in dozens of situations involving domestic violence, individuals with severe mental health issues who threatened to kill family members, and individuals expressing firm plans to commit suicide.
We can’t do this work alone. If you know someone who is a danger to themselves or others, please report information to the San Francisco Police Department or contact our office. We are working with organizations like Moms Demand Action, the Brady Campaign, and United Playaz to pass strong local laws and support our GVRO work.