SR-11-A (40)
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OCT 2 6 1993
NOV - 2 1993
CCS:HSD:JR:MK:srgun
Counc~l Meet~ng: October 26, 1993
Santa Mon1ca, Californ~a
TO:
Mayor and City Councll
FROM:
Clty Staff
SUBJECT:
Request from the Santa Monica Commission on the
status of Women to Partic1pate in a Newly-Formed
Coalltion of Women' s organ1zat~ons to Art1.culate
Gun Control as a Women's Issue
INTRODUCTION
Th1.s report transm1.ts a request from the Santa Monica COmmlSS1.0n
on the Status of Women to participate in a newly-formed coal1.tion
of women's organ1.zations to artlculate gun control as a women's
issue.
BACKGROUND
At lts September 8, 1993 meeting the Santa Monlca Cornmiss1.on on
the status of Women (SMCOSW) voted to part1clpate In a newly-
formed area coalltion of women's organlzatlons that seeks to
strateg lcally organlze and art1.culate gun control as a women's
issue. Because some of the future actlv1tles may lnvolve support
for leg1.s1atlon, the SMCOSW requ1.res the consent of c~ty Council
to l.mplement l.ts vote.
DISCUSSION
Commiss1.oner Madelelne Stoner partlcipated in planning a nat1.onal
sympOS1.um on gun control that was held in Los Angeles on April
23-25, 1993.
The symposium, ent1.tled Artlculating Guns and
Violence as a Women's Issue, concluded that there was a need for
NOY - 2 1993
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further actlon and for an ongolng organlzatlon to dlrect those
actlons.
The symposium was the first step In that d~rectlon. A
volunteer steerIng commIttee, composed of cornmunlty actIvists and
many hIgh-placed women Including authors, professors, physicIans,
economists, CEO's, a former ChIef of PolIce, and a former member
of the Los Angeles Fire and Police Commission has formed.
ThIS group 1S prepared to set In mot1on a new phase of the
women's movement.
It will encourage local grassroots coalItIons
of women's groups across the nation to replIcate their efforts to
focus national attentIon on the economic, socIal and health
consequences
of
handgun
violence.
Among
the
strategIes
Identlfled
by the group are pIcketIng gun manufacturers,
advertisIng campaIgns, and a Mother's Day March in 1994.
FISCAL/BUDGETARY IMPACT
There are no f lscal or budgetary lInpacts of the recommendatIon
contaIned In thls report.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The Commlssion recommends that the CIty Councll permlt the Santa
MonIca CommIssion on the Status of Women to partIcipate In and
support thlS coalition of women's organIzatIons to control guns
and gun vlolence.
Prepared for the CommIssion by: JulIe Rusk, Human Services
DlvIs~on Manager
Melodye KleInman, Staff Llalson,
SMCOSW
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