On Friday, advocates for gun control gathered on the steps of San Francisco City Hall to raise awareness about the persistent issue of gun violence.
Mayor Daniel Lurie declared the day as Gun Violence Awareness Day, setting the stage for the event, which was organized by the nonprofit Everytown for Gun Safety in collaboration with Moms Demand Action.
The rally attracted the attention of several nonprofit organizations focused on legislation, prevention, and raising awareness surrounding gun control.
Board of Supervisors members and Sheriff Paul Miyamoto expressed their support and shared insights into ongoing efforts aimed at reducing gun violence within the city.
Dressed predominantly in orange, a color symbolizing support for gun safety campaigns, approximately two dozen individuals stood together, lending their voices to the cause.
The event served as an opportunity for advocates—many of whom have experienced personal loss due to firearms—to discuss potential solutions.
These solutions encompassed proposals such as requiring background checks for purchasing firearm barrels, a measure aimed at addressing the dangers associated with 3D-printed firearms.
Participants also advocated for local legislation that would allow firearms to be voluntarily stored outside the home in San Francisco and for expanded support of gun buyback programs that exchange cash for surrendered firearms.
Key organizations present included Brady, which has transitioned from the Brady Campaign Against Gun Violence, Pierce’s Pledge—an organization committed to protecting children from gun violence during family law matters—and United Playaz, which focuses on youth development and violence prevention.
The rally featured speakers who highlighted healthcare and youth-based solutions while calling for legislative action.
Ruth Borenstein, co-leader of San Francisco’s Brady chapter and leader of the group’s state legislative initiatives, addressed the crowd and emphasized California’s progress in gun control reforms, transforming the state from having the highest rate of gun violence mortality in the nation.
Borenstein mentioned the push for legislation to ban ghost guns in San Francisco, advocating for statewide adoption as evidence that advocacy can lead to substantial change.
Among Brady’s current priorities is a legislative effort to require background checks for the purchase of gun barrels, aiming to mitigate 3D-printed gun threats by preventing access to vital components that cannot be easily printed.
“3D-printed guns, equipped with plastic barrels, can be dangerously unreliable,” Borenstein explained.
“The materials used mean they can’t withstand the shock of firing, leading to possible explosions when misused.”
Lesley Hu, founder of Pierce’s Pledge, also took the stage, sharing her personal tragedy; her 9-year-old son Pierce was killed by his father during a custody dispute in San Francisco in 2021.
Pierce’s Pledge aims to ensure safe gun practices during family law proceedings by urging legal professionals and others involved to address the risks of gun violence associated with custody and divorce situations.
Hu announced that 120 family lawyers have signed the pledge, committing to safeguarding children from potential gun violence.
Statistics reveal that, on average, a child is murdered every six days in the United States during custody disputes, with nearly half of those deaths involving firearms, according to the nonprofit Center for Judicial Excellence.
Since 2008, the organization has identified almost 1,000 children killed by a divorcing or separating parent, with a significant percentage resulting from gun violence.
Hu emphasized the importance of awareness and responsibility surrounding firearms in the home, noting that many guns involved in suicides and school shootings are obtained from residences.
“It takes each of us to understand the consequences of having guns in the home,” she stated passionately.
At the event, Hu underscored how this knowledge could help prevent tragedies, especially for friends or family members who may turn to firearms during crises.
The second part of Pierce’s Pledge requires family law lawyers to anticipate that clients declare any weapons in their possession, advocating for secure, off-site storage of firearms during legal proceedings.
To enhance voluntary firearm storage options, Cody Dougherty, a firearm storage specialist associated with Pierce’s Pledge, successfully influenced the passage of Senate Bill 368 in 2023.
This legislation compels federally licensed firearms dealers to provide storage services to those who request it, making California the first state to implement such a requirement.
However, the challenge remains significant for San Francisco, as the last federally licensed gun store closed its doors in 2015, leaving no local options for temporary firearm storage.
In response, Supervisor Stephen Sherrill is collaborating with the San Francisco Police Department to develop a program aimed at creating alternative storage options for guns outside residences.
“It is crucial that individuals in crisis have safe alternatives to firearms,” Sherrill remarked, highlighting the need for voluntary surrendering options for handguns, such as through law enforcement or self-storage facilities.
He admitted that this legislative initiative is still in its infancy and did not provide a definitive timeline for its implementation.
United Playaz was also represented at the rally, with participants holding signs and voicing support.
The organization conducts gun buyback events and educational initiatives aimed at the youth, emphasizing the importance of teaching young people about the dangers associated with gun violence.
Founder Rudy Valintino expressed the need for educational outreach as a vital component of gun control efforts.
“Education for young people is essential, as there are many angles we can explore to combat this challenge,” Valintino stated.
To further their mission, United Playaz is set to open a new facility at 1044 Howard St., with a ribbon-cutting event scheduled for Thursday at 11 a.m.
In a continuation of their advocacy, Everytown for Gun Safety has planned a march across the Golden Gate Bridge on Saturday at 11 a.m., encouraging participants to wear orange as a show of solidarity.
The organization will also host events in Richmond and Pleasanton that require prior registration.
Interested participants can find more information and RSVP by visiting https://momsdemandaction.org/events.
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