Cape Cod Grandmothers Against GunViolence is a non-profit grass roots organization. CapeCodGAG was created in January 2013 in the aftermath of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

Mission Statement

"We will influence public policy to create an America free from gun violence, where our children and grandchildren are safe at home, at school, and in our communities."

Goals

• Federal and State background check systems that include mental health history
• Have gun trafficking declared a Federal crime
• Enforce State gun laws
• Raise public awareness of gun safety

Action Points Supporting the Mission Statement

• Create and sign petitions
• Observe in our local courts
• Attend protests
• Attend vigils
• Support brain health literacy
• Support effective public policy, including meetings with public officials
• Work with and support other like-minded organizations

CapeCodGAG has held informational meetings with Senator Dan Wolf; Senator William Keating; Representative Sarah Peake; County Commissioner Mark Forest; District Attorney Michael O'Keefe; Assistant District Attorney Edward F.X. Lynch from Barnstable Superior Court; several Barnstable County Police Chiefs, Ron Holmes from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Jessica McHugh from the Suicide Prevention Coalition; Dr. Jennifer Balboni, Director of the Masters Program, Criminal Justice, Curry College; Dr. Matthew Massiello, WHO, expert on bullying; Diane Pratt, Director of Cape Cod Center for Women; ATF Agent Christopher Arone, Public Information Officer; Sheila Creaton Kelly, Esq., Director of Victim Services Unt, MA Dept. of Correction; Brenda Nolan, Restorative Justice; and an NRA certified instructor.

Board of Directors

GAG Members at Violence Bill Hearing

July 18, 2017:
GAG members attended the Massachusetts Judiciary Committee's Extreme Violence Protection Order Bill Hearing at the Massachusetts State House, as part of a joint effort of groups in the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence.
The hearing began at 11:00 AM and continued into the evening. Twenty-one Gun Violence Prevention advocates testified in support of Rep. Linsky's "Extreme Risk Protection Order" bill and against bills to legalize silencers.
GAG members were the last to testify at nearly 7:00 PM. GAG received a gracious thank you letter from the Massachusetts Coalition.

GAG Members at Wear Orange Event

June 3, 2017:
GAG members joined MOMs (Moms Demand Action) in Buzzards Bay by the canal for their Wear Orange event (Family Picnic) to show our commitment to end gun violence. It was a wonderful event organized by the south shore MOMs lead, Kathleen Berry.

Maura Healey Speaks at GAG

May 2, 2017:
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey visited the Cape, first meeting with the community in Centerville, then speaking at the monthly GAG meeting in Hyannis, where she called gun violence a public health crisis and supported universal background checks:
Spillane, Geoff. "Healey Visit Highlights Issues", Cape Cod Times, May 2, 2017.

Twentieth Louis D. Brown Mother's Day Walk for Peace

May 8, 2016:
GAG members walked with a diverse crowd to benefit the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute, which works to promote peace and to help families and communities dealing with murder, trauma, grief and loss The Institute and the Mother's Day Walk were founded by Tina Chery after her son, Louis D. Brown, was killed by gun violence in 1993.

New Directions in Violence
    Prevention Conference

May 12, 2015:
GAG teamed up with Curry College's Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Program to sponsor a Conference, New Directions in Violence Prevention, bringing together educators, law enforcement officers, prosectors, academics, and community leaders to discuss innovations in the field of violence prevention. See more details here.