NCJW Gun Show Visit Leads To Action To Require Background Checks at Fairgrounds Show
On May 1, members of NCJW's Committee to Stop Gun Violence took a trip to Berea to attend the gun show at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds. We wanted to see for ourselves how private gun sellers at the show operate – and we got an eyeful!!! We even interrupted a potentially illegal gun sale to an underage buyer.
After the gun show visit, we met with Cuyahoga County Sheriff Bob Reid to express concern about lax oversight at the gun show and to request the sheriff's department increase its presence at the show to prevent illegal gun sales to prohibited purchasers. Ultimately, we hoped to persuade the county to require the gun show operator to conduct background checks on all guns sold at the show.
This week we learned that our call for background checks on all gun sales at the show got some important support from Northeast Ohio officials. New Cuyahoga County Council president, C. Ellen Connally, along with Cleveland Safety Director, Martin Flask, and Cleveland Police Chief, Michael McGrath, met with the fairground's board to explore ways to ensure that sellers at the show, which takes place on county-owned property, aren't arming criminals illegally – the same criminals that victimize the citizens of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County.
You can read an article about their meeting at http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/10/law_enforcement_officials_ask.html
This is just the first step in a long fight, but it does prove that a group of concerned citizens can still make a difference and get action!!!!
In The News
NCJW, with Operation Warm Up, provided warm clothing to individuals and their families who were homeless. Here Judy Eigenfeld and Judi Wolf representing NCJW, Cleveland Section at the Homeless Stand Down.
News Links
NCJW, Cleveland Section Is Awarded Zehman Volunteer Award at Federation Luncheon
Judi Wolf, On Behalf of the Coalition For Family Health Testifies Before The Ohio House Health Committee
Judicial Vacancies Justice Denied The Loiz Zass Memorial Lecture November, 2010
Read all about the new Thriftique Showroom from the Cleveland Jewish News:
