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Formed in October 1973, the Committee for Handgun Control, Inc. sought to "bring to the attention of the public the information and statistics which prove that the villain in the pageant of crime and death in America is the hand gun - too easily obtained, too easily concealed, too easily used to coerce, maim, and kill." Led by Susan Sullivan and Estelle Jacobson, the CFHC wanted to license handgun owners, place restrictions on certain handgun types, and create a national registry of handgun owners and their guns. Due to perceived danger, the group of mainly suburban white women did not maintain a formal office in Chicago. Within a year, they had successfully engaged the National Rifle Association on several fronts, one of which brought Sullivan face-to-face with an NRA spokesperson on the NBC Today Show in 1975. This national event, in particular, brought letters of support and opposition. Though the Committee for Handgun Control retained a modest number of members and volunteers, the committee aggressively lobbied mayors, governors and congressional leaders throughout the country.
The Committee for Handgun Control, Inc. belonged to several national gun control organizations. The lobby group became active members within the National Council to Control Handguns and Handgun Control, Inc. Additionally, the CFHC found numerous allies in liberal think tanks in Chicago and Washington including Common Cause, the League of Women Voters, and several national law enforcement groups. In 1974, the Committee for Handgun Control compelled the United States Consumer Products Safety Division to define handgun ammunition as a hazardous substance and to ban its sale (Congress passed subsequent legislation to nullify this decision). In 1975, these groups along with the Committee for Handgun Control collected thousands of signatures calling for stricter gun control laws at all levels of government. That same year, several congressional committees in both the United States' Senate and House of Representatives began to investigate the increase in handgun violence. Michigan Representative John Conyers led the most publicized committee hearing, which was held by the House Judiciary Committee.
Though Congress passed several laws banning Saturday Night Specials, the legislative body stalled on other handgun control measures such as mandatory registration and tougher criminal penalties for handgun law violators. When this occurred, the CFHC lobbied unsuccessfully for tighter restrictions on ammunition. The CFHC ceased as a certified non-profit organization in 1978.
Bibliography:
"Goals of the Committee for Hand Gun Control." Pamphlet. Box 1, Folder 6.
The Committee For Handgun Control, Inc. "Outline for Handgun Control." Pamphlet. Box 1, Folder 8.
This collection reflects the activities of the Committee for Handgun Control, Inc. The bulk of the collection consists of correspondence, newspaper clippings, brochures, pamphlets, proposed legislation, slides, films, ordinances, advertisements, buttons, bumper stickers and booklets that the committee collected during its six-year existence. Though a few documents trace to 1969, almost all of the collection contains materials from 1973 to 1978.
The Committee for Handgun Control, Inc. records is divided into two series: 1.) Administrative Records, Correspondence, and Media Attention and 2.) Lobbying Activity and Legislative Action. The first series consists of a few legal documents that granted the CFHC non-profit status as well as several linear feet of correspondence between their allies and individual adversaries. Several boxes of newspaper clippings relating to handgun violence and the CFHC's campaigns can also be found in the first series. The second series illustrates how the CFHC conducted its lobbying campaigns and the legislation later enacted as a result of their efforts. This series documents the influence that the committee held on local and national political fronts.
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Committee for Handgun Control, Inc. records, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Illinois at Chicago
Series contains some administrative records, correspondence, and media attention relating to the structure and focus of the Committee for Handgun Control, Inc. This series includes legal documents, budgets, by-laws, correspondence, brochures, pamphlets and newspaper clippings from 1969 to 1979. Series comprises 5.25 linear feet of textual materials (10.5 boxes).
Perhaps because the Committee for Handgun Control had a limited number of members, few administrative records are present within this collection. What little resources pertaining to the administrative and bureaucratic side of the organization have been combined with hundreds of letters and other correspondence materials. Legal and tax documents, treasury reports, rosters, correspondence with political allies and foes can be found within this sub-series that covers the years 1973 to 1978. This sub-series comprises 2.25 linear feet of textual materials (4.5 boxes).
The Committee for Handgun Control gathered hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles from the Chicago press and throughout the country. Though some of the stories contain references to the CFHC, many of these articles reflect the national fight over handgun control. This sub-series covers the years 1969 to 1979 and contains newspaper clippings, television editorials, magazines, press releases, and journal articles. Sub-series comprises 3 linear feet of textual materials (6 boxes).
Intent upon curbing handgun violence, the Committee for Handgun Control petitioned city, state, and national governments for handgun registration, ammunition limitation, and better handgun enforcement techniques. Consisting of materials from 1972 to 1978, this series illustrates the lobbying efforts of CFHC, its cooperation with national handgun control advocates, and the legislative results from their campaigns. Correspondence, petitions, legislation, congressional hearings documents, slides, bumper stickers, and buttons can be found in this series. Series comprises 5.25 linear feet of textual and photographic material (10.5 boxes)
The Committee for Handgun Control, Inc. collected hundreds of signatures from throughout the Chicagoland area and also from sympathizers around the country. The group met with and sent dozens of letters, pamphlets, brochures, and academic articles to representatives at all levels of government. This sub-series covers the years 1973 to 1978 and contains police reports, correspondence, petitions, audiotapes, slides, films, brochures, pamphlets, and booklets. Sub-series comprises 3 linear feet of textual and photographic material (6 boxes).
The Committee for Handgun Control participated in several events that brought handgun control to the attention of community activists and city residents alike. Survival Days in 1977 represented one of these activities, but the CFHC also found allies within the United States' Conference of Mayors and among public policy advisors. This sub-series, ranging from 1972 to 1978, consists of advertisements, legislation, legislative proposals, booklets, newspaper clippings, correspondence, and city ordinances and regulations. Sub-series comprises 2.25 linear feet of textual material (4.5 boxes).