My name is Erica Rice, and I’m a Senior Manager with the Combating Crime Guns Initiative at Brady. And, I want to support the adoption a procurement ordinance in Oakland.

A social worker by trade, I understand and appreciate the importance of tackling complicated issues, like gun violence, in a comprehensive way. One approach I’d like to focus on tonight is the supply side approach to preventing gun violence.

Taxpayers, like you and me, are the #1 purchasers of firearms - spending approximately $5 billion a year.

Oakland can and should do more to protect residents from gun violence that doesn’t include increasing policing of impacted communities unnecessarily. The City can start by implementing policies and practices in place to ensure all potential vendors follow best practices. The City can spend taxpayer dollars only with responsible dealers without a history of federal firearm violations.

I believe government institutions, like law enforcement, have a responsibility to the residents they serve. The very least residents should be willing to accept is responsible purchasing practices with our tax dollars.

My name is Joseph Griffin and I am the executive director of Youth ALIVE!. At Youth ALIVE!, we strive to break the cycle of violence through our prevention, intervention, and healing programs. We support this ordinance which supports our mission in creating a safer community by holding manufacturers and retailers of firearms and ammunition to a common-sense standard of accountability. The City of Oakland can send a clear message by speaking with its investment and passing this ordinance. Firearms have taken many lives and ruined families and communities in Oakland. We must do all that we can to prevent the illegal purchase of firearms. This starts by holding firearms and ammunition manufacturers and to a reasonable standard of safety.