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BOAJEtD OF SUPERVISORS
COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA
COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER, EAST WING
70 WEST HEDDING STREET, SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA 95110
TEL: (408) 299-3924 • FAX: (408) 299-2038

JAMES T. BEALL. JR.
CHAIRPERSON

SUPERVISOR FOURTH DISTRICT

Press Advisory

Leaders Move to Address Public Health
Threat From Firearm Violence
FACT:

76% of killings of children and young adults under 21 in Santa Clara
County involve firearms*
FACT:

There are more places in Santa Clara County to buy a Mac-10 semi
automatic gun than a Big Mac: 323 licensed firearms dealers in the
county, 53 high schools, 29 libraries, and 55 McDonalds.
FACT:

Guns kill more women aged 15-44 in the county than any other cause
except breast and ovarian cancer.
FACT:

58% of all homicides in Santa Clara County involve firearms*
February 19, 1997
Info: Rachel Richman, Chief of Staff, Supervisor Jim Beali, 299-3924
Kevin Purseglove, Public Information Officer, Mayor Susan Hammer, 277-6800

WHAT: In response to the rising rate of firearm violence, the Santa Clara County
Public Health Department will host the county’s first ‘Firearm Violence Prevention
Symposium’ to address the public health threat from guns-related violence. The
educational symposium is designed for local and county policymakers and is open to
the public. Participating will be Mayors, City Council Members, City Managers and
Police Chiefs from nearly every city in the county.
WHEN; Tuesday, February 20, 1997
6:30pm

WHERE: Santa Clara County Social Services Auditorium
1725 Technology Drive
San Jose

HOSTED BY: Hon. James T. Beall, Jr., Chairman, Santa Clara County Board of
Supervisors and Hon. Susan Hammer, Mayor of San Jose

BACKGROUND: The symposium will explore a wide range of options open to
communities to address this public health problem. Presenters include:
Dena Dickinson, Deputy Director of Public Health with Santa Clara Valley Health
& Hospital Systems “Public Health Approach to Firearm Violence Prevention”
Chief Larry Todd, Police Chief, Los Gatos/Monte Sereno Police Department “Law
Enforcement Perspective as it Relates to Handgun Options Supported by Police
Chiefs”.

Tony Hernandez,San Jose resident will talk about his son’s death by a handgun
in downtown San Jose, and

Andres Soto, Policy Director with the Pacific Center for Violence Prevention in
San Francisco will discuss coordinated efforts in the East Bay to stem gun
violence.

Dr. Luther Cobb, Chief of Trauma, with Santa Clara Valley Health & Hospital
Systems in San Jose “Medical Perspective on Gun Violence”.
Barrie Becker, Esq. Executive Director, Legal Community Against Violence in
San Francisco will speak about the legal perspective relating to law suits.
There will be additional speakers. A public comment period will be held at the end of
the presentations. Santa Clara residents can also submit their comments in writing.
The symposium is open to the community, but reservations are required. Please call
885-4202.

*1993-1994 statistics, Santa Clara County Public Health Department