The CAGV Education Fund partners with medical, civic, community, and law enforcement groups around the state in our work to reduce gun violence.

• A Better Way Foundation (Hartford) - A Better Way Foundation is a 501 c3 not for profit research and education organization dedicated to a shift in Connecticut drug policy from a paradigm that prioritizes criminal sanctions and incarceration, to one that supports public health and treatment. Our mission is to support statewide policies that increase access to drug treatment, prevent the spread of infectious disease and focus limited prison space on violent offenders.

• Mothers for Justice was founded in 1993. Sponsored by CCA's Advocacy and Education Project , Mothers for Justice is a group of women from the New Haven area dedicated to improving the lives of families who are low-income. The goal of Mothers for Justice is to empower women and their families, increase awareness of social issues through advocacy and action and improve the quality of life for families and the community as a whole.

• People Against Injustice (PIA), New Haven is a grassroots organization whose mission is to balance the scales of justice, prison and education reform. PIA has formed a coalition with organizations around the state sharing our indignation with policies that maintain injustice. We are committed to assisting in the empowerment of people who are disproportionately impacted by these policies. For more information, call 203-937-1060.

• Survivors of Homicide Inc. - SOH is a non-profit organization that provides counseling, peer support, education, and advocacy to persons who have endured the murder of a family member or close friend. We provide crisis counseling, home visitation, information on the judicial system, court accompaniment, and help filing for Victim Compensation. In addition we facilitate several support groups that meet on a monthly basis throughout the state.

The CT Against Gun Violence Education Fund is kicking off a new program called the "Red Flag" campaign. The objective of the campaign is to create awareness in our communities about gun trafficking.

Consider the following:

• Over the past three years, guns were used in 233 homicides. And firearms were used in over 6,000 other violent crimes. These crimes were NOT limited to our urban centers: 90 different communities reported at least one gun-related incident in the last 12 months.
• Most gun crimes are committed by people who cannot legally own guns. For example, 100% of the suspects arrested for murder in New Haven were in illegal possession of the gun.
• When a felon or other prohibited user commits a gun crime, two crimes have been committed: the crime being investigated, and the trafficking crime that put that gun in the hands of the criminal.
• The question that must be answered is, "Where did they get the gun?"

The concept of the "Red Flag" campaign is simple: every time a gun crime is committed, we want to raise a "red flag" about the second crime - the crime of gun trafficking. We will do this through a targeted media campaign using our red flag logo on a variety of messaging platforms to bring attention to the role of firearms trafficking in gun crime.

In addition, we are collaborating with grass-roots community groups to place red flags in the neighborhoods where shootings take place. The flag will become a constant reminder of the "other gun crime" - the crime of gun trafficking -- and thereby encourage our elected officials, law enforcement, the press, and the community to take action against this epidemic that plagues the streets.

We held our first press conference in Hartford on Tuesday, February 27. Click here to read coverage in the Hartford Courant.

Hartford Police Chief Daryl K. Roberts, City Council Majority Leader Jo Winch, and Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez listen to Rev. Henry Brown of Mothers United Against Violence. All joined the CAGV Ed Fund in support of the Red Flag campaign.