Coalition for Handgun Control Plans Week Full of Activities

The Harvard Coalition for Handgun control will sponsor a week of activities to increase student awareness of handgun problems, Coalition founder Jerry S. Fortinsky '83 said yesterday.

The Coalition has planned the activities to coincide with the Washington-based National Coalition to Ban Handguns' National End-Handgun-Violence Week.

"We just want to make people aware of the problem," said Fortinsky, adding that his group is committed to no particular political party.

The Coalition will begin its week with a 10:30 a.m. press conference in the Faculty club today. Politicians and government representatives will join members of the Harvard community in speaking or reading statements.

In addition, the Coalition will sponsor tables in the House dining rooms. It will sell posters and literature, and plans to sponsor a fundrasing dance. The Coalition will also co-sponsor a walkathon with a Boston-based group, and will conclude the week with a panel discussion at the Kennedy School Forum.

Fortinsky criticized legislation now before Congress that would lift 1968 handgun restrictions. Speaking of the McClure-Volkmer Act, which is pending before the Senate, Fortinsky said, "Under an earlier version, Squeaky Fromme could buy a gun. If you broke the law that forbids you from shooting the President, that would have been insufficient to prevent you from buying another gun. They are turning back the law."

Speaking at today's conference will be two Massachusetts state senators, a representative from the state Office of Public Safety, and a representative from the office of U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy '54. Also speaking will be Rabbi Ben-Zion Gold, who will present the official opinion of the United Ministries, Nitza Rosovsky, wife of Harvard's Dean Rosovsky, will represent her husband, while Guardian Angel Jeff Ferguson '85 will also speak.