The Red Flag Campaign

The Red Flag Campaign is a project of the New England Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence. The mission of the Red Flag Campaign (RFC) is to reduce the illegal flow of firearms throughout New England by raising public awareness and by encouraging policy solutions such as a universal background check on all guns sold. When considering that there are over 200 million guns in civilian hands in our country and 40% of all gun purchases are made through secondary sales-- where background checks are not required--clearly more needs to be done to combat illegal gun markets.

Under federal law, and in most states, people can sell guns without becoming a federally-licensed gun dealer and they are not required to conduct criminal background checks on anyone buying those guns. In fact, it is estimated that only 60% of firearms are sold through licensed dealers--meaning that 40% of guns can be legally sold without background checks.

Did you know...

• Many unscrupulous gun sellers and buyers exploit this loophole.

• Everyday, at gun shows, in newspaper ads, in backyards and on the internet, guns are sold to felons, straw purchasers, juveniles and other prohibited people (including those with serious mental illness) with out criminal background checks.

• This loophole has fueled a huge industry that caters to strawpurchasers and other shady gun buyers who are seeking to avoid a background check.

• In most states, traffickers and "straw purchasers" can buy an unlimited number of firearms that can then be sold through illegal markets.

• Extending background checks to all sales would provide law enforcement officials with a powerful tool to prevent criminals from buying guns and to close illegal gun markets.

• Limiting the number of guns a person can buy would help to stem the flow of illegal guns.


Help Us Keep Guns Out of the Wrong Hands:
The Red Flag Campaign supports efforts to stop the flow of illegal guns. We believe that all gun purchasers should go through a criminal background check... no matter who sells the gun. No background check, NO sale! We also believe that every single firearms purchase should have a paper trail that police can use to learn where crime guns are coming from, and that there should be a limit on the number of guns a person can legally purchase. Please join the Red Flag Campaign and learn more about what you can do to help prevent gun violence in our communities.


Contact Information:

Red Flag Campaign
c/o New England Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence
P.O. Box 221
Westbrook, Maine 04098
Phone: 207-318-0771
Email: info@necpgv.org


Connecticut Against Gun Violence Education Fund
P.O. Box 523
Southport, CT 06890-0523
Phone: 203-268-3050
Fax: 203-637-2694
Email: info@cagv.org
Web: www.cagv.org