David Petraeus and other veterans launch group to reduce gun violence

The Veterans Coalition for Common Sense launched on Friday with
the goal of pushing US lawmakers to enact more legislation to prevent
gun tragedies

Amanda Holpuch in New York
Friday 10 June 2016 18.16 BST

Former CIA director David Petraeus and retired US army Gen Stanley McChrystal are part of a new veterans initiative to reduce gun violence.

The Veterans Coalition for Common Sense launched on Friday at an event in Washington DC. The group’s goal is to push lawmakers to enact more legislation to prevent gun tragedies while adhering to the gun ownership rights protected by the second amendment.

The coalition’s advisory committee includes 23 veterans from every branch of the military, including Petraeus, McChrystal and former NSA director Michael Hayden.

“This is a group of leaders who support the second amendment and who believe in the rights of responsible people, law-abiding people, to own guns,” said Mark Prentice, communications director of Americans for Responsible Solutions, the parent group of the initiative.

Retired Nasa astronaut and navy veteran Capt Mark Kelly pioneered the initiative as co-founder of Americans for Responsible Solutions. His wife, congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, co-founded the advocacy group, which seeks to improve gun control laws, while respecting constitutionally protected rights.

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