Violence Policy Center

The Violence Policy Center (VPC) is a Washington, DC based organization that conducts studies that serve the aim of furthering gun control legislation.

History

The organization was originally called the New Right Watch. Two prominent members are Tom Diaz and Josh Sugarmann.

Numerous US gun control organizations have used VPC reports and terminology to further local gun control initiatives.

Criticism of the VPC

Gun rights advocates have been critical of the accuracy and scientific validity of VPC's reports, charging that the conclusions have already been decided regardless of the statistics. The VPC has a track record of making allegations for which there is no proof with regards to the case of Ronnie Barrett.

Criticism has also come from other gun control advocates who believe that the Violence Policy Center takes an approach that is not politically feasible.

Other gun control organizations advocate a gradual approach toward their goals while the Violence Policy Center believes guns are a public health issue and should be banned immediately.

The VPC vs. Ronnie Barrett

In January 2005, the VPC was featured on the CBS news and current affairs program 60 Minutes, which ran a segment on the subject of .50 Caliber rifles and the alleged threat to public safety that these weapons posed ^*. The 60 Minutes report drew heavily from the VPC's reports on the .50 BMG cartridge and conducted interviews with both Ronnie Barrett and Tom Diaz. Many in the gun rights movement found the story to be biased in the VPC's favor, and point out that never has a .50 Caliber rifle been used in the commission of a crime.

The Violence Policy Center's 2001 report Voting From the Rooftops accused the Barrett Firearms Company and other firearms dealers and manufacturers of selling guns to the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization. Barrett denied these charges and a subsequent visit to the company by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) turned up no evidence to support the accusations. Gun control organizations such as the Brady Campaign stayed away from directly accusing Barrett of wrongdoing.

The VPC vs.Eddie Eagle

The VPC disparaged the gun safety cartoon character Eddie Eagle calling the program "Joe Camel with Feathers".The NRA shot back, calling the attack 'scurrilous',and asking the question "What kind of person would put a political agenda before a child's safety?"

The Hacking Incident

The Violence Policy Center made headlines on June 19, 2000 when it issued a press release stating that its website was the victim of a hacking attack that wiped out their data. Certain gun rights advocates accused the VPC of staging the incident although nothing has come out as of the identity of the alleged hacker.