Dear CT News Wire,
As a supporter of CT Against Gun Violence, I want you to be among the first to know about Ron Pinciaro’s decision to retire at year’s end, after 16 years as the organization’s executive director. His decision was made after careful consideration and discussions with me over the past 24 months. Despite retiring from CAGV, we are very fortunate that Ron will continue to offer guidance to us in a consultative capacity.
It goes without saying that all of us at CAGV are extremely sad to see Ron retire. During his 16 years of leadership, Connecticut has had unparalleled success strengthening its gun laws, leading the nation in passing common-sense measures that save lives. As a result, the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence has ranked us as having the second strongest gun laws in the nation for the fourth year running. The legislation that Ron was instrumental in passing during the course of his time with CAGV is why gun deaths in Connecticut are down 28 percent since 2010, giving our state the fifth lowest rate of gun deaths in the nation.
Beyond Ron’s skills as an advocate for a cause that is notoriously contentious, it’s his ability to build relationships with and the respect of legislators that led to his success. I know he did the same with many of you, and he valued highly your generous support and commitment to our work. When he ends an email to our supporters, “Thank you for all you do,” he means it from the bottom of his heart.
Ron was first appointed co-executive director of CAGV in 2001 and then became its sole executive director in 2007. During his tenure his close working relationship with the leadership of the CT General Assembly allowed him to lobby successfully for the state’s original ban on assault weapons, the requirement to report lost or stolen firearms that is essential to prevent gun trafficking, a permit requirement for buying long guns and prohibiting subjects of domestic violence temporary restraining orders from possessing firearms. In the aftermath of the Sandy Hook School shooting, Ron spent countless hours on and was instrumental in helping to draft and pass new, tough regulations, including background checks for private sales of firearms, expanding the list of prohibited assault weapons, banning large capacity magazines and establishing a permit requirement for buying ammunition.
In my discussions with Ron, it was clear that his decision to retire from the organization that he has built into a leader in the gun violence prevention movement was not an easy one, but he felt the time was right. An important element of his decision was concern for the organization. He told me that while wisdom and experience (which Ron has as much or more of than anyone in working on our cause) have their place, he recognized there is also value in the getting the energy and perspective of someone new.
With Ron’s assistance, and after an exhaustive search, the Board has found just that person in Jeremy Stein, a seasoned litigator with over 20 years of experience who received his law degree from Emory University in 1994. His interest in fighting gun violence began early in his career, when he served as a prosecutor with the criminal division of the Attorney General’s Office of the District of Columbia. Jeremy handled many gun related cases, working closely with the ATF, FBI, Secret Service, Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police. He clerked for the Honorable Patricia A. Broderick at the D.C. Superior Court and served as an assistant public defender with the Maryland Office of the Public Defender, in its Baltimore City felony trial division. Most recently, Jeremy was the managing partner of the Connecticut office of the law firm, Melick & Porter, LLP. He has counseled CEOs and Counsels General of both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. He serves on the Board of Directors for Ridgefield Operation Animal Rescue.
Jeremy will be taking over from Ron at the beginning of 2018, and as our incoming executive director, he will work closely with Ron during the next 10 weeks on a smooth transfer of responsibilities come the new year.
The board and I are very confident that under Jeremy’s leadership, the organization will continue to play a pivotal role in developing and implementing laws and strategies to reduce gun violence in Connecticut. We all feel that Jeremy’s experience as both a prosecutor and public defender offers a unique perspective that will serve CAGV well as we advocate for legislative and non-legislative gun violence prevention solutions.
Ron, to paraphrase your words, thank you so much for all you have done to make the citizens of Connecticut safe from gun violence!
Regards,
Marty Isaac
Board President
P.S. If you would like to get in touch with Ron, you can reach him at r...@cagv.org.
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