From 11/20/2001 Press Release

WELLPOINT AND CAREFIRST BLUECROSS BLUESHIELD TO MERGE
CareFirst Must Convert to For-Profit Status in Connection with the Merger
Transaction [b]will Create $1.3 Billion for Charitable Funds to Meet Local Health Care Needs of Residents of Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia[/b]

WellPoint Contacts: Investors:Angie McCabe(805) 557-6796
Media: Ken Ferber(805) 557-6794
Carefirst Contacts:
Media: Jeff Valentine (410) 998-5681 Jim Day (410) 998-5772

In a similar transaction, a Blue Cross of California (now controlled by [b]Wellpoint[/b]) established HMO, Health Net, was converted to for-profit status in the early 1990's.
If you want that history, go here: [url] http://www.milbank.org/nf/california.html[/url]
As a direct result, the [b]California Wellness Foundation[/b] was created.

For an example of how that foundation funds the undermining of 2nd Amendment rights, see [url]http://www.pcvp.org/[/url]

Excerpt from their home page:
The Pacific Center for Violence Prevention, a project of the Trauma Foundation,
works to prevent youth violence in California. Located at San Francisco General Hospital, the Center serves as the policy headquarters for the Violence Prevention Initiative funded by [b]The California Wellness Foundation[/b].

By clicking the "firearms" icon, you are "treated" to the following "jewels" (partial list to meet character max)

* Changing Gun Design Through Technology-Forcing Legislation 10-18-01
* Personalized Gun Technology10-18-01
* Glossary of Handgun and Handgun Safety Terminology (link) 10-17-01
* Concealable Firearms Charges in California, 2000. (link) 9/21/01
* BY THE NUMBERS: THE ARMS TRADE: The proliferation of arms to developing countries continues to be a matter of concern. (Sci Amer) 09/19/01
* Poisonous Pastime: The Health Risks of Shooting Ranges and Lead to Children, Families, and the Environment (link)
* VPC releases Where'd They Get Their Guns? An Analysis of the Firearms Used in High-Profile Shootings, 1963 to 2001.
* Surveillance for Fatal and Nonfatal Firearm-Related Injuries --- United States, 1993--1998 (link, CDC) 04/16/01
* Concealable Firearms Charges in California, 2000 (link) 3/12/2001
* Compact Handgun Report issued by the Los Angeles Handgun Task Force (link) 3/12/2001
* NGO Presentations from January Prep Com Meeting: Reduction and Control of Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons (link) 2/15/2001
* A Deadly Myth: Women, Handguns, and Self-Defense (link) 2/1/2001
WHY FIREARM VIOLENCE?
In addition to societal, economic, and psychological forces, gun availability has profoundly contributed to the public health epidemic of violence. As a matter of public health and sound public policy, we at the Pacific Center for Violence Prevention favor reducing handgun availability as the most effective means of decreasing firearm related injury and death. In addition to handgun reduction, we believe that all assault weapons should be permanently banned. Any legitimate sport or recreational use for assault weapons is substantially outweighed by the danger they pose in their capacity for mass killing, due to their high capacity and rapid rate of fire. In addtion, we favor allowing communities to address local firearm issues--placing restrictions on ammunition availability, shifting the cost of firearm injury to manufacturers, and placing firearms under the jurisdiction of a regulatory agency.