The state's largest gun control group, CeaseFirePA, is getting a $350,000 grant to strengthen its advocacy efforts statewide.

The Chicago-based Joyce Foundation is granting the organization the money over two years to aid its bid to build a statewide, grass-roots response to gun violence, CeaseFirePA's executive director Joe Grace said.

Although the six-year-old nonprofit group, which focuses on stopping gun violence and access to illegal handguns, is based in Philadelphia, it is making its grant announcement today at Pittsburgh police headquarters to underscore its efforts to work with legislators, police and residents around Pennsylvania.

CeaseFirePA supports laws, such as one defeated by the state House on April 1, requiring gun owners to report to police within 72 hours if their handguns are lost or stolen.