Armed with Reason: The Podcast - Episode 6

This week's guests are GVPedia founder, Devin Hughes, and Executive Director, Caitlin Clarkson Pereira

For our latest podcast, GVPedia founder, Devin Hughes, and Executive Director, Caitlin Clarkson Pereira, discuss GVPedia’s inaugural Data Hour event in NYC last week, as well as other adventures from Devin’s recent East Coast fact-finding trip.

You can listen to the chat via our channel on Spotify, as well as watch on YouTube.

We hope you’ll tune in and let us know not only what you think, but what you’d like to hear more about in the future. And if you are interested in recommending a guest, or even being one yourself, please let us know!

Given the abundance of gun violence in our country, it is critical to have the ability to discuss and advocate for a safer community. This podcast is one more way for the movement to do just that.

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PODCAST TRANSCRIPTION:

Caitlin Clarkson Pereira: Hello, everyone. Thank you for joining us this week for our Armed with Reason podcast. If you're watching this on YouTube, you might be a little bit disoriented at the moment because Devin is sitting here next to me. And typically Devon's in Oklahoma and I'm in Connecticut. And I'm not a geography buff, but I know those places are not right next to each other. But I am excited because Devon has been here in Connecticut for -- is this your fifth day, six day now?

Devin Hughes: What is time and days? Something like that.

Caitlin: And before coming to Connecticut, and actually we did a trip to New York City while he was here. But before that, he was in Kentucky. So he's actually been hopping all over the place.

Devin: Which also does not border Connecticut....

Caitlin: Ha, yes. So we decided since we're here together, that we might as well take a couple of minutes and maybe do a little bit of a recap as to what Devin's been up to. He's going to to go into more depth on some of these topics in some writing that he's going to do for our Substack and maybe a more detailed podcast that we'll do later on. But since he's here, we're just going to talk about some of the experiences that you've had over the past two…almost two weeks since you've been on the road.

Devin: Venturing out of Oklahoma.

Caitlin: Yeah. And for those who know, Devin, he tends to like to be at home. So the fact that he's not only not at home, but not in Oklahoma, it's like big steps for Devin. So here we.

Devin: I'm a slight introvert. This is the first time I've actually seen people ever, so...

Caitlin: Well, not ever, but you're doing great.

Devin: Close enough.

Caitlin: So like I said, you're going to take some time to write a more in-depth piece about your time in Kentucky. But if you want to tell us about one of your experiences there, one of the things that you've been explaining throughout, you're talking about your travels there. One of the things that you've been explaining a lot are the nuances of going to this gun show, and what signs you were met with on the doors and windows before you entered that gun show.

Devin: Yeah. So one of our excursions of several was to a gun show in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, which is quite a mouthful. And the first sign that greets you on your way into this gun show is: No Loaded Guns. So you heard that right. The gun show was technically a gun free zone.

Caitlin: If we had special sound effects like and this is where all those were to come in. So whatever, there's like a gasp noise or what. Maybe I'll find one of those and put t n here. But yes, that's right. That's where we would insert that.

Devin: Yeah. So on one hand I deeply appreciate that they're safety conscious there because having a bunch of loaded guns around while checking out guns would not be the safest thing. But at the same time, the irony is somewhat overwhelming, because as you've probably heard from the pro-gun side, that like, "Oh, shooters and bad guys are attracted to gun-free zones." And here where you're supposed to look at and sell guns, no loaded guns are allowed. And there were no exceptions for concealed carry either. So that was quite an interesting sign to just experience on our way into the gun show.

Caitlin: When you were walking in, by any chance, did you see anybody who you would assume would be somebody who participated in carrying typically who maybe was like taken aback by seeing those signs, or like had to stop for a moment and go back to their car? Or did everyone sort of like walk in with a normal flow and completely uninterrupted and unfazed?

Devin: Yeah, it was basically a relatively normal flow. There's a security officer who was armed there, but nobody else could carry firearms. And from what I've heard from other places as well, in terms of some research on older gun shows, this is the norm for gun shows is no loaded guns. Which on one hand make sense if you're in the reality based community, but on the other hand, where the idea that gun-free zones are a target like should be anathema. Yet here we are, sort of thing...

Caitlin: I have so many questions for so many people, and we're going to go more into the gun show and some more of Devin's adventures from Kentucky in a couple of weeks when we talk about a little more in depth in a podcast. so you went from Kentucky to...?

Devin: Yes. I survived the gun-free zone.

Caitlin: Yes, you did survive the gun-free zone. And you flew to New York, and you came here to Connecticut. And since we're not all that far from the city, we decided that we were going to host our first ever Data Hour -- a play on Happy Hour.

Devin: Yes, it's like happy hour, but for nerds.

Caitlin: Right. It's what makes us happy, so it's fine. So we did that in the city, and there were a dozen or so folks who decided to come by for a little bit and talk to us about the work that they were doing in gun violence prevention. All really fascinating things. I am never, it never ceases to amaze me how incredible these people are in the work that they're doing day in and day out, how creative people get. And during those conversations, we were able to talk a little bit about our data visualization, which is something that GVPedia has been working on for a long time now, and we are very excited to have it roll out this fall. We feel like it's definitely appropriate to start giving some more legitimate teasers as to what it's going to look like and how it's functionality will exist. But what I wanted to do, Devin, is just to ask you, what is one takeaway that you have from speaking with the group of individuals there in NYC at our first Data Hour?

Devin: Yeah, so just being in the city and being able to meet all these people in person who, like you've heard their name before or even like there's an email associated, but just being able to gather in person has a whole 'nother kind of meaning behind it, where it's like, Oh, that's not just like a robot randomly typing out emails, but like actual people who have been doing this work in some cases for decades upon decades. And really important work that some people may have never heard of before but is absolutely essential. Like we were talking with a scientist who's currently conducting studies using neuroimaging to look at the impact of gun violence on the brain and seeing what sort of impact there is, trying to develop a scale. And so we hope to have her on the podcast relatively soon to talk about that sort of exciting work. And that's just kind of the tip of the iceberg, as it were, in terms of all the efforts that are going on on a daily basis that oftentimes we don't hear about and the light's not shed on. And it's really important to shed that light and to give attention to all these important efforts.

Caitlin: Absolutely.

Devin: So what were some of your takeaways, your top one?

Caitlin: My top takeaway would have to be sort of to echo what you said about seeing these people that we interact with a lot over social media, or over Zoom, or email, or text message, whatever it might be. Obviously, it fantastic that we can stay in touch with in all these different ways. And through COVID in particular, these things were super important to us. But I think in some ways it's easy to forget, unless you're living it in real time, how critical it is to actually meet in person. And it was so fascinating to participate in these conversations, but also to take a step back and watch the sparks fly between people and their creativity start to flow. You know, "You're working on this and I'm working on this. Maybe we could collaborate on this?!" And that's where the power of a real movement -- gun violence prevention related or otherwise -- really takes its truest form. So to be able to facilitate that in a really casual setting, right? We're at a bar in New York City, this place called One Star Bar.

Devin: It has more than one star on Google.

Caitlin: It does, it's like 4.4 stars on Google. But with with $6 beers, by the way. So if you need a space to go hang out in the city, a plug for One Star Bar.... between 6th and 7th and 24th. It was a moment of pride for me when we were, we facilitated that space for those conversations to happen, and we in the movement take opportunities to get together. I think at really large events, at certain conferences in advocacy work in Washington, DC for press conferences, which is fantastic of course. But these smaller groups and the opportunity to really get to know one another and to say, you know, this is what's important to me in my organization, what's important to you and your organization. Those are just things that are a lot harder to do virtually. So we're from all over the country. And we have, some of us are, you know, advocates that have 9 to 5 jobs and things other than gun violence prevention. And those some of us are spending all of our time in this. And we have survivors who have made it their life's work to make the country a safer place. But my takeaway was just we really can't lose sight of the value of us being together in the same space for the ability to really allow the movement to continue to grow and to make progress.

Devin: And also just the diversity of backgrounds that like gun violence... unfortunately, but brings all these people together who they typically might never interact with each other. Yet here we all are in the same space working towards the common goal of ending gun violence, recognizing that it will take decades to achieve that goal, but realizing that's what's needed.

Caitlin: Right. It's a really terrible form of job security.

Devin: Yeah, it's one of those problems that's not going to be going away any time soon, unfortunately. But it means that there's a lot more work that still needs to be done.

Caitlin: Right, absolutely. So one thing that we want to let everybody know is the data visualization. As soon as we have some more ways to share that with you, we will get that out there as soon as we can. But we'll also do a podcast about that, and you probably will get sick of hearing it once it's finally launched. So if you've heard us mention that, and you're like, "What's the data visualization?" Don't worry....

Devin: Over the next couple of months you will KNOW what the data visualization is.

Caitlin: Yes, absolutely. So, once the data visualization comes out, we're hoping that our listeners will be the ones who will try it out for us. Let us know if any bugs pop up, which we're hoping there aren't many, but it's inevitable that there will be one or two. So we know that that those of you who are listening here or watching here are our biggest fans and supporters. So thank you in advance for everything that you do with that.

Devin: Yeah, if you're not watching on YouTube, just envision like an Uncle Sam, but me saying, "GVPedia needs you to check out the data visualization." And yeah, like we're really excited about the future progress of this. This has been a long time in the works and it's finally coming about. And what you will be seeing in the next 2 to 3 weeks is going to be just the first step in this data visualization project that'll hopefully incorporate all of GVPedia going forward. And so it won't be just the first one time saying this year, over the coming years, we plan on expanding it much more and integrating everything to where it's as useful a tool as we can possibly create. And we're excited for those next few years to see what we can help create -- and also for your feedback to where we can make it as useful as possible for you. So we need you to then eventually help you, in some circular fashion.

Caitlin: Yes, yes. So now it's the end of the week. Devin, you head home tomorrow.

Devin: Tomorrow. Thankfully there is a direct flight.

Caitlin: By the time this is up, Devin will already be home safe and sound. But yeah, that's it for your adventures that you've had this fall locally. And I know it's been great to be able to be with you again in the same space... Devin and I only get to see each other typically in Washington, DC when we go down before the holidays for the CAP (Center for American Progress) conference that happens down there.

Devin: We're doubling our in-person interactions per year here.

Caitlin: And thanks for, for being so good. I, you know, I'm a mom and I appreciate that Devin was so good to hang out with with my family and my daughter and play some games. And we went for ice cream. And so I don't know, I just appreciate that. But that's what the movement helps you find, right? Is people that you can vibe with and....

Devin: Lots and lots of ice cream.

Caitlin: Lots and lots of ice cream! All right. Well, I'm going to let Devin go so we can finish our our last bit of work here in Connecticut. And then he can get packing and head home. But thank you for listening to the podcast. And we will have a guest on our episode next week. And yeah, that's it. Any final thoughts, Devin?

Devin: Just, see all of you next week.

Caitlin: All right. Thanks so much, everyone.

Devin: Bye.

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Image of Devin Hughes courtesy of GVPedia.