Friday Finds
Wherein we unearth GVP-related stories from the past week
On Fridays here at Armed With Reason, we highlight some articles from the Gun Violence Prevention realm that might have been missed during your busy week. This edition features a focus on ASK (Asking Saves Kids) Day, June 21.
Photo by Sebastián León Prado via Unsplash
Early 2024 Data Show Promising Signs of Another Historic Decline in Gun Violence
“…the CAP analysis showed, on average, that gun homicides fell much faster in states with the strongest gun laws, while states with the weakest gun laws saw marginal improvements to public safety, if any.”
Related: Philadelphia Experiences Biggest Drop in Gun Violence Among Major U.S. Cities
VIDEO: Juneteenth Regional Reporter Summit: Gun violence and mental health
“Ahead of Juneteenth, the Biden administration held the Juneteenth Regional Reporter Summit to answer questions on topics pertaining to Black Americans.”
Related: Work to combat gun violence personal for this White House official
The Gun Lobby’s Hidden Hand in the 2nd Amendment Battle
“But Dr. [William] English’s interest in firearms is more than academic: He has received tens of thousands of dollars as a paid expert for gun rights advocates, and his survey work, which he says was part of a book project, originated as research for a National Rifle Association-backed lawsuit, The New York Times has found.”
Supreme Court strikes down Trump-era ban on bump stocks on guns
“Though the case didn’t rely on the Second Amendment, it did put the debate about guns back on the court’s docket in one of the most closely watched controversies this year. In that sense, the decision was the latest from the high court to side with gun rights groups.”
Machine-gun conversion device dubbed 'Glock switches' taking violence to the 'next level': Experts
“Law enforcement officials attribute a dramatic increase in the number of shots fired at crime scenes across the country to a lethal combination: multiple people drawing guns in crowded settings to settle disputes, and a growing number of criminals using Glock firearms converted to machine guns and equipped with extended magazines.”
ASK Day - June 21
Launched at the Million Mom March on May 14, 2000, ASK (Asking Saves Kids) was organized by Brady United Against Gun Violence, in partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics, on the simple premise that we should ask family, friends, and members of your community about unlocked or loaded guns in the home in order to prevent tragic firearm accidents. ASK Day is recognized on June 21 each year.
VIDEO: ‘This is preventable' | 'ASK Day' hoping to keep children safe from accidental shootings
“‘A big component of that is making sure that firearms are securely stored around our children, wherever they are. So that means if they're going over to someone's house for a playdate, or a family member's house for dinner, or someone's house for childcare, asking to make sure that firearms are securely stored wherever our children are,’ said Warnick.”
Is there an unlocked gun where my child plays?
“According to an analysis by Brady… half of the weeks in the year with the most unintentional shootings by children occurred during summer.”
VIDEO: Startling percentage of homes have unlocked, loaded guns, endangering kids, study finds
“Roughly once every day in the United States, a child under the age of 18 gains access to a loaded gun and unintentionally shoots themself or someone else…. But there is no such thing as an accidental shooting by a child – the onus to store guns securely and keep them out of reach of children is always on adults.”
What parents in Michigan – and everywhere – should know about secure gun storage after the Crumbley convictions
“While the verdict illustrates the importance of limiting children’s access to firearms to keep communities safe, holding parents responsible is not new.”
Gov. DeSantis vetoes funding for Miami-Dade gun violence prevention, mental health programming
“Funding requests from Sen. Alexis Calatayud and Rep. Vicki Lopez, both Miami Republicans, said the funds [would have covered] ‘individual, family and group mental health and wellness services, counseling and treatment,’ and ‘wraparound services to support reintegration and household stabilization.’”
When Police Shootings Don’t Kill: The Data That Gets Left Behind
“While efforts to document both gun-related homicides and fatal police shootings have gained ground in recent years, leading to more academic research, less is known about the cases in which people survive shootings by police officers.”
Arming Teachers Still a Terrible Idea
“NEA tracked roughly three dozen proposed gun laws this legislative session. At least nine of them would have put more guns in schools, by arming teachers and other staff members. Though most of those efforts ultimately failed, the laws passed in Iowa and Tennessee are deeply concerning to many educators who live in those states, regardless of their views on gun ownership in general.”
VIDEO: Activist Ruquan Brown Speaks on Gun Violence Prevention and Activating the Youth for Change
“In an exclusive interview with EBONY, Brown discusses Advocacy, Gun Violence and Empowering Black Communities”
Quavo hosts summit against gun violence featuring VP Kamala Harris on late rapper Takeoff’s birthday
“Quavo held the inaugural Rocket Foundation Summit at the Carter Center in Atlanta on Tuesday — the same day as Takeoff’s birthday. The music performer was joined by Vice President Kamala Harris in a fireside chat during the one-day summit, which included panel discussions about gun violence prevention and youth programs.”