Friday Finds
Wherein we unearth GVP-related stories from the past week
Given the constant information tsunami of our 24-hour news cycle world, there are bound to be stories that get lost in the scroll. On Fridays here at Armed With Reason, we’ll highlight some articles from the Gun Violence Prevention realm that might have been missed during your busy week.
The GVPedia Data Visualization Tool Has Arrived!
We start this week’s round-up by highlighting our own accomplishment of which we are very proud! After five years of constructing it, GVPedia's Data Visualization Tool is officially live! It allows you to search Gun Violence Archive data down to street address, congressional district, or state level using more than 25 different filters for date, demographics, type of incident, and much more. “Data Viz” also has factsheets customizable by state, incident type, and year that can be exported as a pdf. This is only our first step in making data as easily accessible as possible.
In 2023, Gun Violence Trended Down Across the Country
“This preliminary data estimates a decline in murders that would be the largest single-year drop in the country’s recorded history.”
The Gun Measures Voters Want on Their State Ballots
“With gun reforms stalled in Congress, several states are looking to tighten their gun laws through ballot initiatives this November.”
VIDEO: ‘Pain into Power': Gun violence prevention laws to take effect Feb. 13
“State and national leaders joined together virtually Monday… to discuss how to implement the laws which include: safe storage, universal background checks, extreme risk protection orders, and a gun ban for those convicted of domestic violence.”
VIDEO: Psychiatrist advocates for reforming U.S. approach to gun safety
“Dr. Jonathan Metzl, director of Medicine, Health and Society at Vanderbilt University and author of the new book, “What We’ve Become: Living and Dying in a Country of Arms,” joins William Brangham to discuss how America tackles gun violence.”
Nearly 30,000 firearms stolen from vehicles since Tennessee GOP relaxed gun laws
“In 2022 alone… data from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation shows that more than 5,000 guns were stolen from motor vehicles, in many cases putting them into the hands of dangerous individuals who are not legally entitled to possess firearms and are likely to commit other crimes.”
Biden Aims to Impose Tightest Gun-Export Restrictions in Decades
“The plan follows a Commerce Department review of its support for American gunmakers after a Bloomberg investigation linked skyrocketing civilian gun exports to higher rates of global gun crime.”
Voters Want President Biden to Use Executive Authority to Address Gun Violence
“Two in three voters (67%) support the U.S. government publicly releasing a higher amount of data on gun violence in the U.S., including data on the largest suppliers of guns used in crimes. This includes 83% of Democrats, 62% of Independents, and 52% of Republicans.”
Jill Biden tells school principals ‘enough is enough’ while promoting a gun safety initiative
“A new initiative was announced at a White House event for school principals with the first lady and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona. Stefanie Feldman and Greg Jackson, both of the recently established White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, also participated… As part of the announcement, the Justice Department is releasing a guide to safe firearm storage and the Education Department will distribute materials to schools to share with families.”
VIDEO: Sen. Bonnie Westlin Talks Gun Violence Prevention
“We know in so many cases especially where people are having thoughts of suicide that if we can remove firearms from that person’s possession, that we can often save lives.”
Oliver North says NRA reacted to misconduct allegations like a ‘circular firing squad’
“LaPierre remarked that the lawyers are “the only reason I’m not going to spend the rest of my life in an orange jumpsuit,” North told jurors in a Manhattan courtroom.”
“Things Are Not Set in Stone”: How to Reframe America’s Gun Debate
“The norms of today are not the norms of American history or the values of the founders. They are the product of a gun culture that has, for now, won its battle with the Constitution and imposed its vision on a sleeping nation.”