Rockefeller Institute of Government’s Post

The shooting today at Lakewood Church, Houston, is another reminder that the world is NO LONGER Safe for our families, breadwinners, and innocent children. We all are not safe as long as people have unhindered access to guns and other destructive weapons. With the COVID-19 pandemic and prolonged restrictions, there has been an increase in several mental health issues. People are more depressed, demented, anxious, and suicidal. We need to help make the world a safer place for us all – and for our families. Although gun violence is a fixture in American life, the issue has remained a highly political one, a case of gun control vs people who are very protective of their right to bear arms. There were over 656 and 42 (already) mass shootings in 2024 and 2023 respectively across the US according to Gun Violence Archive (GVA).  In 2023, 43,053 persons were killed through gun violence from all causes (homicide, suicide, murder, unintentional murder, etc.).  How long can we allow this to continue? The immediate impact and long-term consequences of gun violence are unimaginable. The trauma to the victims and family members which is unimaginable is what we can stop if we take gun control issues more seriously (and less politically). Who is allowed to buy and handle guns? What is their mental health status? Why do they need the gun(s)? We can, as a nation, do much better as we honestly address the issue of gun violence in our states and nation.    Join the movement. Let’s drop our guns today! #GunViolence #Health #Family #CFHI

Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions announces new goal to reduce gun violence 30% by 2030. To reach this important goal, the Center has outlined solutions that take a public health approach, backed by research, focusing on both firearm access and underlying risk factors that contribute to gun violence. “We have witnessed unprecedented momentum at the state level in the last couple of years and now is the time to focus on those efforts that can truly save lives.” says Joshua Horwitz, JD, co-director of the Center for Gun Violence Solutions. “I am optimistic that we can get this done." Read more about the 5 priority solutions: https://lnkd.in/enzkfj4r

Today is gun violence awareness day. Too many people continue to be impacted by gun violence, that I think we all can agree on. What we don't always agree on is how we reduce victimization. Sometimes the disagreements get downright ugly. What often is forgotten is the impact gun violence has on victims and their families. Many of us have lived through traumatic experiences that change our lives forever, every day more people 'join' this group. I belong to this group and I don't say that to solicit empathy (please don't) but rather to express my frustration at the 'nyet' crowds. At both ends of the political spectrum we have people who continue to obstruct progress. We have second amendment absolutionist who obstruct any and all legislative efforts to reduce access to firearms for anyone, we have activist who refuse to support any and all law enforcement solutions. Both groups are small and don't reflect what the majority of Americans want but unfortunately continue to exert a disproportionate impact on how we address gun violence. As a victim I can tell you that these groups don't represent me. As an academic I can tell you that their opinions are not supported by evidence and lean heavily on cherry picking pieces of evidence. If we want sustainable solutions we have to be better at listening to the folks that are impacted: inner city residents, survivors or mass shootings and others who had their lives upended. We also need to work together better, police and community organizers, democrats and republicans. We don't always have to agree on everything to work together, but we should be willing to listen. If you can't do that, respectfully, maybe sit this one out. If you can, let me know how I can help.

The newest grand challenge of social work. What are your thoughts on this? I'm interested to read this chapter in the grand challenges.

Here at Youth GVA, we believe promoting awareness among different aspects of local public policy regarding gun violence is of the highest importance. View our newest article about the Joe Biden Administration and Gun Violence Prevention for the campaign 'Teens Take on Policy' now. Take a look at the article linked below and share your thoughts! https://lnkd.in/gn_6xzUi

Announcing the newest Grand Challenge to Prevent Gun Violence, led by Patricia Logan-Greene, University at Buffalo School of Social Work; @Deborah_Gorman- , University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice; Neil Guterman, NYU Silver School of Social . The magnitude of violent gun deaths, in concert with the widespread accessibility of guns and the unique lethality and risks of misuse of firearms make gun violence a distinct grand challenge. Gun violence prevention intersects with the work that social workers do and the various contexts in which they operate, making the profession uniquely positioned to address the multi-faceted nature of the problem. This new Grand Challenge area recognizes the urgent need and great opportunities for social work to advance a body of research, build and disseminate practice knowledge, and develop impactful interdisciplinary partnerships to take action and meaningfully reduce #gunviolence. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gbnbvwnH #Up4TheChallenge #GoGrander #socialwork #gunviolenceprevention

Lock it up for Gun Violence Awareness Month 🔐 🔫 The month of June is Gun Violence Awareness Month. We can’t talk about gun violence without talking about suicide. In Pennsylvania suicide makes up 53% of all fire arms deaths. Research shows that secure storage of firearms reduces suicide risk. Secure storage means storing all of your guns unloaded with ammo stored separately and secured, such as locked with a cable or trigger lock, or in a gun safe. Doing this allows time for both the moment of intense suicidal thoughts to pass, and for someone to intervene with potentially lifesaving mental health support and resources. If you own a firearm make sure that you take proper safety measures to not only protect yourself but keep the other members of your household safe. To get a gun lock for your firearms contact Mental Health America of Lancaster County or call your local veterans association

Today is National Wear Orange Day, a day to honor Hadiya Pendleton and the over 43,000 victims of gun violence in the U.S. each year. Observed every June, Wear Orange Day raises awareness about the impact of gun violence. The Los Angeles County Office of Violence Prevention, along with the nation, commemorates Gun Violence Awareness Month, which began in 2013 after Hadiya’s tragic death. Wearing orange symbolizes safety and remembrance. In 2022, over 800 lives were lost to gun violence in LA County, including 500 homicides and over 300 suicides. Gun violence affects families physically, emotionally, and financially, with direct costs exceeding $570 million and additional costs from lost work and quality of life over $9 billion. Gun Violence Restraining Orders (GVROs) are a vital tool to help prevent harm by temporarily removing firearms from individuals at risk. Learn more about GVROs and how to obtain one to help keep our communities safe. #WearOrange #GunViolenceAwareness

What's behind the rise in gun suicides among young people of color in the U.S.? DMH Assistant Professor Leslie Adams, PhD, MPH and Associate Professor Paul Nestadt, MD, spoke to The Guardian about how increased gun ownership and racial trauma have contributed to an uptick in youth firearm suicides. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/grivViYT #GunViolenceAwarenessMonth

I was invited to attend a Zoom call from The White House on Friday led by Gregory Jackson Jr., Deputy Director of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, and facilitated by Feven Solomon, Senior Advisor for Public Engagement at the White House. They were joined by Oresa Napper-Williams of advocacy organization Not Another Child (https://lnkd.in/eqE8QzUt), which helps inner-city families who are directly impact by violence, and Anthony Smith of Cities United (https://lnkd.in/eZK5KM6w), which works to create safe, healthy, and hopeful communities with holistic approaches to gun violence. Deputy Director Jackson talked about the huge investments made in communities through local and national organizations, in wraparound services, and in mental-health professionals in schools. He also talked about the reduction in homicides of young Black men and boys—and the challenging work still to be done—and the urgent need for people to properly secure their firearms, given the central importance of time and distance between a moment of crisis and access to a firearm. He said: “There’s a common misconception that gun violence in Black communities is purely connected to gangs and drugs. But when we look at the stats, there’s a different story. Only 11 percent is connected to gang activity, and only 30 percent is connected to another felony. So what we’re seeing is really a crisis of individuals lashing out and having interpersonal conflict and retaliation—cycles of violence that roar on and cause trauma, which fuels future trauma. … “As you think about prevention, one of the most impactful ways that we can prevent violence when thinking about youth is really focusing on those who have suffered loss, because we know that most individuals who commit an act of gun violence were victimized first. It may not mean they were directly shot, but they have been traumatized or suffered loss. By working with those who have suffered loss or been harmed, even at a very young age, elementary age—who lost a father or brother or witnessed a traumatic event—investing in those youth and providing therapeutic support and emotional and sometimes economic support we know can drastically prevent the likelihood of future violence. … “We know that hurt people hurt people, but also this Administration is committed to working with you to ensure we are healing people, knowing that healed people can heal people.” #whitehouse #preventgunviolence #Blackhealing #Blackcommunity