JEFF KEISTER Gun Violence Prevention 2019 March 13
To start • Put on a name badge • Grab a pencil and note card
What is Gun Violence? • When a gun is used to threaten, intimidate, injure or kill • Risk can be to self or others • Surrounding community is also strongly affected • Family, friends, and faith family • Coworkers, fellow students, neighbors • Emergency responders, doctors, medical staff • Educators, psychologists, social workers, caretakers
You are part of the movement • Know your story – what brings you here • Speak to your “people” – use the platform you have • Listen to those around you, without judgment • Share others’ stories, that they are not forgotten
Activity – small groups (2-4 people) SHARE your “I” statements (in 60 seconds): • Your name • Where you are from • How you have been touched by gun violence • Something about your interests and abilities LISTEN (take notes if needed)
Reducing Gun Violence …requires thinking about (at least) 2 things at once: • Response (what to do when/if it happens) • Prevention (reducing the likelihood & impact) • Controlling access to weapons • Reducing desire for weapons – finding alternatives to violence
A Public Health Risk FACT: More Americans have died by gun in the United States in the past 50 years than on battlefields of all wars in America’s 240+ year history • Estimates of American casualties in all conflicts in US History: 1.4M • Estimate of US Gun Deaths since 1968: 1.5M Source: CDC, CRS
Impact of Gun Violence in the US • Gun death rate is currently over 100 Americans per day • In 2016: • Cars 38k • Guns 39k • Drugs 67k Source: CDC, NHTSA
Gun Ownership & Death Rate in the US • US leads the world’s most powerful nations in gun ownership and gun death rate • US has more guns than people • According to polls, • 22% of Americans own guns • 3% of Americans own half of the civilian guns Source: SAS, JAMA, RSF-NFS
Breaking Down the Impact • Most (roughly 2/3) of gun deaths are suicide • Non-lethal injuries are ~3x that of deaths • African-Americans are at disproportionate risk Note: gun death rate for blacks is ~2x that of whites Source: CDC
San Bernadino Mass Shootings Sandy Hook Charleston Las Vegas Parkland Orlando Tucson Aurora • Various definitions: typically 3 or 4 killed or injured, excluding shooter • In most cases, family members or intimate partners are shot, and warning signs exist • These make up a small fraction of overall gun deaths (less than 1%) • Gun features such as high capacity magazines are correlated with higher numbers of injuries, deaths • High profile shootings cause in spikes in public interest, gun sales • Omitting shooters ’ names denies Google trend scores & year-over-year (seasonally adjusted) them notoriety differences in background checks performed (÷10k), by month
Gun Laws and Gun Deaths among US States • Gun death rate is correlated with weak gun laws
The “Iron Pipeline” • Federal law requires criminal background check for gun sales by licensed dealers. Checks for “private” sales are required only in 21 states • Gun shows and internet sites are common ways to connect buyers with unlicensed sellers • ATF data shows that most NY crime guns are from out of state • Over 90% of Americans (including 77% of gun owners) favor expanding background checks to all gun sales Sources: Gallup, Pew
Safe Storage Locking up guns prevents access by • Children • Criminals • Troubled individuals
“What Can I do?” in Three Styles • Raise awareness • Don’t let victims be forgotten • Lift up survivor voices • Ask important questions • Withhold judgement • Support victims • Engage with survivors and at-risk individuals • Provide alternatives to escalating risk • Advocate for accountability • Work for better laws
Gun Violence Prevention (GVP) Groups: Find (or Make) Your Lane • Sandy Hook Promise • Newtown Action Alliance, Jr. Newtown Action Alliance, Newtown Foundation • Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence • Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence, St. • Everytown / MAIG / Moms Demand, Be Mark’s Episcopal, Bishops United, Cross Lobby SMART (EAGV), National Clergy Council • March For Our Lives, Road to Change, Youth • Guns Down America Over Guns, Students Demand • Stop Handgun Violence • States United to Prevent Gun Violence (e.g. • Concert Across America, ShineMSD NYAGV) • Life Camp, SNUG, Cease Fire / Cure Violence, • Orange Ribbons for Jaime, Orange Ribbons for STRONG Youth, Guns Down / Life Up Gun Safety, Change the Ref, Project Orange Tree, Guitars Not Guns • Giffords Courage, Giffords Law Center • Long Islanders for Gun Safety, North Shore • Gays Against Guns, One Pulse For America Parents for Change • Prosecutors against Gun Violence • Doctors: AAP, AFSP, APA, APHA, AMA, AFFIRM • Veterans for Gun Reform • Teachers: AFT
There are really only 2 Actions 1. SHOW UP 2. KEEP SHOWING UP Consistency and continuity is critical Change takes dedication: set and maintain short term and long term goals It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Pace yourself KEEP GOING
Actions - Awareness • DO NOW • Put an orange ribbon on your coat • DO THIS WEEK • Share news, statistics, or stories of gun violence survivors on social media • Have a conversation about safe storage • DO IN THE NEXT 3 MONTHS • Find and plan to join (or help organize!) a public awareness event STOP. WRITE SOMETHING DOWN.
Actions – Community Support • DO NOW • Listen to and honor each other’s stories • DO THIS WEEK • Contact your local School Principal & Superintendent to ask for Sandy Hook Promise curriculum to be added • If you have guns, make sure they are locked up. ASK about guns at homes where kids play • DO IN THE NEXT 3 MONTHS • Contact a a local organization which provides support and opportunities to youth (e.g. EAC Network, Pride for Youth, LIFT, HFH, B&GC, BB/BS) and inquire about how you can volunteer or donate STOP. WRITE SOMETHING DOWN.
Actions - Legislative • DO NOW • Write letters to US Senators asking for a floor vote on S.42 • DO THIS WEEK • Follow up with US Senators by phone to ask for a floor vote on S.42 • Share this call with friends and family in other states • DO IN THE NEXT 3 MONTHS • Review how your US Senator, Member of Congress, NYS Senator, and NYS Assembly Rep voted on recent gun safety measures such as: • Federal: HR.8 / S.42 (background checks for all gun sales) • State: A.2689 / S.2451 (NYS extreme risk protection order) • Contact your reps to let them know how you think they are doing STOP. WRITE SOMETHING DOWN.
New York Legislative Initiatives • S2451 Establishment of Extreme Risk Protection Orders – passed & signed! • S2438 Require NYS review of mental health records for out-of-state permit applicants – passed Assembly & Senate • S2449 Establishment of gun buybacks – passed Assembly & Senate • S101A Limits school ability to authorize weapons on campus – passed Assembly & Senate • S2448 Bump Stock / Accelerator Ban – passed Assembly & Senate – passed Assembly & Senate • S2374 Background Check timeout extension – passed Assembly & Senate • S2450A Safe Storage – passed Assembly & Senate
Federal Legislative Initiatives & Targets • S.42 Extending Criminal • Doug Jones (AL) (202) 224-4124 • Krysten Sinema (AZ) (202) 224-4521 Background Checks to private and • Susan Collins (ME) (202) 224-2523 internet gun sales • Angus King (ME) (202) 224-5344 • S.193 Safe Storage (“Ethan’s Law”) • Jon Tester (MT) (202) 224-2644 • S.66 Assault Weapons Ban • Pat Toomey (PA) (202) 224-4254 • Mitt Romney (UT) • S.506 Establishment of Extreme (202) 224-5251 • Joe Manchin (WV) (202) 224-3954 Risk Protection Orders • Mitch McConnell (KY) (202) 224-2541 • Chuck Schumer (NY) (202) 224-6542 • Kirsten Gillibrand (NY) (202) 224-4451
Activity: Ready to Act? Divide into NEW small groups (2-4 people) and SHARE (5 minutes): • Something you learned from someone in your first group • Something which defines your “style” or “lane” • Something you can commit to doing AFTER tonight WRITE IT DOWN AND TAKE IT WITH YOU For each group to discuss and conclude: What more can be done?
My Contact Info Jeff Keister Gun Violence Prevention Suffolk County, Long Island, NY beepboop@optonline.net 631-294-8889
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