1 Changing the Conversation: America’s Gun Violence Epidemic Janet Fitch, Director Guns, Grief & Grace in America Documentary Project

2 Main Points Gun Violence is not a partisan issue, it is an American issue affecting urban, suburban, small town & rural communities Public health is a unifying framework of diverse disciplines Authentic public awareness creates momentum to refocus Research must be funded and critical thinking expanded Historically, strong coalitions invite a sustained conversation

3

4 Creating a Fresh Conversation Which Framework Offers Fresh Potential & Energy? Gun Rights vs. Gun Control Public Health and Prevention Public Health is a Unifying Force Broadens & sustains the conversation Multiple disciplines combine forces Strategies to Combat Epidemics Cast a wide net Offer solutions Plan preventive strategies Pinpoint the logical projections

5 U.S. Gun Violence Before a child in the U.S. reaches 15 (compared to a child in the rest of the industrialized world), he/she is: 5 times more likely to be murdered Twice as likely to commit suicide 12 times more likely to die of a gun related death (per Harvard Injury Control Research Center, Matthew Miller: Journal of Trauma, February 2001) History Politicians, law enforcement, media – all looked to for leadership Rampant polarization makes none able to deliver results Present Americans are longing for sensible solutions People divided – public awareness & critical thinking needed Finding commonality to break through the polarization

6 We Are All in this Together We need a new a framework to help prevent: Suicides The leading cause (55%) of gun fatalities annually Most often occur in rural and suburban areas Urban Homicides Devastation and huge incarceration rates in central cities Domestic Violence Often the lead category of homicides outside of urban centers Mass Shootings Increasing and knowing no boundaries

7

8

9 Million Mom March for Sensible Gun Laws Mothers Day, in the wake of Columbine Called women and others to Washington to express moral outrage and effect common sense gun laws Satellite marches across U.S. – in all totaled over a million Media downplayed – participants felt a turning point had occurred MMM became part of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence

10

Gun Lobby Escalates Political Activity Unprecedented Levels of Political Polarization Strategy shifts from reactive to proactive State legislatures flood with efforts to expand gun rights Increased pressure & bullying of politicians is rampant Public Opinion Neutralizes

12

13 Newtown, CT Momentum builds again in aftermath of horror President Obama takes steps, including reinstatement of C.D.C. research on gun violence Public Opinion is again shifting to moral outrage How do we convert energy to create authentic change? NEED: A sustained conversation that will break through polarization to inspire and immediately empower a diverse range of currently divided citizens to come together.

14

15 Summary We need to think in complex ways about this dilemma – and we need tools – to be able to act for as long as it takes: Gun Violence is not a partisan issue, it is an American issue affecting urban, suburban, small town & rural communities Public health is a unifying framework of diverse disciplines Authentic public awareness creates momentum to refocus Research must be funded and critical thinking expanded Historically, strong coalitions invite a sustained conversation

16 January 2013! “Martin Luther King, Jr. showed our nation a path toward equality and justice for all of its citizens. He didn’t do it through politics of hate and division. He did it by building a coalition of Americans from all backgrounds, bringing people together to accomplish a common goal. That is the spirit that defines America---and it is the heart of our grassroots network today. We know that if we work together, there is nothing we can’t achieve.” Quote/Tammy Baldwin, January 17, 2013

17

18

19

20

21