A message from the Executive Director
Welcome to the second installment of our monthly newsletter. November was a rollercoaster month and we have so much to recap. After a tumultuous election, our team is strategizing and refocusing on the critical gun safety policies that we can win at the state level. We had a very informative Post-Election Webinar with key legislative leaders and over 100 advocates galvanized and ready to take action in their communities. And somehow it’s already Thanksgiving! I want to wish you a very happy and safe holiday season and please read on to find out what we’re doing through the end of the year…
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Election Recap
There’s no two ways about it: Trump’s reelection dealt us a difficult hand federally. Starting in January, we likely won’t have a partner in the White House or on Capitol Hill. Many of us are experiencing very real and sound fears about his second term looming, and it’s important to acknowledge and respect those feelings. Many of you shared your immediate reactions with us via this link and we appreciate that.
But, I want to focus on the future rather than re-litigating the past. The good news is that we held our narrow gun safety majority in the PA House, and there is so much work to do. We are putting immense pressure on PA legislators to prioritize gun safety in the next session which starts in January. Will you join us by sending your lawmakers a message now?
Our movement endures, and it is stronger than any one moment or election. In this last month of 2024, we vow to deepen our commitment to each other, and to a future free from gun violence. |
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Joey Vallarian, our newest Deadly by Design storyteller. |
Deadly by Design
This month, we debuted a new Deadly by Design story from a firearm suicide survivor named Joey Vallarian. Only 1 in 10 firearm suicide attempts fail,1 so Joey was incredibly lucky. He was in a crisis in rural Mississippi in the early 1990s, which lacked an Extreme Risk Protection Order Law (ERPO) – as Pennsylvania still does. If his family could have put some space between him and the gun he kept in his car, he could have avoided a long and difficult recovery process. Considering how deadly firearm suicide attempts are, passing an ERPO law in PA now could save countless lives. Watch Joey’s story here and take action by demanding your legislators support an ERPO law in PA.
Stay tuned for more Deadly By Design videos and catch up on the full catalog of powerful stories at DeadlyByDesign.org. |
Post-Election Webinar
Last Wednesday, we hosted a Post-Election Webinar to discuss our upcoming strategy for the 2025 legislative session and beyond. We had over 100 advocates from 19 counties and 81 State House Districts join this call. It featured guest speakers Majority Whip Rep. Mike Schlossberg & PA Black Legislative Caucus Chair Rep. Napoleon Nelson and a Q&A section moderated by Adam. It’s so important for us to come together in the wake of the election and figure out what’s next together. And speaking of what’s next, we put together a 2025 volunteer toolkit to help you level up your advocacy in the coming year.
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Coming up in the month of December, we will hold two interfaith vigils, one on either end of the state. We hope you can join us in-person for one of them! |
Let’s Talk Turkey – Thanksgiving Myths vs. Facts Are you bracing for “Uncle Tony” to bombard you with gun extremist talking points at Thanksgiving? Here’s a handy myths vs. facts guide to educate even the most stubborn family members! |
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“Guns make us safer” – Guns in homes triple the risk of suicide and double the risk of homicide.2
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“Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs AKA “red flag laws”) are unconstitutional/don’t work" – ERPOs are very similar to domestic violence restraining orders (DVROs). Like DVROs, due process protections are part of ERPO laws. Also like DVROs, Courts have repeatedly upheld ERPO policies amid challenges to their due process protections and constitutionality.3
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“It all comes down to mental health” – It’s true that addressing mental health is a need but every country has mentally ill people. Only in the U.S. are shootings such a common occurrence. Additionally, only 4% of shootings involve an assailant with a documented mental health disorder. People with diagnosed mental illness are more likely to be the victim than the perpetrator of a shooting.4
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“The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is with a good guy with a gun” – If guns made us safer, America would be the most secure nation on earth. Instead we have a gun homicide rate 36x that of other similarly developed countries.5
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“Armed guards in schools keep children safe from active shooters” – There were armed guards at Parkland and Uvalde who failed to stop shooters. In a study of 225 incidents of gun violence in schools between 1999 and 2022, only two were stopped by an armed resource officer.6
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Veterans Day/Call for Suicide Survival Stories
On Veterans Day, Dr. Jay Breneman – our Director of Firearm Suicide Prevention – sent out a survey to help us better understand firearm suicide, the leading cause of firearm death in PA. A veteran himself, he reflected on the complicated feelings of this day – pride, gratitude, but also profound sadness knowing how disproportionately veterans are represented in firearm suicide cases. Sending out this survey and spending time learning both patterns and personal stories helps us to break the silence surrounding suicide and begin to save lives. We were heartened by your responses, and wanted to give you another chance to take it if you haven’t already.
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Giving Tuesday
We are just short of one week out from Giving Tuesday, the single most important day of the year for non-profits like ours to fund our work. We hope you will cap off this rollercoaster of a year with a meaningful donation to help fuel our movement to end gun violence in PA.
To make Giving Tuesday even more special, a few generous donors have pledged matching donations totaling $30,000. That means that any gift you give next Tuesday, up to and including $30,000, will be automatically doubled. Will you save this link and double your impact by planning to give $25 on Tuesday?
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The Fight Goes On
It’s been a very busy month, filled with plenty of highs and lows. But as we close it, one thing is crystal clear to me. Our movement is continuing to grow and thrive even as the world around us gets more challenging. The path to a life free of gun violence still exists, and we will rely on each other to illuminate the way. – Adam |
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Philadelphia, PA 19102
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