From our Executive Director When I started interviewing to become CeaseFirePA’s executive director, I knew I was signing up to take on a public health crisis: gun violence. But, I couldn’t imagine taking the reins of Pennsylvania’s leading statewide gun violence prevention organization in the midst of a pandemic. The collision of these two public health crises is a perfect storm. Although crime is down, gun-related crimes are up as tempers flare and some actions go unchecked. Domestic violence victims are trapped in their homes with their abusers. And the economic fallout combined with the lack of human-connection has many worried about the mental health of children and adults alike. These dangers are magnified by the uptick in gun sales since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic. I know how guns can rip families and communities apart. As a child, a neighbor and a schoolmate took their own lives using firearms. Last summer, I sat on my porch holding my 1-year old son, Elon, imagining the day I’d send him running across the street to play with other kids at the local park only to have the day-dreaming shattered by a gunshot. While luckily no one was hurt, kids and parents fled the park for safety. These all too frequent acts of gun violence in our communities have become punctuated by dreadful mass shootings. I do not want my son, or anyone, to live in a country that looks at this devastation and thinks it’s just part of the fabric of our society, especially when common-sense solutions are at hand. After more than a decade of organizing and advocacy in Pennsylvania, I know the difficulties facing us including the powerful NRA and recent gun-wielding protesters in the Capitol. But in the last few weeks, I’ve seen firsthand the dedication of our team and members. Numerous allies, including Attorney General Shapiro, have joined our Webinar Wednesdays to discuss gun violence during the pandemic. We’re fighting absurd legislation which permanently opens gun-related businesses as life-sustaining businesses. And, our educational programs are allowing students and teachers to address gun violence in their community. While we cannot meet in person during this time, please reach out to me to share your knowledge and thoughts on how we can work together to tackle gun violence. Stay healthy. Stay safe. Adam Garber CeaseFirePA Executive Director | 
