Artwork stating 'Education Destroys Barriers', 'We Demand Treatment', and 'I Need A Chance'

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  • California: Epicenter of Mass Incarceration Reform

    Following a Supreme Court mandate requiring California to address prison overcrowding, the state has taken numerous initiatives to reduce sentences, relocate inmates, set higher accountability measures for law enforcement, and allocate more funding for re-entry programs. While these measures have been implemented across the state, the city of Stockton has been a leader after electing the nation’s youngest – and Stockton’s first African American – mayor, Michael Tubbs. Since then, the city has adopted reforms such as universal basic income and mentorship programs and has witnessed a 40% drop in homicides.

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  • Gun violence has sharply declined in California's Bay Area. What happened?

    California’s Bay Area has seen a 30% decrease in gun homicides, despite increasing economic inequality. The region has had many interventions to reach this decline, but the key to all of them is their community-driven nature. From collaborations between law enforcement and social services, to community mentorship programs, to investing in gun violence as a public health issue, each initiative is founded on neighborhood and individual empowerment instead of policing and incarceration.

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  • Washington State Debuts Unique Tool to Reduce Gun Suicides

    In Washington, state legislators have passed an innovative measure that would allow individuals to suspend their own gun rights. The bill was started as a proactive measure for those experience mental health issues to be able to prevent themselves from harming themselves in the future. While they’re still working on publicizing the new measure, those that do know about it simply have to fill out a short form at any count clerk’s office – the rest is taken care of within 24 hours.

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  • Here's how Birmingham is battling its high homicide rate

    From city-wide efforts to faith-based interventions to public health approaches, the city of Birmingham, Alabama is taking an all-hands-on-deck approach to ending gun violence in the city. The city has been deeply affected by structural violence, racism, and disinvestment, and is applying multiple approaches, like deploying “peacemakers” that talk to residents to figure out why violence is happening in the first place. The city has also increased the number of detectives covering homicides and area nonprofits are developing counseling, rehabilitation, and job training programs for young men.

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  • In A Culture That Loves Guns, How Do You Talk About Suicide?

    In Utah, the Northeastern Counseling Center had a booth at a local gun show to give away gun safety devices and provide information on suicide prevention. The booth, which has made a few stops at public events, is just one response to the alarmingly high suicide rates in northeastern Utah. It’s part of a larger, statewide shift that includes legislation to create programs that respond to mental health concerns and bolsters firearm safety.

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  • From Fatal Shots to Farm Plots: These Guns Are Given New Meaning

    For people wanting to dispose of their firearms, RAWtools offers a unique opportunity. Understanding that the process can be challenging and emotional, they recycle weapons into gardening tools through their Swords to Plowshares initiative. By offering this, the faith-based organization seeks to shift the narrative around gun ownership and find new ways to address conflict.

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  • Upcycling Guns

    Giving guns a nonviolent afterlife can also increase economic opportunity for struggling communities. In El Salvador, IM Swedish Development Partner, a nongovernmental organization, is addressing the issue of guns and violence by creating new partnerships and opportunities. Through the Humanium Metal program, confiscated guns are recycled into raw material and then sold to companies that produce finished products like watches, jewelry—and even toys. The funds from the project go back into funding efforts to further reduce violence in El Salvador’s communities.

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  • Active shooter drills are scaring kids and may not protect them. Some schools are taking a new approach.

    With no standard measures on how to best equip schools in the face of a shooting, many districts are trying new methods. Alternatives like age-appropriate language, training just teachers, sensory support, or having guidance counselors present have been employed to lessen the fear and anxiety children feel while still being prepared.

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  • Denver Builds Out Pioneering Gun Crime Investigation Unit

    Denver has formed a law enforcement collaborative, called the Regional Anti Violence Enforcement Network (RAVEN), to bring together eleven agencies to solve gun crimes in the surrounding cities and counties. RAVEN was borne out of Denver’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center – an earlier collaboration – and uses the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network to share information, technology and resources, and identify regional patterns of crimes rather than local, isolated events.

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  • Cost of the Crossfire: Forum discusses solutions to gun violence in Chattanooga

    Chattanooga’s Times Free Press convened community leaders from across the city to discuss gun violence. Beyond exploring the many forces causing gun violence, like toxic masculinity and social media, the forum provided a platform for participants to voice what needs to happen to explore what’s possible. Citing interventions such as decreasing mental illness stigma and teaching conflict resolution at a young age as possibilities, underpinning each idea was the need for people to be active in their communities.

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