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Gun violence prevention efforts and research the Trump admin has targeted so far
Since President Donald Trump returned to office, cuts and layoffs related to gun violence have hit the CDC, the National Institutes for Health and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Federal funding for research, only just made available six years ago, is also at risk. Government-funded community violence prevention programs and hospital-based intervention…
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The ‘Idaho Paradox’: When a state with loose gun laws has below average gun violence rates
It’s a common refrain in the gun violence prevention world that states with loose gun laws often have higher rates of firearm deaths and injuries. Some laws tend to be more effective than others. For example, a RAND analysis of gun policy found that child-access prevention laws reduce self-inflicted gun injuries and homicides among youth. …
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How a local reporter sheds light on gun violence in her community
Some of the best reporting on gun violence is happening at the local level. A great example is AL.com’s Beyond the Violence project in Birmingham, Ala. Alaina Bookman is the gun violence prevention reporter on the series. Her coverage runs the spectrum, highlighting efforts focused on providing Birmingham’s youth with safe outlets and mentorship. She…
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‘What We’ve Become’ explores limitations of public health approach to guns
On its surface, the central argument in Jonathan Metzl’s most recent book is a surprising one and a departure from his previous books and public statements. One of those books, “Dying of Whiteness,” made a strong case for why gun violence needs to be treated as a public health crisis. In “What We’ve Become: Living and…
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Gun violence rates decline in 2025, mirroring 2024’s drop
Firearm deaths and injuries nationwide dropped for a third straight year in 2024 after reaching record levels of gun violence during the pandemic. And the trend seems to be continuing this year. In the country’s largest cities, fatal shootings dropped 27% in 2024, according to an analysis of over 1,000 U.S. cities from Magic Wade,…
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How to navigate the complex challenges and potential impact of reporting about domestic violence
Domestic violence: Changing the narrative, exploring solutions Moderator: Kaitlin Washburn, reporter, Chicago Sun-Times; AHCJ Health Beat Leader for firearm violence and trauma Rachel Louise Snyder, author, New York Times contributing writer Angela Kim, domestic violence consultant, advisor, writer, survivor Sammy Caiola, special projects reporter, Kensington Voice By Cheryl Platzman Weinstock, Connecticut Health Journalism Fellow Domestic…
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Journalists need to frame gun violence as a public health issue
Congress finally funded gun violence research. Could it all go away again? Moderator: Kaitlin Washburn, reporter, Chicago Sun-Times; AHCJ Health Beat Leader for Firearm Violence Garen Wintemute, M.D., MPH, director, UC Davis Centers for Violence Prevention Abené Clayton, reporter, Guardian US Tim Daly, J.D., senior advisor, The Joyce Foundation; Chair, Fund for a Safer Future…
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