One Man’s Gun Odyssey: In Search of Accountability
This essay tracks one man’s unique journey that began with his terrifying fear of guns. He morphed into a gun owner, competitive shooter, NRA Life Member and, most recently, advocate for sensible gun laws. His search for gun violence accountability revealed some...
When Thoughts and Prayers Become Congressional Policy
At a press conference following the mass shooting in Annunciation Church in Minneapolis, a reporter asked the Chief of Police, “What can we do to stop this from happening again?” Reminiscent of the adage that fools give you reasons, wise men never try, the chief...
Gun violence panel and student film screening moderated by State Senator Catherine Blakespear
"Nearly 150 community members gathered for a panel discussion at the University of San Diego's Warren Hall to raise awareness about preventing gun violence. The conference included a film screening of 'Run, Hide, Fight; Growing Up Under the Gun' along with a panel...
Safe Storage, Real Impact: How Locking Up Can Save Lives
Starting high school was a big deal for 14-year-old Mason Shermerhorn. He was in his first month at Apalachee High School when his dreams—and his life—were cut short by a mass shooting. His friends and family will never see him graduate, chase his ambitions, or simply...
From Classrooms to Closets: Gen Z’s Reality
I was ten years old the first time I remember experiencing a school lockdown. My classmates and I sat silently in the dark, tucked away from the windows. At first, I felt a strange sense of excitement—our language arts lesson had come to an unexpected halt, and part...
Who is the biggest buyer of guns and ammo in the U.S.? As a taxpayer, you are!
Altogether, taxpayers spend more than $5 billion a year to buy guns and ammunition for our nation’s law enforcement agencies. That’s a lot of money – not to mention guns and bullets – going to the people whose job it is to keep us safe. But an analysis by Brady United...
Business Must Act, Part 3 of 3: Giving your money to gun-rights activists
In parts 1 and 2 of this series, we walked you through the scorecards created by Business Must Act and Is Your Bank Loaded? Those campaigns from Guns Down America are aimed at encouraging consumers to nudge some of America’s eminent brands to work for gun-violence...
Business Must Act, Part 2 of 3: What’s in your holster?
In part 1 of this series, we walked you through the Gun Safety Scorecard, the cornerstone of the Business Must Act campaign of Guns Down America. The scorecard weighs in-store policies, corporate action and political and lobbying donations to determine which...
Business Must Act, Part 1 of 3: “How can I buy a hammer without giving money to the gun lobby?”
Raise your hand if you spend money. Now, keep your hand raised if you consider yourself conscientious about how you spend that money. Thought so. If you think the way we do at SD4GVP: You want to spend your money with companies that support the goal of ending gun...
12th Annual Remembrance for Victims of Gun Violence
SD4GVP and the First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego held a remembrance on December 15, 2024, for loved ones lost and for all victims of gun violence. The service included time to honor and remember victims and survivors. Following the service, we held a...
Persuading your city council to pass a safe storage ordinance
One of these days, it will be your turn. You’ll have figured out that there really is something that ordinary people – like you, like us, like them – can do to prevent gun violence. You’ll have identified the officials on your city council who feel the way you do....
GUAC: One-Father Show by the Dad of a Parkland Victim
We widened our advocacy efforts into artivism by producing “GUAC,” a one-person show commemorating the life of Joaquín “Guac” Oliver. After Joaquín was killed in the 2018 Parkland mass shooting, his parents, Manny and Patricia Oliver, embarked on a campaign to get...