Philanthropy MA Program (May 31, 2018): Gun Violence Prevention Landscape
David Hemenway, Director, Harvard Injury Control Research Center and Health Policy Professor, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Facts & Figures
- In the first 22 weeks of 2018, there have been 23 school shootings
- More school students have died in 2018 than active military personnel
- The United States has the most permissive gun laws of all developed countries
- A child in the U.S. is 18x more likely to be killed with firearms than in the rest of the developed world.
A Public Health Approach to Gun Violence
- Public health model: make it easy for people to stay healthy and difficult to get injured and sick
- Preventative – addressing the root of the problem, focus on harm reduction and prevention
- Changing laws and changing social norms are both important
- Must get everyone involved, shared responsibility instead of placing the blame
- You don’t have to change the people, you have to change the system
- For example: driving was made safer NOT by changing the behaviors of drivers, but by making cars and roads safer.
- Data and research are key to a public health approach
- For example: data shows that there is a high rate of 2-4 year olds accidentally shooting themselves. Child proofing guns would help to stop this problem.
- However, there is a lack of gov’t funding from CDC, and, therefore, lack of research, on gun violence
- Need research on every aspect of guns, eg: gun theft, open gun carrying, guns and alcohol, gun suicide, guns in self-defense, gun accidents etc. etc.
- A public health approach is multi-faceted, there are many different aspects of gun violence to be addressed.
- For example: gun violence is connected to issues of over & under-policing, as well as over incarceration à gun violence prevention can be addressed through justice reform
- This approach is well-suited for funders because they can approach an aspect of gun violence prevention that aligns with pre-existing funding priorities
- Foundations should be funding research the gov’t is not
Funders Focusing on Gun Violence Prevention
Kendeda Fund - David Brotherton, Communications Consultant & Advisor, Gun Violence Prevention Program
- Funding storytelling that moves beyond tragedy reporting and other traditional frames to focus instead on points of agreement, creative solutions, and models of progress
- Supporting emerging leaders and new voices working at the intersection of gun violence prevention, criminal justice reform, racial equity, and poverty
- Strategies:
- Lifting up emerging voices
- Embracing intersectionality, this work doesn’t happen in a silo
- Growing the field of gun violence prevention
- Using the power of story to change narrative about guns in this country
Joyce Foundation - Nina Vinik, Director, Gun Violence Prevention & Justice Reform Program,
- Funding state policy reform, research, education, and legal strategies
- Supporting 21st Century policing to build greater police-community trust and legitimacy
- Reducing incarceration of young people.
The Paul & Phyllis Fireman Charitable Foundation – Deva Hirsch, Executive Director
- Funding research regarding relationship between Russia and the NRA
Resources
Fund for a Safer Future – Donor Collaborative focused on gun violence reduction
How Grant Makers Can Fight Gun Violence – Now and Over the Long Haul, www.philanthropy.com/article/opinion-grant-makers-can-do/242748?cid=cpfd_home
The Trace – an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit newsroom dedicated to shining a light on America's gun violence crisis
National Violent Deaths Reporting System (NVDRS) – Congress just funded in all 50 states, state-based surveillance (reporting) system that helps states understand violent deaths to focus prevention efforts