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Understanding and Preventing Gun Violence in America

Explore the causes and impacts of gun violence in the U.S. and learn how we can work together to stop this uniquely American problem. Discover key statistics, legislative updates, ways to get involved, and critical questions for reflection. Join the movement for change.

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Understanding and Preventing Gun Violence in America

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  1. GUN VIOLENCE – A UNIQUELY AMERICAN PROBLEM What causes it and how can we stop it?

  2. Introduction

  3. Gun violence in the U.S. Credit: Everytown

  4. Gun violence in the U.S. • Firearm-related deaths are now the third leading cause of death overall among US children aged 1 to 17 years (behind illnesses and unintentional injuries like drownings or car crashes) • On average, 7 children and teens die from gun violence every day

  5. Gun violence in the U.S. • On average, 33,000 Americans die every year from guns • About 62% are suicides, around 20,000 people

  6. Credit: Everytown

  7. Gun violence in the U.S. • In 2017, there were 346 mass shootings in the U.S. in which four or more people, including the gunman, were killed or injured by gunfire. • Adjusted for population, only Yemen has a higher rate of mass shootings among countries with more than 10 million people • America’s gun homicide rate is more than 25 times the average of other high-income countries. • Among people who live in high income countries, 90 percent of women, 91 percent of children aged 0-14 years, 92 percent of youth aged 15-24 years, and 82 percent of all people killed by firearms were from the United States.

  8. Gun violence in the U.S. • Black Americans make up 14 percent of the U.S. population but are victims of more than half of all gun homicides.

  9. Gun violence in the U.S. • Americans make up about 4.4 percent of the global population but own 42 percent of the world’s guns. • In an average month, 50 women are shot to death by intimate partners in the U.S. • And more than half of all women killed by intimate partners in the U.S. are killed with guns.

  10. Pair share • Which statistic was most surprising to you? Why? • Is gun violence a Jewish issue? Why or why not? • Do Jews have a special obligation to care about gun violence prevention?

  11. Gun violence • What makes your scenario unique? What makes it similar to others? • Who is impacted in your scenario? • Could laws have stopped your scenario from taking place? If so, which ones? If not, why not? • Do you have a personal connection to this instance of gun violence or like it?

  12. Las Vegas

  13. Charleston

  14. Parkland

  15. Chicago

  16. New York City

  17. St. Louis

  18. Agree/disagree • The federal government should ban assault weapons and high capacity magazines

  19. Agree/disagree • Concealed carry licenses in one state should be accepted – like a driver’s license – in all other states

  20. Agree/disagree • You are safer in your home if a gun is present

  21. Agree/disagree • The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun

  22. Legislative update • 115th Congress: The Background Check Expansion Act (S.2009) • The Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act of 2017 (H.R.4240) • 115th Congress: Assault Weapons Ban of 2017 (S.2095 & H.R. 5087)

  23. How can you get involved? • We need to elect leaders who are going to do something about gun violence. Join us for an interactive Back-to-School Student Virtual Town Hall event to learn more about how students can get involved in the RAC’s civic engagement campaign. Watch from home, or get together with your youth group for a viewing party!

  24. How can you get involved? • Attend a candidate forum in your community, and ask your elected official what they plan to do to address the gun violence epidemic in our country. You can maximize your chances of being called on in a forum or other space if you sit close to the front, wear bright colors that will help the elected official notice you, and raise your hand at the beginning of the Q & A.

  25. How can you get involved? • Take it to the Bimah. Ask your rabbi if you can deliver a dvarTorah (sermon) on Friday night at your synagogue that reflects your values and encourage your whole community to take action. Need some inspiration? See what teens have been saying, and then share your own experience!

  26. How can you get involved? • Attend a Road to Change event in your community and share your experiences in a blog post or photos with Logan at lgerber@urj.org. We want to feature them on social media! • Post your story and about the great and important work you’re doing in the world on social media using the hashtag #JewsDemandAction so we can amplify your voice.

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