122: Military Veterans on So-Called "Militias"

Award-winning journalist and author Ioan Grillo brings us face-to-face with the consequences of US gun policies on our southern neighbor in a discussion about his book "Blood Gun Money: How America Arms Gangs and Cartels." As Grillo unfolds how arms trafficking fuels the fires of gang and cartel violence in Mexico, we come to understand the stark contrast between Mexico's strict gun laws and the ease of obtaining firearms in the US via Grillo's firsthand accounts, including his coverage of the El Chapo trial, and put a human face on the statistics of violence that currently plagues Mexico.

Join us as we discuss our shared responsibility in addressing gun violence that knows no borders, and how easy access to firearms in the US plays a role in not just international violence, but also increases in migration and the US drug market. Together we delve into the ethical quandaries faced by gun sellers, the formidable influence of organizations like the NRA, and what we can all be doing to keep ourselves (and our neighbors) safe. 

Further reading:
America’s Complex Relationship With Guns (Pew Research Center)
Much of firearms traffic from the U.S. to Mexico happens illegally (NPR)
How American guns turned Mexico into a war zone (Los Angeles Times)
US-made guns are ripping Central America apart and driving migration north (the Guardian) 

For more information on Brady, follow us on social media @Bradybuzz or visit our website at bradyunited.org.

Full transcripts and bibliographies of this episode are available at bradyunited.org/podcast.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
In a crisis? Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor 24/7.

Music provided by: David “Drumcrazie” Curby
Special thanks to Hogan Lovells for their long-standing legal support
℗&©2019 Red, Blue, and Brady

Amid the heavy burden of today's societal pressures – from the lingering effects of the pandemic to the omnipresent weight of social media – our youth are wading through unprecedented mental health challenges. In today's podcast, we sit with Dr. Kurt Michael (Senior Clinical Director) from The Jed Foundation (JED), diving into the urgent topic of youth firearm suicidality. As a former academic dedicated to establishing mental health clinics in rural schools, and a gun owner himself, Dr. Michael brings a wealth of experience to the table, sharing why gun violence prevention is not just a policy issue, but a personal one. Together, we explore the heightened suicide risks for young people, particularly in communities where firearms are more accessible, and Dr. Michael helps us see the resilience and hope in these young fighters, and how simple measures like responsible gun storage can be a lifeline.

Further reading:
It's Okay to Say Suicide (JED)
How to Cope With Safety Threats in Your Community or the World (JED)
What’s the best way to talk about gun violence with kids? (JED)
Asking Saves Kids (Brady)
Preventing Youth Suicide (NASP)

For more information on Brady, follow us on social media @Bradybuzz or visit our website at bradyunited.org.

Full transcripts and bibliographies of this episode are available at bradyunited.org/podcast.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
In a crisis? Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor 24/7.

Music provided by: David “Drumcrazie” Curby
Special thanks to Hogan Lovells for their long-standing legal support
℗&©2019 Red, Blue, and Brady

When Jonathan Brocco, a school administrator, got involved in gun violence prevention, it was after a mass shooting rocked his school community — one of his students had lost a brother in the 2018 Waffle House mass shooting. Sadly, soon Jonathan would be directly impacted, when his father Charlie passed from firearm suicide in February of 2019.

In the wake of that combined trauma, however, Jonathan continues to give of himself, sharing his message of the urgent need for sweeping reform. Together with hosts Kelly and JJ, Jonathan explains not only his own loss (and what he wishes everyone knew about firearm suicide) but also the emotional and practical challenges educators and administrators face as they grapple with the repercussions of school shootings. Jonathan then details how the toll of gun violence extends beyond the immediate tragedy; it's a public health crisis that leaves a ripple effect across entire communities — and what you can do to help stop it.

Further reading:
Is Arming Teachers a Solution? (This is Nashville)
How to Support Survivors and People Impacted by Gun Violence (Brady)
"Forget about Making a Hashtag, Let's Throw All the Guns in a Trash Bag" (Natrix Dream/Akilah DaSilva Foundation)
'Oh my God, not again': Mom of Waffle House shooting victim deals with other son shot(Nashville 5)
'Help Us Stop the Attacks': Educators Urge Action on Gun Violence(National Education Association)

For more information on Brady, follow us on social media @Bradybuzz or visit our website at bradyunited.org.

Full transcripts and bibliographies of this episode are available at bradyunited.org/podcast.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
In a crisis? Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor 24/7.

Music provided by: David “Drumcrazie” Curby
Special thanks to Hogan Lovells for their long-standing legal support
℗&©2019 Red, Blue, and Brady

Uncover the hidden layers of New York City's youth gun culture with the Center for Justice Innovations' Basaime Spate (a Community Based Research Coordinator),  Javonte Alexander (a Senior Research Associate), and Elise White (Interim Senior Director of Research and Policy), who, along with Rachel Swaner (Research Director), created the groundbreaking report, "Two Battlefields: Ops, Cops, and NYC Youth Gun Culture." This report takes us into the heart of Crown Heights, Brooklyn, to understand the struggle young people face amid peer opposition and police interactions. Through a fusion of lived experience and participatory research, their research — and therefore our conversation — reveals the fear driving gun carrying amongst young people and the importance of actionable outcomes to combat gun violence.

Together, Basaime, Elise, and Javonte break down for hosts JJ and Kelly how fear and safety form the crux of the narrative that prompts youths to arm themselves, a tale that spans personal protection to unpredictable police encounters — and how we can all be contributing to lowering that fear and firearm carrying.

Further reading:
"Two Battlefields: Ops, Cops, and NYC Youth Gun Culture." (Center for Justice Innovation)
Community Researchers Connect with Young Gun-Carriers for Groundbreaking New Report (Center for Justice Innovation)
Safety fears prompt more Brooklyn youths to carry guns, report finds (NY daily news)
The psychology of guns: risk, fear, and motivated reasoning (Palgrave Commun 5)

For more information on Brady, follow us on social media @Bradybuzz or visit our website at bradyunited.org.

Full transcripts and bibliographies of this episode are available at bradyunited.org/podcast.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
In a crisis? Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor 24/7.

Music provided by: David “Drumcrazie” Curby
Special thanks to Hogan Lovells for their long-standing legal support
℗&©2019 Red, Blue, and Brady

In his latest book, Armed Citizens: The Road from Ancient Rome to the Second Amendment​,  Dr. Noah Shusterman posits how the question isn't the existence of the right to bear arms, but rather, about determining the specific individuals or groups entitled to bear arms. With host JJ, Dr. Shusterman details how, during the American Revolution, Americans needed to, and did, depict their conflict as a battle between civilians and trained soldiers.  As such, the framers of the Constitution placed their confidence in citizen soldiers and a "well-regulated militia," a concept that endures in contemporary times (though often erroneously understood).  If you've ever wondered "how can I combine the Roman Empire and conversations about gun violence," this is a podcast episode you won't want to miss.

Further reading:
 A Well Regulated Right: The Early American Origins of Gun Control  (Fordham Law Review)
The Supreme Court Gets a 'Well Regulated Militia' Wrong (Time Magazine)
What Do Guns Mean to Far-Right Extremists? (the Trace)
Citizen Militias in the U.S. Are Moving toward More Violent Extremism (Scientific American)

For more information on Brady, follow us on social media @Bradybuzz or visit our website at bradyunited.org.

Full transcripts and bibliographies of this episode are available at bradyunited.org/podcast.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
In a crisis? Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor 24/7.

Music provided by: David “Drumcrazie” Curby
Special thanks to Hogan Lovells for their long-standing legal support
℗&©2019 Red, Blue, and Brady

What if we told you that the key to preventing gun violence in youth lies not just in legislation, but also in acknowledging and addressing the root causes of trauma? Kelly and JJ sit down with  Dr. Sonali Rajan ,  President of the Research Society for the Prevention of Firearm-Related Harms (and also, as you'll learn, about a million other things!).  Our conversation orbits around the interconnection between a child's environment, school health, and gun violence, with Dr. Rajan casting light on the findings from the CDC's Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System and the associated risk factors of gun carriage. Dr. Rajan unpacks how  Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have a profound impact on a child's development, and how we  — even if you're childfree, and don't work with children  — can be helping kids still reach positive outcomes.  

Further reading:
 Youth exposure to violence involving a gun: evidence for adverse childhood experience classification (Journal of Behavior Medicine)
 Fast Facts: Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences (CDC)
 Shots that Echo for a Lifetime (Teacher's College Columbia University)
 Surviving a school shooting: Impacts on the mental health, education, and earnings of American youth (SIEPR)

For more information on Brady, follow us on social media @Bradybuzz or visit our website at bradyunited.org.

Full transcripts and bibliographies of this episode are available at bradyunited.org/podcast.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
In a crisis? Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor 24/7.

Music provided by: David “Drumcrazie” Curby
Special thanks to Hogan Lovells for their long-standing legal support
℗&©2019 Red, Blue, and Brady

Kelly and JJ tackle the  harsh realities of gun violence, health inequity, and trauma surgery with our extraordinary guest, Dr. Brian Williams. Dr. Williams offers a unique perspective on these gripping matters, drawn from his personal experiences as a trauma surgeon in safety net hospitals. Together we discuss what led to Dr. William's writing his book " The Bodies Keep Coming: Dispatches from a Black Trauma Surgeon on Racism, Violence, and How We Heal" following experiencing the aftermath of a mass shooting, the profound role of racism and public health in the fight against gun violence, and how storytelling breathes life into these multifaceted issues.

Further reading:
After A Mass Shooting Shook Dallas, Dr. Brian Williams Took a Stand (D Magazine)
Trauma Surgeon Who Treated Dallas Cops: 'This Killing, It Has to Stop' (NBC)
Gun Violence is a Racial Justice Issue (Brady)
 Healing a toxic brew of hate, racism, and gun violence in America (AAMC)

For more information on Brady, follow us on social media @Bradybuzz or visit our website at bradyunited.org.

Full transcripts and bibliographies of this episode are available at bradyunited.org/podcast.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
In a crisis? Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor 24/7.

Music provided by: David “Drumcrazie” Curby
Special thanks to Hogan Lovells for their long-standing legal support
℗&©2019 Red, Blue, and Brady

When it comes to talking about "gun culture" in the US, it's time challenge our understanding and reshape the discourse. This week. hosts Kelly and JJ sat down with with David Joy, a North Carolina native, award-winning novelist, and gun owner. This episode is a deep dive into how some folks form a collective relationship with firearms, a connection rooted in hunting traditions yet challenged by the shifting landscape of gun laws and culture.

Together, we go beyond the polarizing narratives, confronting the militarization of gun culture, and the differing perspectives shaped by socio-economic backgrounds and geographical location.  We shed light on how legal loopholes have allowed controversial weapons like ghost guns into the market, while also debunking myths surrounding gun laws and the NRA's role in gun reform, revealing the power of money in this debate. Lastly, we delve into the uncomfortable intersection of gun culture, gun reform, and white supremacy.

Further reading:
Gun Culture Is My Culture. And I Fear for What It Has Become (New York Times)
Guns in America (Time)
Many gun owners support gun control. So why don't they speak out? (NPR)
Guns, Lies, and Fear (Center for American Progress)

For more information on Brady, follow us on social media @Bradybuzz or visit our website at bradyunited.org.

Full transcripts and bibliographies of this episode are available at bradyunited.org/podcast.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
In a crisis? Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor 24/7.

Music provided by: David “Drumcrazie” Curby
Special thanks to Hogan Lovells for their long-standing legal support
℗&©2019 Red, Blue, and Brady

Scott Charles, a trauma outreach manager at Temple University Hospital, joins hosts Kelly and JJ to share about his own experiences with gun violence and the impact it's had on his role in preventative care. We delve into the importance of personal narratives and the power they hold in humanizing statistics related to firearm injuries, while also uncovering the raw reality of the trauma bay, revealing its stark contrast to the dramatized portrayal often seen in mainstream media. Scott introduces us to the Cradle to Grave program, an initiative designed to educate young people about the harsh medical realities of firearm injuries.

Need a gun lock? Request one from Scott here.

Further reading:
‘Where is the outrage ... from everyone?’ The story behind this Temple trauma surgeon’s tweet. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Dying is Easy: Cradle 2 Grave (the Philadelphia Citizen)
These 11 Temple University violence reduction programs are enhancing safety in Philadelphia (Temple University)
Temple University Hospital's trauma advocates work to expand program to help gun violence victims (ABC)'
One man's mission to prevent gun deaths – one lock at a time (Metro)

Further reading:
‘Where is the outrage ... from everyone?’ The story behind this Temple trauma surgeon’s tweet. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Dying is Easy: Cradle 2 Grave (the Philadelphia Citizen)
These 11 Temple University violence reduction programs are enhancing safety in Philadelphia (Temple University)
Temple University Hospital's tra

For more information on Brady, follow us on social media @Bradybuzz or visit our website at bradyunited.org.

Full transcripts and bibliographies of this episode are available at bradyunited.org/podcast.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
In a crisis? Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor 24/7.

Music provided by: David “Drumcrazie” Curby
Special thanks to Hogan Lovells for their long-standing legal support
℗&©2019 Red, Blue, and Brady

After his mother, Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, was killed in the Mother Emanuel AME church shooting in 2015, Chris Singleton became a beacon of resilience and unity in the face of unthinkable tragedy. His story of losing his mother in a horrific hate crime and then transforming that unimaginable pain into a life dedicated to combating gun violence and racism is both heartbreaking and awe-inspiring. As he takes us on his journey from a grieving teenager to an impassioned advocate, Chris’s reflections on his mother’s unyielding support during his baseball games and his desire emphasizing love over hate and recognizing our shared humanity above our differences is marked with humor and kindness.

You can find Chris' books, including his most recent "Stories Behind Stances," here.  

Further reading:
5 Years After Charleston Church Massacre, What Have We Learned? (NPR)
'Hate Crime': A Mass Killing at a Historic Church (the Atlantic)
What Forgiveness Means Nearly 5 Years After Emanuel AME Church Mass Shooting (WBUR)
Buffalo slayings hit close to home for former baseball player 900 miles away (NPR)
Chris Singleton ‘Changed His Mission’ When A White Supremacist Killed His Mother In Charleston Church Shooting (the Village Celebration)
Remembering the Mother Emanuel Nine eight years later (WLTX)

For more information on Brady, follow us on social media @Bradybuzz or visit our website at bradyunited.org.

Full transcripts and bibliographies of this episode are available at bradyunited.org/podcast.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
In a crisis? Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor 24/7.

Music provided by: David “Drumcrazie” Curby
Special thanks to Hogan Lovells for their long-standing legal support
℗&©2019 Red, Blue, and Brady