Skip to main content

Public Health On Call Series—Gun Violence Prevention

A podcast series focusing on the prevention of gun violence in the U.S.

Published

Gun violence is a public health problem—and a preventable one at that. 

In an ongoing podcast series from Public Health On Call, a diverse group of experts and community leaders explore solutions for gun violence.

The Supreme Court's Decision on Guns 

In a bonus episode, Alex McCourt, the director of legal research at the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, speaks to Dr. Joshua Sharfstein about guns and the Supreme Court. They discuss this decision's meaning and direct impact, as well as the potential implications for other actions to reduce the toll of gun violence in the United States. Air date: June 23, 2022.

 


Responding to Gun Violence With Effective and Fair Solutions 

Johns Hopkins University hosted a live, virtual briefing earlier this month on responses to the crisis of gun violence featuring a panel of experts, including Cass Crifasi, Shannon Fratteroli, Josh Horwitz, Odis Johnson, and Daniel Webster. Moderated by Lainie Rutkow, the discussion focuses on the challenges gun violence poses for American democracy, which gun laws are effective, how Extreme Risk Protection Orders can help to prevent gun violence, research on public opinions about solutions, and measures to promote student safety and health in a time of rising gun violence. Air date: June 13, 2022.

 


The Massacre in Uvalde, Texas 

Cass Crifasi, director of research and policy at the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, talks with Josh Sharfstein about the deadly misperception that there’s nothing to be done about gun violence. They discuss what could have prevented this senseless tragedy—and what must be done to prevent further loss of life. Air date: May 25, 2022.

 


What a Study of Mass Shootings Can Tell Us About How to Prevent Them 

Mass shootings are very rare, but they receive a lot of media attention and have enormous social costs. Guest host Daniel Webster talks with Jillian Peterson from Hamline University and James Densley from Metropolitan State University about The Violence Project, research that collects data about the life history of mass shooters and their psychological profiles. They discuss what they’ve learned, how this research can inform interventions, and why evidence suggests that many of the ways we’re currently trying to prevent violence are all wrong. Air date: May 17, 2021. 

 


A Focus on Police Violence

Police violence is one of the most observable manifestations of structural racism in the U.S., but is addressing this a matter of finding the “bad actors” or rethinking the system altogether? Guest host Daniel Webster talks with Tracey Meares, professor of law and founding director of The Justice Collaboratory at Yale Law. They discuss why America’s approach to public safety must be examined, how some jurisdictions are implementing change, and what we can do better to prevent suicide. Air date: June 4, 2021.

 


Interrupting Gun Violence in Urban Neighborhoods

While gun violence has increased in most cities, Richmond, California, has seen a marked decrease in the last decade thanks to an organization that works with the people most likely to be the victims of gun violence: the shooters themselves. Guest host Daniel Webster talks with DeVone Boggan, founder, and CEO of Advance Peace. They discuss approaches to violence that center well-being, how the organization’s fellowship system engages young people involved in lethal firearm offenses, and how investment in programs like these translates not only to saving millions of public dollars, but to truly disrupting cycles of violence. Air date: June 14, 2021.