How Minnesota Became the Surprising Success Story of Gun Reform

Women are especially vulnerable to gun violence from domestic partners. New state and federal laws are being proposed and passed which require abusers to give up their firearm after a temporary restraining order is filed, others are trying to prevent anyone with an abusive history from being able to obtain a gun.

In an effort to reincorporate former guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the Colombian government created Territorial Training and Reincorporation Spaces (ETCRs) to allow partial autonomy for the guerrilla groups. Many of the ETCRs have created successful product businesses - from chicken farms to community gardens - but community members continue to leave, leaving the ETCRs looking to the government for continued support and land rights.

In Washington, state legislators have passed an innovative measure that would allow individuals to suspend their own gun rights. The bill was started as a proactive measure for those experience mental health issues to be able to prevent themselves from harming themselves in the future. While they’re still working on publicizing the new measure, those that do know about it simply have to fill out a short form at any count clerk’s office – the rest is taken care of within 24 hours.

In Utah, the Northeastern Counseling Center had a booth at a local gun show to give away gun safety devices and provide information on suicide prevention. The booth, which has made a few stops at public events, is just one response to the alarmingly high suicide rates in northeastern Utah. It’s part of a larger, statewide shift that includes legislation to create programs that respond to mental health concerns and bolsters firearm safety.

Millions of Americans, particularly the working class, LGBQT, minorities, and immigrants, feel left behind by the system, and in light of the revival of violence from white supremacists and the tumultuous debate on gun control, many feel that the only solution is to take the defense of their rights and needs into their own hands. The Redneck Revolt is an anti-racist, pro-gun organization that works to represent the working class - across race, sexual identity, and creed - and to protect their communities and interests from white supremacists and economic disparity alike.

The effectiveness of Australia's gun laws is said to be skewed by its already declining gun violence. The effect is difficult to isolate but new research affirms that the decline accelerated significantly under new gun control measures.

In the U.S. 200 black men are killed with guns for every 3 people killed in a mass shooting. Little federal attention is given to urban violence programs even though there exists an effective deterrence program implemented in various states.

The U.S. continues to resist restrictive gun laws. Australia and Britain significantly decreased mass shootings through the banning of certain guns, more restrictive permits, buyback programs, and a national firearms registration system.

Red flag laws allow family members, law enforcement officers, and sometimes even health care workers to file an extreme risk protection order when they’re concerned that someone with access to a gun may harm themselves or others. In Maryland, which is considered a national leader in this type of legislation, a red flag law has helped prevent potential school shootings and the state is now focused on training health care providers to recognize concerning cases and file petitions when necessary.

Inspired by successful public health messaging campaigns of the past, the U.S.-based nonprofit Project Unloaded is using a bottom-up approach to promote gun violence prevention among young people. The nonprofit is working with highschoolers to develop social media messaging campaigns debunking the common misconception that owning a gun makes you safer.