Join us for an insightful discussion uncovering the impactful efforts of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. RBB hosts Kelly and JJ are joined by Brady President Kris Brown, along with Deputy Directors Greg Jackson and Rob Wilcox. Together, we analyze the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, delve into challenges surrounding victim compensation and legislative gaps, and highlight strides in firearm law reforms. Our dialogue showcases the collective determination against gun violence, emphasizing the importance of individual action. As we conclude, we recognize grassroots advocates ..read more

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, 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 ..read more

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 ..read more

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 ..read more

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 ..read more

Settle in for a fascinating journey back to the origins of the citizen militia and the Second Amendment, guided by our esteemed guest Dr. Noah Schusterman. As an expert in 18th-century history, Noah's insights into the birth and evolution of the American militia are enlightening, shedding light on their composition, training, leadership, and the stark difference from today's self-proclaimed militias. In the heart of the discussion, we delve into the role of governors, the dynamics of the slave south, and how rebellions were often entangled with the sanctioned militia. In a captivating second ..read more

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 associat ..read more

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 ..read more

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 ..read more

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 m ..read more