A Film by STEPHANIE SOECHTIG
VIEWING GUIDE TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 3
ABOUT THE FILM Summary 4 Featured Subjects and Organizations Key Issue Areas 5 A Letter From the Filmmaker Stephanie Soechtig 6
THE EVENT Tips for Leading the Discussion 7 Conversation Starters 7 Discussion Questions 8
BACKGROUND ON THE ISSUES Stats From the Film 12 Gun Lobby Myths Debunked *Courtesy of Everytown for Gun Safety 13 Glossary 14
RESOURCES 15
TAKE ACTION After Watching UNDER THE GUN, I am Ready To . . . 17
PARTNERS 18
SUBJECTS FEATURED IN FILM 20
CREDITS 22
Please share your event photos and highlights from your post-screening discussion with us via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram using #UNDERTHEGUN, or email us at [email protected]. INTRODUCTION
DEAR SCREENING HOST,
Thank you so much for taking the time to bring this important issue to your community.
The tagline for this film is “IN THE GUN DEBATE, TRUTH IS THE ULTIMATE WEAPON.” Please use the resources in this discussion guide to help foster a truthful and respectful dialogue about gun violence and what YOU, and everyone in the room, can do to ACT. Talking about gun violence won’t save lives, but collective action will.
Thank you for your support and utilizing UNDER THE GUN to educate your community. We hope the event you are hosting will lead to changing hearts and minds, and lead to meaningful action.
Please share your event photos and highlights from your post-screening discussion with us via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram using #UNDERTHEGUN or email us at [email protected].
VIEWING GUIDE 3 ABOUT THE FILM
Summary In the past few years, a drastic rise in mass shootings has ripped across the United States, compounding an epidemic of gun violence in our country.
Despite a growing body count at the hands of gun violence, and the outpouring of shock and outrage that comes with it, our nation has failed to respond with meaningful action. What is keeping the two sides of this debate—those favoring stricter gun laws, and Second Amendment purists like the NRA—from finding common ground? Through the lens of families impacted by the mass shootings in Newtown, Connecticut; Aurora, Colorado; Isla Vista, California; Tucson, Arizona; as well as the daily gun violence in Chicago, the film examines why our politicians are failing to act.
Director Stephanie Soechtig and executive producer Katie Couric (the team behind the 2014 Sundance Film Festival hit FED UP) join forces again to create a documentary that is scrupulously comprehensive and decidedly fair to both sides of one of the most polarizing issues facing our country today. Searing and powerful with never-before-seen footage of the shooting in Aurora, UNDER THE GUN gives a human face to a crisis that is costing us in blood and scarring the conscience of a nation.
VIEWING GUIDE 4 ABOUT THE FILM
Featured Subjects and Organizations
• Annette Holt, advocate • John Feinblatt and Richard • Robyn Thomas, Law Center and survivor Martinez, Everytown for to Prevent Gun Violence • Arkadi Gerney, Center Gun Safety • Sandy and Lonnie Phillips, for American Progress • Josh Sugarmann, The Violence Jessi’s Message • Carolyn McCarthy, former Policy Center • Shannon Watts, Moms Demand U.S. congresswoman (D-NY) • Kaile Shilling, coalition director Action for Gun Sense in America • Charles Houser, ATF special agent of the Violence Prevention • Tom Diaz, author of Coalition of Greater Los Angeles Making a Killing • Dan Gross, The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence • Mark Follman, Mother Jones • Victoria Montgomery, • Daniel Webster, director of • Members of the Virginia Open Carry Texas Johns Hopkins Center for Citizens Defense League • William Vizzard, former Gun Policy and Research • Michael Waldman, Brennan Bureau of Alcohol, • Father Michael Pfleger, Saint Center for Justice Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Sabina Church, Chicago, IL • Pamela and Tom Bosley, (ATF) agent • Gabby Giffords and Mark Kelly, Purpose Over Pain Americans for Responsible • Representative Robin Kelly, Solutions U.S. congresswoman (D-IL) • Jackie and Mark Barden, • Richard Feldman, former NRA Sandy Hook Promise lobbyist
Please see the partners section (page 18) to learn more about each of these organizations.
Key Issue Areas
• Background checks • Gun lobby • Open carry • Bad apple gun dealers • Gun violence perpetrators • Responsible gun ownership • Gun violence research prohibitions • History of the National Rifle • Second Amendment • Gun violence in Chicago Association • Straw purchase • Gun law loopholes • Mass shootings • Terror gap • Gun laws and policy • Mental health • Urban violence
VIEWING GUIDE 5 ABOUT THE FILM
A Letter from the Filmmaker STEPHANIE SOECHTIG
Some of my favorite memories of growing up in Brookfield, Connecticut, involve summer nights at the Edmond Town Hall in Newtown, watching $2 movies. I don’t think my 17-year-old self would have ever believed that I’d be returning to Newtown as a director to cover one of our country’s most devastating massacres.
I was filming FED UP when the Sandy Hook shooting happened. I still remember how surreal it felt when I heard the newscaster say “Newtown” in relation to a mass shooting… things like that just don’t happen in our sleepy little town. It felt like nothing ever happened in our town—danger only loomed in the city and dark alleys. Never in a first grade classroom.
I was pregnant at the time of the shooting and it felt like I was bringing my son into a very different world than the world before December 14th. So when Katie called me after the Isla Vista shooting and asked me if I thought we should make a film about the gun violence crisis, I felt a new motivation.
I started researching the gun violence epidemic and was amazed by the way our country was approaching the issue. I wanted to try to tell this story with a holistic approach and in a way that could break through some of the “noise” that has surrounded this issue for so long. The debate over guns and gun laws has always seemed like a very black-and-white issue, but I was really intrigued to learn that not only is there a lot of gray area, but in fact, common ground.
I was also so interested in the parents who had lost their children to gun violence and had gone on to become gun violence activists—I don’t know if I would be able to get out of bed if something like that happened to my son and yet here are these incredible parents that have made this their life’s work. How had they found the strength to take up such a tremendous battle? Their stories were the backbone to the story we wanted to tell.
—Stephanie Soechtig
VIEWING GUIDE 6 THE EVENT
Tips for Leading the Discussion
Talking about gun violence can be difficult. Be mindful that you may have participants with different perspectives, some of which may be strongly held, and that some people may be deeply sensitive about the issue, including those touched by gun violence as well as gun owners.
To set the stage for a productive conversation, consider the following tips:
• Ask everyone to be respectful. Before you begin the conversation, remind everyone to be respectful of others’ viewpoints and to be CONVERSATION STARTERS mindful of listening as well as participating in order to create a safe environment for all attendees to be open to expanding their thinking. 1. Before watching the film, how concerned were you • Be knowledgeable. You don’t need to be an expert on the gun about the issue of gun debate to lead the discussion, but understanding the basic violence? concepts covered in the film can help. Read through this guide before your event, identify a few questions from those provided 2. Was anything in the film below to use for your discussion, and review a few of the resources surprising or shocking to you? Please share one moment or included here to help frame the conversation around your chosen one thing you learned. questions.
• Let everyone speak. Be mindful of leading an inclusive discussion 3. Did the film change your where everyone has a chance to be heard, and remind participants mind or shift your perspective to share in a way that invites open dialogue rather than lecturing about gun violence in America? or debating. If so, how?
• Create a safe space. Be aware that this film covers a very sensitive 4. Do you have any personal topic, addresses violence, and may be triggering to viewers. experience with guns or Depending on the group you plan on inviting, you may want to gun violence? Is it positive invite a local survivor support organization to attend or have or negative? resources available should someone require additional support following the screening.
• Make your event meaningful. Plan and provide ways that your audience can take action after seeing the film to help create change, whether it’s directly associated with your organization through email collection or fundraising, making your community safer through encouraging responsible gun storage, or direct policy action to help pass an upcoming ballot initiative or elect pro-common sense lawmakers. Review the Take Action section of this guide for some ideas on how you can direct your audience to take action to help end gun violence.
VIEWING GUIDE 7 THE EVENT
Discussion Questions
1. The Second Amendment reads, “A well regulated Militia, 4. In the film, journalist Mark Follman says, “We studied 70 being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of public mass shootings and not a single one was stopped the People to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” this way by an ordinary citizen who happened to be there with a firearm.” a. Do you think this amendment prohibits the government from enacting laws that keep a. Does this fact surprise you? Why or why not? guns out of the hands of dangerous people like b. Despite the data, the myth of “a good guy with a terrorists or people with serious criminal histories? gun taking down a bad guy with a gun” persists. Why or why not? Why do you think this is? b. Richard Martinez, the father of Christopher c. Do you think creating laws that would allow more Martinez, who was killed in the Isla Vista shooting, guns in public spaces by ordinary citizens would states that the Second Amendment right to bear stop ill-intended shooters? Why or why not? arms infringed upon his son’s right to life. Do you agree? Why or why not? 5. Father Michael Pfleger says, “We talk about five people or six people shot somewhere in a mass shooting or in a 2. The film states, “In the 12 months following the mass mall or at Ft. Hood or whatever, and the whole country is shooting at Sandy Hook, almost every state passed at least outraged, as they should be. But that happens in a night one new gun law. Nearly two-thirds of those laws eased in Chicago and they call it another night in Chicago.” restrictions and expanded the rights of gun owners.” a. Do you agree with Father Pfleger? Why or a. Does this fact surprise you? Why or why not? why not? b. Gun violence prevention advocates call for b. Why do you think the country is less outraged “common sense gun measures.” What does that by shootings that happen in Chicago? phrase mean to you? c. Gun violence survivor Pam Bosley says, in regards c. Do you think the term “common sense” is effective to her son Terrell’s murder, “His case is still in bringing both sides of the gun debate together? unsolved. It’s so many stories that’s unsolved, Why or why not? and the first thing they say is ‘gang-related,’ so how can you say ‘gang-related’ when you 3. In the 1990s, gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson agreed to don’t know what happened?” Do you think the work with the U.S. government to include safety features categorization of “gang” violence rather than on guns and develop “smart gun technology” that would “gun” violence factors into the lack of outrage? lock the gun and prevent anybody outside of the adult who owns the gun from using it. As shown in the film, the NRA led a campaign to boycott Smith & Wesson, leading to a decrease in sales that forced the company to back out of the agreement.
a. Why do you think the NRA blocked this agreement?
b. What message did the NRA send to all gun companies by blocking this agreement?
VIEWING GUIDE 8 THE EVENT Discussion Questions Continued
6. A member of the Chicago-based Purpose Over Pain says, 8. Gun violence survivor Sandy Phillips, mother of Jessi Ghawi, “One of our major problems in our communities...[is the] said about the shooter at the Aurora movie theater, “I don’t easy access to guns they have. They can get a gun faster care if he’s mentally ill or not. That’s irrelevant to me. There than they can get an education, a job, or something to eat.” are a lot of people that are mentally ill that don’t go out and kill people, so I really think it’s a disservice to the mentally a. How do you think lack of quality education, lack ill to project it that way.” of jobs, and poverty contribute to gun violence in urban environments? a. Do you agree with her? Why or why not?
b. Another member of the organization continues b. Research shows that a person with a prior criminal by saying, “We’re losing a whole generation of our history, a history of domestic violence, or a youth...it’s not gang-related issues. The crime is history of alcohol abuse is far more likely to be on humanity. And unfortunately, this is something violent than a person who suffers from mental that society has created and our kids are the ones illness. Why do you think the conversation on gun that end up in situations that they should never violence shifts to a focus on mental illness? be in.” c. Are there solutions to better support those In what ways can we as a society address this suffering from mental illness in the U.S.? Do you crime against humanity that leads to losing think they will help end gun violence? Why or generations of young people to gun violence? why not?
7. Currently there are more gun stores than Starbucks and 9. In 1996, the NRA went after the Centers for Disease Control McDonald’s combined. and Prevention (CDC) after a 1993 study they sponsored concluded that not only did having a gun at home offer a. Is this fact shocking to you? Why or why not? little protection but it increased the risk of one family b. What do you think this says about American member shooting another. The NRA successfully lobbied culture? Congress to put a restriction in the CDC budget that stated, “None of the funds made available may be used to advocate or promote gun control.”
a. Why do you think it was so important for the NRA to restrict the CDC from researching guns?
b. Since 1996, CDC gun violence research funding has plummeted 96 percent. What impact has it made in America to not have gun research from the CDC in the past 20 years?
VIEWING GUIDE 9 THE EVENT Discussion Questions Continued
10. “Kids in the United States are four times as likely to be shot 12. The film follows the evolution of the National Rifle as kids in Canada. Seven times as likely as kids in Israel. Association from an organization founded to support Sixty-five times more likely than kids in Great Britain. These training and safety for their members and that “fought are countries that are watching American TV shows and long and hard to keep guns out of the hands of the Hollywood movies, that are playing video games. These criminal, the juvenile, the mental misfit,” to a lobby that are very culturally comparable countries, with some pretty blocks gun legislation. significant differences about the role of guns in their a. Why do you think their mission and goals have culture.” shifted? Do you think it is something unique to the a. Does the difference in gun violence between the NRA and gun lobby, or reflective of larger changes U.S. and other countries surprise you? Why or why in our society? not? b. Has anyone had any experience with the NRA as b. What differences do you think there are in a member or does anyone know a member? For American culture that make America’s numbers so members, do you feel the NRA represents your much higher than comparable cultures’? views? Why or why not?
11. U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham defended the terror gap, 13. In the film, several prominent gun violence prevention saying, “I think anyone who’s on the terrorist watch list advocates, including Mark Kelly and Lonnie Phillips, are should not lose their Second Amendment right without the shown as gun owners. ability to challenge that determination. I did not want to a. Did it surprise you to see a prominent gun make that the basis to take someone’s Second Amendment violence prevention proponent shooting a gun? rights away.” b. What do you think the role of responsible gun a. Was this statement surprising to you? Why or owners should be in this debate? Are their voices why not? important? b. As shown in the film, this was surprising to NRA members polled on the streets. Based on this sampling of interviews, why do you think the NRA’s take on this issue is so different from that of their membership?
c. Given the amount of leeway given to other Constitutional civil liberties in the face of terrorism, such as the right to privacy, why do you think the right to purchase firearms has not been more closely scrutinized?
VIEWING GUIDE 10 THE EVENT Discussion Questions Continued
14. Research shows that an overwhelming majority of amount of influence they have as an individual. They really Americans support background checks for all gun sales. do. Being married to a member of Congress, I kind of get In fact, 90 percent of non-gun owners support them, as that. You know, a member of Congress represents about well as 84 percent of gun owners and 74 percent of NRA 700,000 people. How many of those people [do] you members. actually think pick up the phone and call the member of Congress’ office, or show up at an event to talk to them, or a. Did you support background checks before send an email or write a letter? Very few. But the ones who viewing UNDER THE GUN? do have an incredible amount of influence.” b. Did viewing the film change or shift your opinion a. Does this surprise you? Why or why not? at all? Why or why not? b. Do you have any personal experience contacting your representatives or policy makers? If so, how 15. If the majority of Americans support background did that make you feel? checks, why do you think lawmakers have not responded accordingly? c. After watching the film, and seeing the success of the ballot initiative in Washington state, do you a. Do you think lawmakers have a responsibility to feel more empowered to take direct action and represent the American people? Why or why not? reach out to your lawmakers? Why or why not? b. Do you think organizations like the NRA have a responsibility to accurately represent their 18. Advocates for stronger gun laws don’t like to use the term membership’s views when supporting legislation “gun control” because they think it incorrectly portrays and lawmakers? Why or why not? them as trying to control people’s right to own a gun.
a. Do you think the term “gun control” has led to 16. The film follows citizens in Washington state mobilizing some of the divisiveness on this issue? constituents to vote for a state ballot initiative to close the background check loophole for gun sales. b. What terms (e.g., gun violence prevention or gun safety) do you think more accurately reflect the a. What lessons can we learn as community intentions of the movement? members and citizens from this successful effort?
b. The ballot initiative strategy puts the gun violence laws directly on the ballot in front of voters and skips politician approvals. Given what we learn in the film about the history of gun laws, why might this strategy prove successful to defeat the gun lobby?
c. Do you think gun violence is an issue than can be solved through local, city or statewide changes, rather than national changes? Why or why not?
17. In the film, Mark Kelly says, “People underestimate the
VIEWING GUIDE 11 BACKGROUND ON THE ISSUES
STATS FROM THE FILM
On average, there are almost 33,000 gun deaths each year.
On average, 91 people die from On average, gun violence each day and hundreds more are injured. there are almost 33,000 gun Gun violence is the second leading cause of death among deaths each children aged 10–19 in the U.S. year.
Since 1968, more Americans have died as a result of gunfire than from all U.S. wars.
Ninety percent of non-gun America ranks first worldwide owners, 84 percent of gun in per capita firearm ownership, owners, and 74 percent of NRA followed by Yemen. members support background checks for all gun sales. American children and teens From 2004 to are four times more likely to There are between 270 million die from gunfire than their 2014, over 2,000 and 310 million guns in the counterparts in Canada, seven U.S.—enough firearms for every times more likely than young terror suspects man, woman, and child in the people in Israel, and 65 times country. more likely than young people purchased guns in Great Britain. in the United From 2004 to 2014, over 2,000 terror suspects purchased guns States legally. in the United States legally.
Since 2001, for every American killed by terrorism in the U.S. and abroad, more than 1,000 died from guns inside the U.S.
VIEWING GUIDE 12 BACKGROUND ON THE ISSUES
MYTH: More guns, less crime. 1 FACT: There is no link between an increase in guns and a decrease in crime. The U.S. has more guns than any other country in the world, estimated at 300 million—or approximately one firearm per person. If more guns made us safer, we would be the safest country in the world, but that is not the case. There are 25 times more gun murders in the U.S. than in other high-income countries, controlling for population.
MYTH: Criminals will always find a way to get their hands on guns. 2 FACT: That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t make it harder for them to do so. Right now, it’s incredibly easy for terrorists, criminals, domestic abusers, and other dangerous folks to take advantage of our weak gun laws and buy guns online or through private sales. The fact is background checks are the only systematic way to stop felons, domestic abusers, and other dangerous people from buying guns. Since its inception, the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) has blocked more than 2 million illegal gun purchases— helping to keep guns out of criminal hands. However, federal law does not currently require background checks for guns sold through private transfers, whether at gun shows or over the Internet. According to law enforcement, closing the private sale loophole is the single most effective way to reduce the number of Americans killed with guns every day.
MYTH: Mass shooters attack gun-free zones because they know 3 people aren’t armed to defend themselves.
FACT: Only 13 percent of mass shootings, defined as four or more people being murdered by a gun, since 2009 have taken place in so-called gun-free zones. There is no evidence that mass shooters specifically target gun-free zones. In fact, the vast majority of mass shootings take place in areas where guns are allowed. What’s more, pushing the myth that mass shootings only take place in gun-free zones is a form of victim-blaming. It effectively suggests that innocent people living their daily lives—praying in houses of worship, studying at a college library—are to blame for their own deaths because they were not armed in places that anyone should feel safe. It’s this logic that NRA board member Charles Cotton used following the Charleston shooting, when he blamed a murdered pastor for being shot because he and the other victims weren’t carrying guns.
MYTH: The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a 4 good guy with a gun.
FACT: In addition to the chaos it creates for law enforcement, the “good guy” with a gun scenario rarely plays out in reality. Successful defensive gun use is EXTREMELY rare. There is little to no academic support for this claim and in fact, the presence of a gun (regardless of the owner) makes a domestic violence situation five times more likely to turn fatal.
MYTH: It’s about mental health, not guns. 5 FACT: Every country in the world struggles with mental illness. The United States is not more mentally ill than other developed nations. But the U.S. sees 25 times the murder rate of other developed countries. The issue is easy access to guns. The truth of the matter is that those suffering from mental illness are more likely to be the victims of violent crime— not the other way around. Yes, we must fix our mental health-care system, but it cannot and *Courtesy of Everytown for Gun Safety for Everytown of *Courtesy
MYTHS DEBUNKED GUN LOBBY should not be the only solution. We must also fix our nation’s weak gun laws.
VIEWING GUIDE 13 GLOSSARY
BAD APPLE GUN DEALER GUN SHOW LOOPHOLE SMART GUNS A gun store whose merchandise has Under federal law, private sellers, Guns that are made with technological been traced and linked to a crime. who are not licensed by the Federal enhancements so they remain locked Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and are only able to be fired after and Explosives, are not required the owner releases it with his or her STRAW PURCHASE to conduct background checks on fingerprint. Occurs when a person legally potential gun buyers at gun shows purchases a gun with the intent or elsewhere. to sell it to someone else who has FULLY AUTOMATIC WEAPON not passed the legally mandated A gun that is manufactured to allow background check. Straw purchasing REVOLT IN CINCINNATI a user to hold the trigger in order to is illegal under federal law, punishable A historic event that occurred during continuously fire gunshots. In contrast, by up to 10 years in prison and a the National Rifle Association (NRA) a semi-automatic firearm fires one $250,000 fine, but is difficult to Convention in the spring of 1977, round with each individual trigger-pull. enforce. when the NRA’s leadership shifted in response to the gun regulations enacted in America following the TERROR GAP, ALSO KNOWN OPEN CARRY assassinations of Robert Kennedy AS THE TERROR WATCH LIST In some states and municipalities, it is and Martin Luther King Jr. It was at LOOPHOLE legal to carry firearms in public areas this time that the NRA moved from A loophole that allows individuals on as long as they are in plain view for being a non-political entity to actively the FBI’s consolidated terrorist watch anyone to see. engaging in lobbying on behalf of list to be able to pass background unrestricted gun ownership. checks and legally purchase guns despite the fact that they are not CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY allowed to board a plane. This idea can be found among a growing number of pro-gun advocates who believe that the Second Amendment provides Americans with an unrestricted right to carry a firearm, no matter the place or circumstance.
VIEWING GUIDE 14 RESOURCES
Articles: Everytown for Gun Safety Survivor “Gun Deaths vs. Terrorism Deaths,” Network: GOOD: “Six Undeniable Facts About Mass http://everytown.org/survivors/ https://www.facebook.com/GOODHQ/ Shootings,” New Republic: videos/10153156440363059 https://newrepublic.com/arti- Trauma Survivors Network: cle/125004/six-undeniable-facts- http://www.traumasurvivorsnetwork. Research: mass-shootings org/traumapedias/716
“Women and Guns”: MarieClaire.com “Kids Have Brought More Than 185 Guns and the Harvard Injury Control Research Into America’s Schools Since the Start of Books: Center on a groundbreaking national the Academic Year,” The Trace: survey of women’s relationship with guns: http://www.thetrace.org/2016/03/ Enough: Our Fight to Keep America Safe http://www.marieclaire.com/politics/ american-kids-guns-in-schools From Gun Violence, by Gabrielle Giffords and Mark Kelly a18016/women-and-guns “10 Pro-Gun Myths, Shot Down,” “Healing Communities in Crisis: Mother Jones: Guns Across America: Reconciling Gun Rules And Rights by Robert Spitzer Lifesaving Solutions to the Urban Gun http://www.motherjones.com/poli- Violence Epidemic,” by The Law Center tics/2013/01/pro-gun-myths-fact-check Gun Violence and Mental Illness, ed. Liza to Prevent Gun Violence and PICO H. Gold, M.D., co-ed Robert I. Simon, M.D. National Network: “The Macabre Truth of Gun Control in http://smartgunlaws.org/wp-content/ the U.S. Is That Toddlers Kill More People Private Guns, Public Health, by David uploads/2016/03/Healing-Communities- Than Terrorists Do,” The Guardian: Hemenway in-Crisis.pdf http://www.theguardian.com/ commentisfree/2016/mar/13/the- Reducing Gun Violence in America: macabre-truth-of-gun-control-in- Informing Policy With Evidence and Gun Laws and Policy: the-us-is-that-toddlers-kill-more- Analysis, eds. Daniel W. Webster and people-than-terrorists-do Jon S. Vernick, with forward by Michael States United to Prevent Gun Violence: R. Bloomberg find a list of 32 statewide grassroots “A New Study Solidifies the Link gun violence prevention groups at: Between Guns and Suicide,” Ricochet: The Confessions of a Gun http://www.ceasefireusa.org The Trace: Lobbyist, by Richard Feldman http://www.thetrace.org/2016/03/ 2015 Gun Law State ScoreCard: find out guns-suicide-risk-factor-harvard-study/ A Well-Regulated Militia: The Founding how your state ranks at: Fathers and the Origin of Gun Control http://gunlawscorecard.org “Are Mass Shootings Contagious? in America, by Saul Cornell Some Scientists Who Study How Viruses Spread Say Yes,” The Washington Post: Responsible https://www.washingtonpost.com/ Videos: Gun Ownership: local/are-mass-shootings-contagious- some-scientists-who-study-how-viruses- “Why Gun Violence Can’t Be Our Responsible Gun Storage, Everytown spread-say-yes/2016/03/07/be44866a- New Normal,” TED Talk: for Gun Safety: df31-11e5-846c-10191d1fc4ec_story.html https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_gross_ http://besmartforkids.org why_gun_violence_can_t_be_our_new_ normal Survivor Support: “Gun Control Whoop-de-doo,” Gun Violence Survivors The Daily Show: Foundation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pO http://gvsfoundation.org/about/ iOhxujsE&feature=youtu.be mission/ VIEWING GUIDE 15 TAKE ACTION
Thank you for hosting a viewing of UNDER THE GUN. Watching the film is just the first step. We need you to TAKE ACTION! Pledge today to take one or more of the following steps:
• SPEAK UP: Help us better educate America with the truth about gun violence. Tell at least two friends or family members to watch UNDER THE GUN on EPIX this May 15th.
• JOIN THE CONVERSATION: We need your voice in the gun debate. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and follow our daily conversation through #UnderTheGun.
• SUPPORT COMMON SENSE GUN LEGISLATION: Ask your local lawmakers to help keep guns out of dangerous hands and to support criminal background checks for ALL gun purchases. Visit UnderTheGunMovie.com to send a personal video or email, or call your representatives.
• BE A RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNER: If you own a gun, store it safely and securely in your home in a place where children cannot have access. More than 2 million children live in homes with unsecured guns—encourage your friends and neighbors to be responsible gun owners. Find more resources on gun storage on the UNDER THE GUN website: UnderTheGunMovie.com
VIEWING GUIDE 16 AFTER WATCHING UNDER THE GUN, I AM READY TO . . .
Don’t let the conversation end with this screening. Ask your audience to write down their answers to this question. Download the PDF on the Under the Gun website underthegunmovie.com, print out enough copies for everyone, and invite all attendees to participate.
We ask you to stress the importance of not staying silent on this issue. The act of writing and sharing one action, even this small step will help us build toward a tipping point for change on gun violence.
When sharing on social media, please tag your post with #UnderTheGun or email us at [email protected].
VIEWING GUIDE 17 PARTNERS
Throughout • Americans for Responsible Solutions: On the second anniversary of the horrific Tucson shooting in which she was gravely wounded production of and just weeks after the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, , former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, retired UNDER THE GUN Navy Captain and astronaut Mark Kelly, launched Americans for the filmmakers Responsible Solutions to encourage elected officials to stand up for solutions to reduce gun violence and protect responsible gun have relied on ownership. Americans for Responsible Solutions PAC works to the expertise elevate gun violence prevention as a voting issue and to help elect candidates who commit to taking common sense action. and knowledge • Brady Campaign and Center to Prevent Gun Violence: The Brady of a variety of Campaign has long been a prominent voice advocating for a organizations dramatic reduction in America’s gun deaths and injuries. By focusing its efforts on expanding background checks, reforming or eliminating that are actively bad apple gun dealers, and educating on gun safety in the home, Brady has announced the bold goal of cutting the number of U.S. engaged in gun deaths in half by 2025. on-the-ground • Brave Youth: Brave Youth is a violence-prevention youth council gun safety reform. affiliated with St. Sabina Church on Chicago’s South Side. Its mission is to cultivate leaders and develop youth into agents of social justice.
• Center for American Progress (CAP)/Generation Progress: As one of the most influential policy institutes in Washington, D.C., the Center for American Progress’ focus on gun violence and crime is dedicated to improving the lives of Americans through bold, progressive ideas and concerted action. Generation Progress is a national subsidiary of CAP that works with and for Millennials to promote progressive solutions to key political and social challenges. One of its core issues is gun violence prevention.
• Everytown for Gun Safety: Everytown is a movement of more than 3 million Americans working together to end gun violence and build safer communities. Founded in 2014 by combining Michael Bloomberg’s Mayors Against Illegal Guns and the grassroots campaign Moms Demand Action, Everytown has quickly become a national leader in the gun violence prevention movement.
• Jessi’s Message Fund: The Fund was created in memory of Jessica Ghawi, who was killed in the Aurora theater shooting, to support and advocate for a safer America by reducing gun violence. Established
VIEWING GUIDE 18 PARTNERS
by Jessica’s mother, Sandy Phillips, the Fund seeks to empower other victims and survivors of violence across the country, teaching them to tell their stories effectively and to advocate for violence prevention in their communities.
• Purpose Over Pain (POP): Purpose Over Pain was formed in 2007 by several Chicago-area parents who lost their children to gun violence. It provides positive development activities for children and youth, advocates for and promotes safer communities, and strengthens families by providing crisis support to parents and guardians whose children have been victims of gun violence.
• Sandy Hook Promise: Founded and led by several family members whose loved ones were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the organization educates and empowers parents, schools, and communities on how to prevent gun violence before it happens by delivering and advocating for mental health and wellness early intervention, gun safety storage practices, and sensible state and federal policy.
• The Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence: The Law Center focuses on providing comprehensive legal expertise in support of gun violence prevention and the promotion of smart gun laws that save lives. Founded by attorneys, it is dedicated to preventing the loss of lives caused by gun violence by educating the public about America’s gun laws.
• The Violence Prevention Coalition of Greater Los Angeles: The mission of the Violence Prevention Coalition of Greater Los Angeles is to unify and strengthen voices of member organizations and individuals committed to ending the epidemic of violence by providing education, resources, and policy advocacy in the greater Los Angeles community.
• Violence Policy Center: Founded in 1988 by Newtown, Connecticut native Josh Sugarmann, the Violence Policy Center works to stop gun death and injury through research, education, advocacy, and collaboration.
• What Would Daniel Do?: Started by Mark and Jackie Barden following the death of their 7 year-old son Daniel at Sandy Hook Elementary School, What Would Daniel Do? is a family blog with the goal of inspiring daily acts of kindness to honor Daniel’s memory and strike at the root causes of violence.
VIEWING GUIDE 19 SUBJECTS FEATURED IN FILM
JACKIE AND MARK BARDEN: 7-year-old GABRIELLE GIFFORDS AND MARK KELLY: Daniel Barden was one of 20 schoolchildren killed at Gabrielle Giffords was one of 19 people shot in a mass Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012. shooting outside a Safeway grocery store in Tucson, His parents—Jackie and Mark—live in Newtown, Arizona, in January 2011. Six people were killed. Connecticut, with their two children. Jackie is At the time of the attack, U.S. Representative an elementary school teacher, and Mark is a jazz Giffords (D-AZ) was holding a meeting with guitarist. constituents. She was shot in the head at point-blank Following the mass shooting at Sandy Hook, range and lives with injuries that affect her speech Jackie and Mark frequently traveled to Washington, and mobility. She resigned her congressional seat in D.C., to urge senators to pass a universal background 2012 to focus on her recovery. check bill. Along with her husband, retired Navy captain Mark is the founder and managing director of and astronaut Mark Kelly, Gabrielle launched the Sandy Hook Promise, a nonprofit organization that organization Americans for Responsible Solutions to focuses on preventing gun violence before it happens encourage elected officials to stand up for solutions by delivering and advocating for mental health and to prevent gun violence and protect responsible gun wellness early intervention programs, gun safety ownership. Its super PAC spent $19 million in the 2014 storage practices, and sensible state and federal elections. policy. Jackie and Mark also run the What Would Daniel Do? Foundation, with the mission to inspire and empower every person to act with kindness in RICHARD MARTINEZ: 20-year-old Christopher order to make a positive cultural change. Ross Michaels-Martinez was one of six people shot and killed in the Isla Vista rampage in May 2014 near the campus of UC Santa Barbara, where he was an VICTORIA MONTGOMERY: Victoria Montgomery English major. is the public relations manager for Open Carry Texas, Since then, his father Richard has been traveling a nonprofit organization dedicated to openly carrying the country speaking out in support of common rifles, shotguns, and handguns in a safe manner in sense gun laws and carrying forward his message the state of Texas. The group also aims to condition that “Not One More” American should be killed by Texans to feel safe around law-abiding citizens who senseless gun violence—a phrase he coined in the choose to open carry. days immediately after his son’s death that sparked Victoria lives in Temple, Texas, with her husband, a national movement. who is a U.S. Army soldier, and their 18-month old Richard is a senior outreach associate for daughter. She says she has always been a law-abiding Everytown for Gun Safety. citizen and gun lover, and she sports multiple gun tattoos.
VIEWING GUIDE 20 SUBJECTS FEATURED IN FILM
FATHER MICHAEL PFLEGER: Father Pfleger is SHANNON WATTS: Shannon Watts is a mother the senior pastor at Saint Sabina Church on the South of five who, prior to founding Moms Demand Side of Chicago. As an outspoken activist against Action, was a stay-at-home mom and former daily gun violence, he has protested outside Chicago- communications executive. The day after the Sandy area gun stores that supply a high number of crime Hook tragedy, Shannon started a Facebook group guns to the streets of Chicago. His work in this area, with the message that all Americans can and should in conjunction with the Brady Campaign, has led to do more to reduce gun violence. him receiving a number of death threats. The online conversation turned into a grassroots In 1998, Father Pfleger was personally touched by movement of American mothers fighting for public gun violence when the youngest of his three adopted safety measures that respect the Second Amendment sons, Jarvis Franklin, was gunned down in gang and protect people from gun violence. crossfire three blocks from the church. Moms Demand Action has established a chapter In addition to speaking out about the easy in every state of the country and is part of Everytown access to guns, Father Pfleger has been recognized for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention for his work campaigning against the sale of drug organization in the country, with more than 3 million paraphernalia, alcohol and tobacco billboards that members. target children, and music that glorifies violence and degrades women. LONNIE AND SANDY PHILLIPS: 24-year-old Jessica Ghawi was one of 12 people killed when a PAMELA AND TOM BOSLEY: 18-year-old gunman opened fire during a midnight screening Terrell Bosley was gunned down in the parking lot of the film THE DARK KNIGHT RISES in Aurora, of a South Side Chicago church as he was leaving Colorado, in July 2012. Jessi was an aspiring national band practice. His murder remains unsolved. sports reporter. Terrell’s parents, Pamela and Tom, who live in Her parents, Sandy and Lonnie Phillips, who are Roseland on the Far South Side of Chicago, are both Republicans and gun owners, have become raising their two sons in one of the most violent outspoken activists for gun violence prevention since areas of the city. Jessi’s murder. To cope with the loss of their child, Pamela and Their nonprofit organization Jessi’s Message Tom co-founded Purpose Over Pain, a support group allows them to take their trailer and travel the country of Chicago parents whose children have all died due telling their story and working with fellow victims and to everyday gun violence, along with Annette Holt, survivors to advocate for common sense gun laws. whose son, 16-year-old Blair, was shot and killed.
VIEWING GUIDE 21 CREDITS
Created by Picture Motion
Reviewers
Ted Alcorn, research director, Everytown for Gun Safety
Tim Daly, managing director, Guns and Crime Policy, Center for American Progress
Michael Feldman, research assistant, Everytown for Gun Safety
John Gruber, campaign manager, Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence
Noelle Howey, manager of cultural engagement, Everytown for Gun Safety
Kristin Lazure, producer, UNDER THE GUN
Mark Prentice, communications director, Americans for Responsible Solutions
Jason Rzepka, director of cultural engagement, Everytown for Gun Safety
Saurav Sarkar, researcher/writer, Brady Campaign & Center to Prevent Gun Violence
Cecily Wallman-Stokes, science officer, Everytown for Gun Safety
Julia Wyman, executive director, States United to Prevent Gun Violence
VIEWING GUIDE 22