From Trump's rally to Hartford's Asylum Hill, tackling gun violence as a public health crisis

By Tess Terrible,

Published July 16, 2024 at 6:00 AM EDT

1 of 3 — Se'Cret Pierce

FILE, 2023: Rev. Sam Saylor, Se'Cret Pierce's grandfather, struggled to speak during a vigil on Huntington Street in Hartford where 12 year-old Pierce was killed in a drive by shooting. "No one plans for the death of a twelve year old," he said.

Tyler Russell / Connecticut Public

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Mark Barden, Co-Founder and CEO of Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund sits with Connecticut Public Senior Health Reporter, Sujata Srinivasan to discuss gun violence as a public health crisis.

Ayannah Brown / Connecticut Public

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Reverend Sam Saylor, who lost his son Shane Oliver to gun violence in October 2012 sits with Connecticut Public's Senior Health Reporter Sujata Srinivasan to discuss gun violence as a public health crisis.

Ayannah Brown / Connecticut Public

More than 200 Americans visit the emergency department for nonfatal firearm injuries each day. That now includes former president Donald Trump.

Today, we talk about gun violence as a public health crisis. The U.S. Surgeon General published a health advisory on the far-reaching consequences of firearm violence. The divide on how to respond to gun violence is deeply polarizing. But seeing it through a public lens perspective could change the conversation. And it can also bring new solutions.

Surviving parents of gun violence victims join us and we also hear from James Dodington, Medical Director at the Center for Injury and Violence Prevention at Yale New Haven Health.

Mark Barden is the co-founder of Sandy Hook Promise. He lost his son Daniel in the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012. We hear from him.

Reverend Sam Saylor lost his son Shane Oliver to gun violence in October 2012. In April 2023, Shane’s daughter and Reverend Saylor’s granddaughter, Sec’ret Pierce, was killed by a drive-by shooting in Hartford. She was only 12 years old. He joins us as well.

Mark Barden, Co-Founder and CEO of Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund.

GUESTS:

Dr. James Dodington: Medical Director at the Center for Injury and Violence Prevention and Associate Professor of Yale School of Medicine
Mark Barden: co-founder and co-CEO of Sandy Hook Promise
Reverend Sam Saylor: community activist

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