The Law Enforcement Connection
Meet Chris Carita
This week, we welcome Christopher Carita, 97Percent’s new Law Enforcement Advisor. Because law enforcement is central to our mission to reduce gun deaths in America, Chris will be an invaluable asset to our team.
I’m excited to introduce myself to the 97Percent community. I am passionate about 97Percent’s focus on nonpartisan, evidence-based solutions and believe together we can continue making meaningful strides in preventing gun deaths in our country, while respecting gun ownership.
The people most deeply affected by both violence related to firearms and gun safety policies aren’t the decision-makers at the top—they’re our neighbors, our families, and the people working every day to keep us safe. By engaging in meaningful conversations with gun owners and non-gun owners, and conducting research to identify and address their legitimate concerns, we can make real progress in saving more lives while protecting everyone’s Constitutional rights.
I earned my Master of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University as a BAHI Fellow, focusing on Violence Prevention. I also draw on my 19 years in law enforcement, during which I served as a Hostage/Crisis Negotiator and Detective, specializing in mass violence threat investigations and using Florida’s Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) law to prevent gun violence. I’m also proud to be a member of the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals and recognized as a Master Trainer by the Department of Homeland Security’s National Threat Assessment and Reporting Program.
I’m honored to have the opportunity to bring my experience addressing gun violence, both as a law enforcement officer and as a policy expert, to the mission of 97Percent. —Christopher Carita, MPH
Save the date!
Please join 97Percent Board member Pierre Atlas for a webinar on September 19!
“American Exceptionalism and Guns: Comparing Gun Rights and Gun Violence in the U.S. and Other Democracies”
In his talk and audience Q&A, Dr. Atlas will address the meaning of “American Exceptionalism,” the roots of gun culture in the U.S., and how American gun culture is a characteristic of American Exceptionalism. He’ll also discuss how America’s gun rights and gun violence statistics compare to other advanced democracies. Please join us for this insightful and thought-provoking discussion!
On the Hill
At the presidential debate on Tuesday evening, Vice President Kamala Harris surprised some viewers with a personal admission. When former President Donald Trump accused her of wanting to confiscate all guns, she said, “We’re not taking anybody’s guns away, so stop with the continuous lying about this stuff,” then added that she and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, “are both gun owners.” —The Washington Post
We say: We were pleased that Vice President Harris revealed this detail about herself, as Democrats tend to be more discreet about their gun ownership. But we’re also not surprised. Roughly 41% of Democrats own guns, and that number is growing. If she is elected president in November, we are confident we will have a partner who hears and respects the concerns of gun owners.
More on the Hill:
In the Courts
A federal judge has ruled that an Illinois law banning the concealed carry of firearms on public transit is unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Iain Johnston ruled in favor of four gun owners who filed a lawsuit in 2022 contending that their inability to carry weapons on buses and trains violated their Second Amendment right to self-defense. Johnston’s decision was based on the “Bruen test,” which establishes that modern gun laws must be “sufficiently analogous” to those in place when the Bill of Rights was passed in 1791. —Associated Press
More in the courts:
Gun control laws see a circuit court boost, rooted in Rahimi —Bloomberg Law
California can ban guns in bars and parks, appeals court rules —Hawaii Tribune-Herald
Hawaii can ban guns on beaches, an appeals court says —Honolulu Civil Beat
Memphis City Council sues to reinstate gun control measures on November ballot —WBBJ
In the States
The school shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, may result in new state gun laws. That’s not unusual after such a tragedy, but what is unique this time is that Republicans are on board as well. A 14-year-old boy opened fire at the school on Sept. 4, killing two teachers and two fellow students. Rep. Jon Burns, Georgia’s Republican state House speaker, says lawmakers in 2025 will consider new policies to foster student mental health, detect guns, and encourage people to safely store guns. The proposals are the first policy response to the shooting. Democrats will likely push for more measures, including universal background checks, a safe storage mandate, and a red flag law. —Associated Press
We say: We applaud Rep. Burns for taking this step. We hope lawmakers from Georgia and other states will consider this: The suspect’s father has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder because he knew his son was struggling with mental issues but allowed him access to a weapon anyway, which was then used in the commission of the crime. Other states go a step further. In Virginia, for example, parents can be charged with a felony for allowing a child access to a firearm after being notified they pose a threat of violence. This law could more effectively prevent a mass shooting by creating parental liability before a shooting occurs. Prevention is critical. Legislation that holds parents more accountable may well be the key to stopping school shootings before they start.
Related Georgia news:
If a threat is not a crime, can the police prevent a school shooting? —The New York Times
Mother of Georgia suspect is said to have called school before shooting, warning of ‘emergency’ —The Washington Post
Mother of Apalachee High School shooter apologizes to victims’ families in open letter —CNN
Panic buttons and phone alerts: How technology helped prevent further bloodshed at Apalachee —CNN
More in the states:
Arizona: Gun safety advocates want safe storage laws, call for special session —AZ Central
California: Morgan Hill hikes concealed carry fees, sparking concerns over 2nd Amendment rights —The Mercury News
Illinois: After Georgia school shooting, Illinois lawmakers, firearms safety advocates push stronger gun storage law —Chicago Sun-Times
Kentucky: Manhunt intensifies for Kentucky highway shooting suspect who evaded police —NBC News
Maine: Police have upped their use of Maine’s ‘yellow flag’ law since the state’s deadliest mass shooting —WABI
New York: Senator Mayer urges governor to sign gun and public safety legislation —Yonkers Times
Do you have a comment about any of these critical issues? Do you have a story to share? We’d love to hear from you. Please include your first name and state, and we may publish it in a future issue. Thank you for reading!
For more information about 97Percent, please visit our website at 97Percent.us.
Join our growing community of gun owners and non-gun owners united to reduce gun deaths in America.
Still would like to see more information resources for members. My $7 book titled "GUN VIOLENCE" list the only practical actions citizens can take to reduce gun violence. It also has the most practical way to reduce the number of military-style weapons in the US WITHOUT any direct gun grabbing. I'd be happy to submit the two articles for publication in the newsletter. Rich Cardillo, Veteran & Gun Owner