Mass Shootings and Guns: Seeking Common Ground: Patrik Jonsson and Ryan Busse

Let's Find Common Ground

USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future

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5 • 2.7K Ratings

🗓️ 2 March 2023

⏱️ 25 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In the first eight weeks of this year, America’s epidemic of mass shootings and gun crimes showed no signs of reprieve. In fact, the crisis may be getting much worse. According to the Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit group that tracks firearms violence in the U.S., there have been at least 90 mass shootings since January 1. We take a close look at gun violence and the search for common ground. We learn why so many Americans love guns and say they need them for self-defense. We also hear about differences in regional attitudes to guns, and what happens to communities that witness mass shootings. Our guests are journalist Patrick Jonsson and gun safety advocate Ryan Busse, author of “Gunfight: My Battle Against the Industry That Radicalized America”. Patrik Jonsson is the Atlanta-based correspondent for The Christian Science Monitor. He writes about The South, gun rights, race, extremist groups, natural disasters, and hockey. Ryan Busse grew up around guns — hunting and shooting with his father and had a long and successful executive career in the gun industry. Despite being a strong critic of the NRA, he's still a proud gun owner, hunter, and outdoorsman who lives in Montana. Please tell us what you think! Share your feedback in this short survey. For every survey completed, we’ll plant 5 trees. Common Ground Podcast Feedback Survey (qualtrics.com)

Transcript

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0:00.0	The raw statistics on gun violence in America are stark.
0:04.0	In 2020, the latest full-year measured by the Centers for Disease Control
0:10.0	more than 45,000 people died from gun-related injuries in the US.
0:16.0	So today, we're going to look at the gun debate through a common ground lens.
0:21.0	Can we agree on the difference between responsible gun ownership and the reckless use of guns?
0:31.0	This is Let's Find Common Ground. I'm Ashley Muntite.
0:36.0	And I'm Richard Davies. We wanted to do this episode in response to statistics
0:42.0	that reveal America's epidemic of mass shootings and gun crimes shows no signs of reprieve.
0:49.0	In fact, the crisis may be getting much worse.
0:52.0	According to the gun violence archive, there have been more than 90 mass shootings since the first of the year.
0:58.0	We speak with a journalist and a former firearms industry executive who tells us about his love of guns,
1:05.0	as well as criticisms of the business that he was once part of.
1:10.0	It's a fresh take on an issue that leaves many people feeling divided and depressed.
1:16.0	First, we speak with Patrick Johnson, the Georgia-based correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor.
1:21.0	He writes about the South, gun rights, race, extremist groups, natural disasters, and hockey, as thought he loves.
1:29.0	I asked Patrick first, just how bad is the gun violence crisis in America?
1:36.0	Well, I think as far as mass shootings, I mean, I've been reporting on this for a while now,
1:41.0	and it's as bad as I've seen it, but I mean, the statistics are unmistakable.
1:46.0	As it's almost a daily, it feels like daily headlines across the country.
1:51.0	In all regions, it doesn't seem to be sparing any particular part of the country.
1:56.0	Why do so many people love guns in this country, do you think?
2:02.0	Well, what's not to love? I mean, they're fun. I've owned guns.
	...

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