More than 800,000 people in the past 25 years have lost their lives to gun violence in the United States. Another 2 million or more have been injured.
A Washington University researcher and a new study authored by 60 leading experts offer alternative ideas aimed at reducing firearm deaths. Research and data collection are essential, but will those findings resonate with people directly affected by gun violence?
A survivor’s story
Patches Holmes, 57, is still haunted by an incident that occurred 33 years ago when he was 24. Holmes and a friend had just exited a liquor store at MLK and Goodfellow when a stranger walked up behind them and demanded money. Holmes set the case of beer down and grabbed the barrel of the gun from the surprised assailant…