With the United States deep-seated, complicated relationship to firearms that has guided the efforts around the gun violence epidemic impacting communities across the country, this policy brief covers social, political, and financial motives as to why gun reform is necessary. This is an area that affects all walks of life. Furthermore, it affects America’s future generations. What we address today will have future impact. With rates of gun death increasing, it’s time to understand the impact of this critical debate surrounding access to lethal weapons.

Skills, competencies, &/or capacities learned

• Gained knowledge of gun history, partisan divide, background requirements

• Communicate to stakeholders the implications of policies and policy change in the lives of clients.

• Use evidence-based practice and practice-based evidence in advocacy for policies that advance social and economic wellbeing. Communicate professional judgments to other social workers and to professionals from other disciplines, in both verbal and written formats.

• Research and apply knowledge of diverse populations to enhance client well-being.

• Advocate at multiple levels for universal background checks