FY25 - Progress Report

GVRC Progress Report

2025

|Rutgers School of Public Health Piscataway, New Jersey

NJGVRC

NJGVRC

@NJGVRC

https://bit.ly/3vorxyh

HTTPS://GUNVIOLENCERESEARCHCENTER.RUTGERS.EDU/

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

Our Vision This progress report aims to summarize GVRC research, publications, active externally funded grants, research projects funded by the GVRC, community outreach projects and partnerships, and communications conducted by the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center (GVRC) during FY25. The GVRC's mission is to conduct and fund cutting-edge scientific research on gun violence prevention and serve as a voice to make scientific information available to all communities impacted by gun violence.

Our plan is to focus on all aspects of gun violence, specifically firearm suicide and interpersonal gun violence. The GVRC is committed to combating racial disparities that leave marginalized communities shouldering a disproportionate burden of interpersonal gun violence, and we plan to partner with groups like our service and community members heavily impacted by gun violence.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

Leadership Our primary mission has two aims: (1) To conduct and fund cutting-edge research on all forms of gun violence and (2) to disseminate the science of gun violence prevention broadly so as to empower communities to make data-driven policy and program demands that meet their local needs. Given the historical underfunding of gun violence research, far too few scientists have devoted their careers to this field.

The GVRC believes that a vital component to addressing that issue is the training of young scholars in gun violence prevention science, thereby setting the field on the path to feature increasing numbers of young scientists leveraging their skills to develop, test, and disseminate possibilities for preventing gun violence.

With that, the GVRC currently employs four postdoctoral students and one doctoral student from a range of disciplines. Each of these young scholars has been a key member of our team, contributing to our research and dissemination efforts and bringing invaluable energy to the center and research.

The GVRC also emphasizes the importance of speaking to and working with individuals from all political perspectives and from a diverse range of communities. There are plenty of firearm-related issues that people disagree on vociferously, but there are also many on which we agree. We feel it is essential to ensure that we are not conducting our work in an echo chamber, missing or even alienating the communities we most need to reach. To that end, we have developed partnerships and collaborations with an enormous range of individuals with the capability to influence various aspects of gun violence prevention, and we will strive to further increase that range.

This past year, the GVRC continued to welcome new trainees, published a number of impactful peerreviewed manuscripts, secured externally funded grants, and regularly engaged with the media. We hosted the inaugural GVRC firearm suicide prevention fellowship. In this event, 21 young scholars were selected from a competitive pool of applicants and hosted for a full day of training and networking aimed at encouraging them to build careers around firearm suicide prevention. The event featured trainees from all over the country and from many fields, including psychology, criminal justice, and nursing, with renown faculty lending their time to help create a community of scientists supporting the work of a new generation.

The New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center (GVRC) aims to address all forms of gun violence and to do so in a manner that has a tangible impact on the communities we serve.

Michael Anestis, PhD

R.Thurman Barnes, JD MDiv

Daniel Semenza, PhD

GVRC Executive Director

GVRC Assistant Director

GVRC Director of Research

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

The New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center (GVRC) aims to address all forms of gun violence and to do so in a manner that has a tangible impact on the communities we serve. Our primary mission has two aims: (1) To conduct and fund cutting edge research on all forms of gun violence and (2) to disseminate the science of gun violence prevention broadly so as to empower communities to make data-driven policy and program demands that meet their local needs.

Given the historical underfunding of gun violence research, far too few scientists have devoted their careers to this field. The GVRC believes that a vital component to addressing that issue is the training of young scholars in gun violence prevention science, thereby setting the field on the path to feature increasing numbers of young scientists leveraging their skills to develop, test, and disseminate possibilities for preventing gun violence. With that, the GVRC currently employs four postdoctoral students and one doctoral student from a range of disciplines. Each of these young scholars has been a key member of our team, contributing to our research and dissemination efforts and bringing invaluable energy to the center and research.

The GVRC also emphasizes the importance of speaking to and working with individuals from all political perspectives and from a diverse range of communities. There are plenty of firearm-related issues that people disagree on vociferously, but there are also many on which we agree.

We feel it is essential to ensure that we are not conducting our work in an echo chamber, missing or even alienating the communities we most need to reach. To that end, we have developed partnerships and collaborations with an enormous range of individuals with the capability to influence various aspects of gun violence prevention, and we will strive to further increase that range.

This past year, the GVRC continued to welcome in new trainees, published a number of impactful peer reviewed manuscripts, secured externally funded grants, and regularly engaged with the media. We hosted the inaugural GVRC firearm 2 suicide prevention fellowship. In this event, 21 young scholars were selected from a competitive pool of applicants and hosted for a full day of training and networking aimed at encouraging them to build careers around firearm suicide prevention. The event featured trainees from all over the country and from many fields, including psychology, criminal justice, and nursing, with renown faculty lending their time to help create a community of scientists supporting the work of a new generation.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

TABLE OF CONTENTS This report provides an overview of the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center’s (GVRC) activities, impact, and engagement over the reporting period. It highlights research initiatives, training programs, student development, public engagement, media presence, and partnerships, as well as GVRC’s role in advancing gun violence prevention through community collaboration and evidence-based strategies.

6-30

GVRC PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

31-37

GVRC LED RESEARCH PROJECTS

38-45

FUNDED RESEARCH PROJECTS

46-52

EXTERNALLY FUNDED PROJECTS

53-58

EVENTS

59-77

IN THE NEWS

78-80

EXTERNAL CONFERENCES

81-83

PODCASTS

84-87

SOCIAL MEDIA & WEBSITE ANALYTICS

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

GVRC PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS The following is a collection of peer-reviewed publications authored by the GVRC team and published in reputable academic journals. These articles reflect our commitment to high-quality, interdisciplinary research on gun violence prevention and contribute to the national dialogue through respected and influential scholarly platforms.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

JULY 2024

Gun Violence Exposure and Quality of Life in Nine US States

Read Open Access Publication Here

"We found that witnessing or hearing about a shooting in your neighborhood was the most common type of gun violence exposure, and it was associated with a decrease in quality of life across all five domains we measured," said lead author Jennifer Paruk, lead author and a postdoctoral researcher at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center at the Rutgers School of Public Health.

Read the Rutgers Today release here.

"We're really recognizing the effects that indirect gun exposure can have on many types of quality of life," she said. "For people who are getting care for gun violence, their family members in the hospital with them or who were at home taking care of them could use a lot of support."

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

AUGUST 2024 Threat Perceptions, Defensive Behaviors, and the Perceived Suicide Prevention Value of Specific Firearm Storage Practices

Read Open Access Publication Here

Those who own firearms primarily for defensive purposes reported less perceived suicide prevention value in out-of-home storage.

Contrary to expectations, PTSD symptoms were associated with greater perceived suicide prevention value across all storage practices, and greater intolerance of uncertainty was associated with greater perceived out-of-home storage value,” said lead author Michael Anestis, executive director of the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center at Rutgers.

“Viewing the world as dangerous and other people as a threat may limit the perceived suicide prevention value for secure storage and increase the drive for quick and ready firearm access.”

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

AUGUST 2024 Differences in Reasons for Secure and Unsecure Firearm Storage: Results from a Representative Cross-Sectional Study of Nine States

Read Open Access Publication Here

“Firearm owners with children in the home are more likely to select storage methods they feel will prevent access by vulnerable individuals, whereas those who own for defensive purposes and those who store firearms loaded and unlocked are more likely to endorse storing their firearms for quick home defense and convenience and to see gun safes as unnecessary obstacles.” Lead author, Michael Anestis, executive director of the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center at Rutgers.

“Anestis and colleagues (2023) found that, within a nationally representative sample of firearm owners, many owners report not engaging in secure storage due to a concern that locks would prevent quick access. “

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

AUGUST 2024 Correlates of Dangerous Firearm Storage Among a Representative Sample of Firearm Owners Across Nine States

Read Open Access Publication Here

The current study extends knowledge of what influences individuals to store their firearms unlocked and loaded by considering the aforementioned

factors

(threat

perceptions,

exposure

to

violence/negative experiences, and timing of firearm purchasing) simultaneously within a representative sample of adults from nine diverse states (Texas, Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio,

Pennsylvania,

and

Washington)

that

have

significant

differences in firearm laws, firearm culture, and political leanings.

Lead author,Jayna Moceri-Brooks lead author and a postdoctoral researcher at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center.

“The study findings highlight the need for the following broad public education on the value of secure storage targeted toward those who have an elevated perception of danger and have been personally exposed to firearm violence identifying ways to help firearm owners accurately evaluate a threat.”

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

SEPTEMBER 2024

Parental Engagement With Children Around Firearms and Unsecure Storage

Read Open Access Publication Here

"Some parents may believe that modeling responsible firearm use negates the need for secure storage,” said Jennifer Paruk, the study's lead author and a postdoctoral researcher at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center at the Rutgers School of Public Health. “But storing firearms securely is a part of firearm safety."

Read the Rutgers Today release here.

"Kids are really smart. We know that kids can get into things and that they observe us. Just because parents think it's locked up, it might not be. A child might know where the key is kept. That's why keeping it locked up, keeping it unloaded, and keeping the ammunition separate are all good practices for decreasing the risk of firearm suicide and child unintentional injuries."

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

DECEMBER 2024 Adverse Childhood Experiences and Defensive Gun Use: The Indirect Role of Threat Sensitivity and Depressive Symptoms

Read Open Access Publication Here

“Research that links risk factors from childhood to problems later in life often neglects the role that situational factors might play. In this study, we tried to unpack the cognitive factors through which experiences from childhood can affect behavior in adulthood,“ said lead author Sultan Altikriti, a postdoctoral fellow at the Rutgers Gun Violence Research Center.

Read the Rutgers Today release here.

“Threat sensitivity can cause people to see threats where they do not exist. An increase in threat sensitivity can then cause an overreaction in neutral or ambiguous situations.”

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

JANUARY 2025

Frequency, Recency, and Variety of Gun Violence Exposure: Implications for Mental Health and Suicide Among US Adults

Read Open Access Publication Here

“This is the first study using nationally representative data that demonstrates a link between exposure to gun violence and suicide,” said lead author Daniel Semenza, director of research at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research

Center

and

assistant

professor

at

the

Department of Urban-Global Public Health at the Rutgers School of Public Health and in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice at Rutgers University. “When we think about what we can do to improve suicide prevention efforts, we have to include interpersonal violence prevention in the conversation.”

Read the Rutgers Today release here.

“Gun violence exposure is harmful for many different health outcomes, but this study shows that both the frequency and the recency of exposure to gun violence is detrimental to mental well-being.”

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

JANUARY 2025

Screening for Patient Firearm Access Among Mental Health Care Clinicians

Read Open Access Publication Here

“However, many estimated screening less than half of all their clients and most clinicians are not asking all clients about firearm access,” said lead author Taylor Rodriguez, a doctoral degree candidate in the Department of Psychology at the Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences, and Research Associate at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center.

Read the Rutgers Today release here.

“Supporting clinicians with secure firearm storage training opportunities, and standardized protocols for proactively screening every patient for firearm access could be an important way to limit the subjectivity in screening, and integrate firearm injury prevention into mental health care.”

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

JANUARY 2025

Florida’s Risk Protection Order Cases and Intimate Partner Violence: A Descriptive Study

Read Open Access Publication Here

In this study, researchers examined the incidents that prompted Florida law enforcement officials to file the ERPO petition. Among the partner-violence related incidents that prompted the petition, 70% included a firearm threat or use of a firearm against the intimate partner. The paper’s lead author, Jennifer Paruk, a postdoctoral fellow at the Rutgers Gun Violence Research Center, stated, “Most of these cases of partner violence also contained risk factors for female intimate partner homicide - for example, a respondent threatening to shoot his partner with a firearm and then shoot himself.”

“Those under a domestic violence protective order may not be temporarily prohibited from having a firearm. ERPOs may fill an important gap in protection.”

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

FEBRUARY 2025

Perceived Benefits and Risks of Keeping Firearms In and Around the Home: Results From a Nationally Representative Survey

Read Open Access Publication Here

“American

families

are

tasked

with

balancing

competing

demands when they consider whether or not to keep a firearm in their home,” said Michael Anestis, executive director of the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center at Rutgers and lead author of the study. “On the one hand, they want to protect themselves and their loved ones from bad actors that may break in and harm them. On the other hand, they want to prevent tragedies like suicide from occurring. Overall, it seems that adults have skewed beliefs that exaggerate the protective value and understate the risk for suicide, but many people see both risk and value and the perceived value may be the deciding factor for them.”

Read the Rutgers Today release here.

“It may be that there is an information imbalance fueling Americans’ belief that home firearm access keeps them safe rather than increasing the risk for suicide.”

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

MARCH 2025

Frequency of Black and American Indian/Alaskan Native US Residents Screened for Firearm Access

Read Open Access Publication Here

“Among Black participants, 13.1% and among AIAN participants, 18.4% reported being screened for firearm access. Of the participants who reported being

screened,

most

have

been

by

mental

healthcare providers or primary care physicians.

Factors associated with higher screening odds in Black adults included history of suicidal ideation or mental health treatment, current firearm access, younger age, and having children at home.” Lead author, Allison Bond, is an Assistant Professor at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center.

“This study evaluates Black and AIAN individuals’ self-reported history of being screened for firearm access by healthcare providers, and identifies factors that influence screening.”

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

APRIL 2025

Supporting Research Assistants Working on Gun Violence Studies

Read Open Access Publication Here

“Gun violence prevention work can involve emotionally difficult topics such as suicide, intimate partner abuse, and more,” said Jennifer Paruk, a postdoctoral fellow at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center at the Rutgers School of Public Health.”

Read the Rutgers Today release here.

“The study found that before joining the gun violence study team, 30% of research assistants had not learned strategies for dealing with emotionally distressing events, and 26% of research assistants did not have consistent supports outside of the study team to help them deal with the difficult emotions from the research.”

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

Firearm Violence and Dental Health: A Neighborhood Analysis in 100 U.S. Cities, 2014-2022

Read Open Access Publication Here

“Firearm violence doesn’t just shape public safety, it shapes health behaviors, including whether people feel safe enough to seek care,” said Daniel Semenza, the director of research at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center and an associate professor in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice and the Department of Urban-Global Public Health. “This research underscores the importance of addressing violence as a public health crisis.”

Read the Rutgers Today release here.

On average, 60% of residents surveyed in each neighborhood reported receiving dental care in the past year, though this figure ranged widely – from as low as 18% to as high as 89%, depending on the neighborhood and year. Among adults ages 65 and older, about 15% reported complete tooth loss annually

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

Nobody Asked Us': Illegal Firearm Acquisition, Ownership, and Storage Among Black and Brown Individuals in Newark, New Jersey

Read Open Access Publication Here

This study shows why community-led solutions matter.

You

cannot

understand

firearm

ownership in places like Newark without asking the

people

most

affected,”

said

Daniel

Semenza, the director of research at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center.

“Working alongside the Newark Community Street Team wasn’t just important to this work—it was essential. Their partnership allowed us to earn trust and gain insights that traditional research often misses.”

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

Lifetime and Past-Year Defensive Gun Use

Read Open Access Publication Here

“Adults with firearm access are far more likely to be exposed to gun violence than they are to defend themselves with their firearms,” said Michael Anestis, executive director of the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center at Rutgers and lead author of the study.

Read the Rutgers Today release here.

“When defensive gun use occurs, we should not necessarily conclude that the result was a life saved that otherwise would have been lost.”

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

Firearm Storage and the Perceived Risks and Value of Firearms: Differences Among Firearm Owners and Nonfirearm Owners With and Without a History of Suicidal Ideation

Read Open Access Publication Here

Alarmingly, those with firearms in the home and a history of thinking about suicide were more likely to store firearms in the least secure manner possible: loaded and unlocked,” said lead author Michael Anestis, executive director of the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center.

Read the Rutgers Today release here.

“The authors found that a majority of all adults (62.3%) and adults with firearm access (85.7%) said that home firearm access is at least somewhat helpful in protecting people during a home invasion.

In contrast, both for the full sample (36.3%) and those with firearm access (52.3%), the most common belief is that home firearm access is unrelated to suicide risk.”

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

Alignment Between Self- And Perceived Peer Support for Specific Firearm Policies: Results from a Representative Survey of Adults in Nine U.S. States

Read Open Access Publication Here

“It

might

simply

be

that

while

many

conservatives support these policies, they simply are not as high of a priority for them as they are for more liberal individuals,” said Michael Anestis, executive director of the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center and lead author of the study.

Read the Rutgers Today release here.

“Consistent with prior research and public polls, our findings demonstrate that the majority of Americans support a range of firearm policies. The issue is that more conservative communities tend to support these policies in private, but not demand them in public.”

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

In-Person and Media Gun Violence Exposure in the United States: Prevalence and Disparities in a Nationally Representative, Cross-Sectional Sample of Adults

Read Open Access Publication Here

“This is a public health crisis hiding in plain sight,” said Daniel Semenza, director of research at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center. “Gun violence exposure isn’t just about being a victim. It touches people through what they see, hear and experience, especially in Black and Hispanic communities.

These exposures accumulate and damage health over time.”

Read the Rutgers Today release here.

“Gun violence exposure isn’t just about being a victim. It touches people through what they see, hear and experience, especially in Black and Hispanic communities. These exposures accumulate and damage health over time.”

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

Additional Peer Reviewed Publications

The publications listed below represent the GVRC’s contributions to advancing research on gun violence prevention through collaboration with scholars across disciplines and institutions. These peer-reviewed works, published in respected and influential academic journals, reflect our shared commitment to producing rigorous, evidence-based research that informs policy, practice, and community solutions.

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Additional Peer Reviewed Publications AUGUST 2024

CITIZEN-DRIVEN FIREARM SAFETY POLICIES IN A RURAL PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY Richard Stansfield, Catherine Heitz, Daniel Semenza, and Michael D. Anestis. https://doi.org/10.1177/00111287241271214 AUGUST 2024 DEER HUNTING SEASON AND FIREARM VIOLENCE IN US RURAL COUNTIES

Patrick Sharkey, Juan Camilo Cristancho, and Daniel Semenza. https://doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.27683

AUGUST 2024 CITIZEN-DRIVEN FIREARM SAFETY POLICIES IN A RURAL PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY Stansfield, R., Heitz, C., Semenza, D. C., & Anestis, M. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00111287241271214 SEPTEMBER 2024 FORCEFUL DE-ESCALATION AND ORGANIZATIONAL INERTIA: IDENTIFYING NOVEL JUSTIFICATIONS FOR ENTRENCHED POLICE VIOLENCE Burke, K. C. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10612-024-09797-x OCTOBER 2024 EXPOSURE TO FIREARM INJURY AND SUICIDE IN A RURAL PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY: IMPLICATIONS FOR MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH Stansfield, R., Semenza, D. C., & Ziminski, D. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10865-024-00529-8

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Additional Peer Reviewed Publications OCTOBER 2024

HONOR IDEOLOGY AND PRIVATE FIREARM OWNERSHIP IN US ACTIVE-DUTY SOLDIERS Raymond Tucker, Jarrod E Bock, Jessica L Gerner, Evan A Albury, Jeffery Osgood, Samantha E Daruwala, Melanie L Bozzay, Michael N Dretsch, Benjamin Trachik, Michael Anestis, and Craig J Bryan. https://doi.org/10.1136/ip-2024-045256 OCTOBER 2024

PROJECT SAFE GUARD: EVALUATING A LETHAL MEANS SAFETY INTERVENTION TO REDUCE FIREARM SUICIDE IN THE NATIONAL GUARD Walsh, A.K., Bryan, C.J., Anestis, M.D., Betz, M.E., Morganstein, J.C., Heintz Morrissey, B.A., Godin, S.J., Kruger, B.J., & Vernon, E. (2025). https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usae172 OCTOBER 2024

GUN VIOLENCE EXPOSURE AND POPULATION HEALTH INEQUALITY: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK Daniel C Semenza, Nicole Kravitz-Wirtz https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11874337/ NOVEMBER 2024

WHERE ARE THE GUNS? Johnson, D., Robinson, J., Semenza, D. C., & Thompson, A. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0047235224001387 NOVEMBER 2024

SOCIAL ISOLATION AND FIREARM SECURE STORAGE IN THE USA: RESULTS FROM THE 2022 BRFSS Testa, A., Semenza, D. C., Jackson, D. B., Fu, K., McKay, S., Ganson, K. T., Nagata, J.M., & Tsai, J. https://doi.org/10.1136/ip-2024-045468

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

Additional Peer Reviewed Publications JANUARY 2025 LICENSED FIREARM DEALERS, ATF INSPECTION VIOLATIONS, AND THE IMPACT ON LOCAL SHOOTINGS Stansfield, R., Semenza, D. C., Silver, I., & Savage, B. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07418825.2025.2459158 JANUARY 2025 THE LASTING EFFECTS OF INCARCERATING JUVENILES IN US ADULT FACILITIES: EXAMINING THE IMPACT ON EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME DURING EARLY ADULTHOOD Silver, I., Semenza, D. C., & Wooldredge, J. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjc/azae094 FEBRUARY 2025 LICENSED FIREARM DEALERS, ATF INSPECTION VIOLATIONS, AND THE IMPACT ON LOCAL SHOOTINGS Richard Stansfield, Daniel Semenza, Ian Silver, and Brielle Savage.

https://doi.org/10.1177/00111287241271214 FEBRUARY 2025 DEALING WITH GUNS: INVESTIGATING THE SPATIAL ATTRACTION OF GUN DEALERS ON LOCALIZED GUN VIOLENCE

Griffiths, E., Xu, J., Xie, S., Stansfield, R., & Semenza, D. C. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11292-025-09666-9

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Additional Peer Reviewed Publications FEBRUARY 2025 TESTING RURALITY AS A MODERATOR OF ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN MASCULINITY CONSTRUCTS,

HELP‐SEEKING, AND FIREARM STORAGE PRACTICES Richard Stansfield; Catherine Heitz; Daniel Semenza; and Michael D. Anestis https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.13124 FEBRUARY 2025 DETERMINING DEMOGRAPHIC AND PREVIOUS SUICIDE RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH

DEVELOPING A PLAN FOR SUICIDE WITH A FIREARM Richard Stansfield; Catherine Heitz; Daniel Semenza; and Michael D. Anestis https://doi.org/10.1177/00111287241271214 FEBRUARY 2025 SUICIDE PLANS INVOLVING A FIREARM AND LEVELS OF SUICIDAL INTENT AMONG FIREFIGHTERS

Morgan Robison, Tyler Rice, Melanie Hom, Carol Chu, Michael Anestis, Thomas Joiner, T. E., & Stanley, I. https://doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000994 FEBRUARY 2025 PREDICTORS OF RECENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE UTILIZATION AMONG FIREARM-OWNING US

SERVICE MEMBERS WITH HIGH LEVELS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS Rodriguez TR, Bond AE, Bandel SL, Collins C, Anestis MD, Anestis JC. S https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.13155 FEBRUARY 2025 Juvenile Injuries and Deaths From Shootings by Police in the United States, 2015–2020

Jackson, D., Testa, A., Semenza, D. C., Crifasi, C., & Ward, J. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2024.10.011

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Additional Peer Reviewed Publications MARCH 2025 ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES AND FIREARM STORAGE PATTERNS

Testa, A., Fu, K., Jackson, D. B., Semenza, D. C., & McKay, S. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1047279725000274?via%3Dihub MARCH 2025 BEYOND REOFFENDING AND REARREST: EXPANDING THE COLLATERAL CONSEQUENCES OF

FORMAL PROCESSING TO YOUTH HOMELESSNESS Chlebuch, N., Paruk, J., Cavanagh, C., Frick, P. J., Steinberg, L., & Cauffman, E. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07418825.2025.2481097 APRIL 2025 RESEARCH ASSISTANT PERSPECTIVES ON STRATEGIES TO REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF

EXPERIENCING VICARIOUS TRAUMA Paruk, J., Rhode, S., Molocznik, A., Christy, A., Knoepke, C., Kapoor, R., Frattaroli, S., & Zeoli, A. https://doi.org/10.1332/23986808Y2025D000000078 JUNE 2025 VIOLENT VICTIMIZATION TRAJECTORIES OVER THE LIFE COURSE AND PAST YEAR DENTAL CARE

USE IN ADULTHOOD IN THE UNITED STATES Mungia, R., Testa, A., Mijares, L., Jackson, D., Semenza, D. C., Stansfield, R., & Silver, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0033350625001568 JUNE 2025 SAFETY OR RISK? EXPLORING PERCEPTIONS OF FIREARM-RELATED RISKS AMONG MILITARY

SERVICE MEMBERS AND CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES AT A MILITARY INSTALLATION Carrington, M. D., Stanley, I. H., Anestis, M. D., Johnson, R. L., Jayna Moceri-Brooks, Bryan, C. J., Megan L. Johnson, https://jivresearch.org/jivr/index.php/jivr/article/view/1938

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

GVRC LED RESEARCH

This research focuses on interpersonal violence at the GVRC and is primarily led

by Dr. Dan Semenza, doctoral students, and post-doctoral fellows. Along with research focused on suicide, which has mainly been led by Dr. Michael Anestis, in partnership with doctoral students and post-doctoral fellows. Many of the studies

have

been

accepted

for

publication.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

Building a Non-Fatal Gun Violence Data Infrastructure – Open Knowledge Network

This is a partnership between Rutgers, Penn State University, Purdue University, and University of California San Diego and a collaboration with NSF, NASA, NIH, NIJ, NOAA, and USGS. The goal is to build a data network of publicly accessible data particularly focused on non-fatal firearm injury. Dr. Dan Semenza is part of this larger team that hopes to build a long-term infrastructure. The project plans began last year and will continue during the next few years.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

Annual IPSOS Survey

This is the fourth year of this survey assessing issues related to firearm ownership. This year, samples are being collected from a nationally representative sample. This project allows us to better understand how different communities experienced gun violence have, how that relates to social determinants of health, systemic racism, interactions with law enforcement, access to firearms, political affiliations, income equality, and a variety of other variables.

By comparing states that differ widely in terms of demographics, culture, firearm ownership rates, and firearm death rates, we will be able to better understand regional factors that influence various forms of gun violence. The survey is set with a target of 8,000 completed surveys. Survey negotiations took place during this reporting period and survey roll-out and findings will be included in the final report.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

Understanding Experiences of Military Families to Inform Youth Firearm Injury Prevention

Dr. Jennifer Paruk is working on this project as an in-kind co-investigator, which seeks to understand the unique experiences of military families regarding personal firearm storage, through mixed-methods qualitative interviews and surveys with both military parents and youths, as well as a landscape analysis of existing military-focused youth injury prevention policies and programs in both the US Department of Defense (DoD) and civilian sector.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

Black Firearm Owners' Experiences' Study

Led by Dr. Kim Burke and Dr. Jennifer Paruk, this study conducts interviews of Black firearm owners across New Jersey and Florida to learn more about Black Firearm Owners' experiences around firearms, particularly how that relates to safety and experiences with law enforcement, and how different states' laws may influence these experiences. Conducted 45 in-depth interviews with Black gun owners in Florida and New Jersey.

To date, the team has completed participant observation in NJ-based concealed carry and use of force trainings, 2nd Amendment Diversity shooting range events, and workshops led by Black firearms instructors.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

Eliminating the "Boyfriend Loophole" in Federal Domestic Violence Firearm Prohibitions

Dr. Jennifer Paruk has been working with faculty from the University of Michigan Dearborn and Southern Illinois University to examine how legislators discussed dating partners and firearm prohibitions in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, and the challenges of reducing firearm intimate partner homicide through federal policy changes.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

Police Violence and Black American Suicide Risk Study

Dr. Kim Burke has completed an analysis of the GVRC 2023 National Representative survey data of African American and American Indian and Alaska Natives. She has the current manuscript in progress: “Fear of Police Violence and Suicide risk Among Black Americans.”

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

FUNDED RESEARCH PROJECTS The GVRC awarded seven research studies during this grant cycle. Most of these studies span two years and are therefore going to be spent down during the no cost extension.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

Day by Day: Examining the lives of Black and Latinx men with firearm acquired disabilities in Newark, NJ and San Francisco, CA PI: Nazsa Baker, PhD, University of California San Francisco Co-PI: Joanelle Bailey, MD, MPH, Rutgers Medical School Award Amount: $83,177

This exploratory study continues to build on the dearth of literature on Black and Latinx men with firearm acquired disabilities due to community violence. Black and Latinx men are disproportionately affected by firearm violence and may have a unique set of needs related to their intersectional identity. With this in mind, there is an urgent need to better understand the experiences of Black and Latinx men whose firearm injuries render them permanently physically disabled along with the needs and services required to best support them while they are participants in a hospital-based violence intervention program.

Our long-term goal is to create a culturally congruent service

within

HVIPs

that

address

survivors'

intersectionality, document the difficulty of living with firearm

acquired

disability

while

living

in

disadvantaged urban communities, highlight and uplift the voices of survivors, and shape violence intervention program efforts in healthcare settings in San Francisco, California and Newark, New Jersey, which may be applied to other regions throughout the country.

Specifically, we plan to better understand firearmacquired physical disability from a mixed methods approach.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

Characterizing Suicide Risk States and Their Transitions Among Firearm Owners PI: Samantha E. Daruwala, PhD, The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center Award Amount: $199,649 Research suggests that firearm owners may experience suicidal states differently than non-owners. Given the high lethality of firearms, it is critical to understand how and when firearm owners move in and out of suicidal states to inform the timely delivery of tailored interventions. Efforts to understand and prevent suicide have been limited by viewing (1) suicidal behavior as a homogenous outcome that is caused by a finite set of factors and (2) suicide risk as a unidimensional continuum, with absence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) at the low end and suicidal behavior at the high end of the spectrum. However, suicide risk is highly complex, dynamic, and heterogenous in its presentation. Multiple pathways can lead to suicidal ideation (SI) and suicidal behavior (SB), and these vary between individuals. Shifts in suicide risk can fluctuate over short periods of time and do not always follow a predictable pattern (i.e., suicidal thoughts and planning do not always precede behavior).

The long-term goal of this research is to inform screening, assessment, and timely prevention and intervention strategies that are tailored to firearm owners, a group at heightened risk for suicide. The primary objectives of this study are to distinguish multiple types of suicide risk states and identify signatures of shifting from low- to high-risk states among firearm owners. For exploratory purposes, we will examine if the findings differ based on the presence or absence of mental health disorders. To accomplish this objective, we will invite US firearm owners to virtually complete a baseline visit of self-report measures and researcher-administered interviews to assess

firearm-related

experiences

and

storage

practices, history of STBs, psychiatric diagnoses, and other relevant constructs.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

Using Artificial Intelligence Avatars to Examine Factors Impacting the Efficacy of Firearm Secure Storage Messaging PI: Ryan M. Hill, PhD Co-I: Raymond P. Tucker, PhD, Louisiana State University Award Amount: $73,391 A critical next step toward improving the effectiveness of means safety messaging is understanding the impact of individual, content, and provider factors on participant engagement in secure firearm storage. Dr. Hill and his team developed the Tripartite Means Safety Messaging Framework (TMSMF), a conceptual model for organizing factors related to the effectiveness of means safety messaging. The TMSMF proposes that potential factors impacting patient responses to means safety messages fall into three domains: characteristics of the messenger, characteristics of the message, and characteristics of the recipient. Prior research shows that minor variations in the messages can impact means safety acceptability. In past work, the TMSMF was used to evaluate the impact of provider occupation and gender on willingness to engage in secure storage of firearms, using AI-generated presentations.

Further evaluation of this model will support efforts to maximize the effectiveness of means safety messages by informing the creation of individually-tailored messaging procedures. This study further evaluates the TMSMF through a series of experimental studies with firearmowning adults in the United States. Given Dr. Hill’s teams’ successful proof-of-concept for the utility of AIgenerated means safety messages as an experimental manipulation of message elements, they will utilize advanced

AI

software

programs

to

manipulate

characteristics of the messenger and message across experimental conditions. These studies will produce a large data repository for evaluation of the TMSMF.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

Triggering Inequality: How Gun Availability Shapes Life in Urban Poverty PI: Megan Kang, Sociology PhD Candidate, Princeton University Faculty Sponsors: Matthew Desmond and Patrick Sharkey Award Amount: $5,000 This dissertation aims to document how increased gun availability shapes everyday life in poor, urban neighborhoods in ways that further exacerbate social inequality. Unlike previous studies, this study explores how guns affect aspects of social life that may not be directly associated with violence, such as employment, family dynamics, and education. In the ethnographic tradition, the researcher will study a primary sample of individuals who the researcher has observed and interviewed over time with the goal of participating in their lives as closely as possible. As of summer 2024, the researcher has spent approximately 1.5 years living in Chicago’s West Side, where guns and gun violence proliferate. There are three groups of people comprising the core sample: (1) street-affiliated teenagers and young men; (2) friends, partners, and family of group 1; and (3) frontline workers. This fieldwork centered on a network of connected people from each group with the goal of “describing a system of relationships, to show how things hang together in a web of mutual influence or support or interdependence to describe the connections between the specifics the ethnographer knows by the virtue of having been there.

Beyond how guns shape interpersonal violence, this dissertation documents the ways in which guns —and the uncertainty of their presence—are restructuring social relations in poor, urban communities in ways that further exacerbate inequality.

To this end, this ethnographic study explores how guns affect aspects of social life that may not be directly associated with violence or public health, such as employment searches, family dynamics, romantic relationships, desistance, friendship networks, and informal social control By centering guns in the analysis of life in Chicago’s West Side—and the perspectives of residents who live among them— this study aims to show how gun prevalence and the uncertainty of gun violence in Black, urban America has implications for theories of inequality more broadly than theories of urban violence or public health by examining how increased gun access and uncertainty over neighbors’ gun uses shapes social life in one Chicago neighborhood, this study aims to highlight a potential trajectory for other American cities that is increasingly likely without action to reverse the country’s prevailing trends.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

Understanding Experiences of Military Families to Inform Youth Firearm Injury Prevention PI: Ian H. Stanley, PhD, University of Colorado School of Medicine Co-PI: Ian F. Eisenhauer, MD; Ashley Brooks-Russell, PhD, MPH Collaborator: Jennifer Paruk, PhD, MPH Award Amount: $166,193 Suicide prevention among military service members and their families, including children, is a key priority of the US DoD. In 2021, the majority of military children dependents who died by suicide used a firearm (56%). Most firearm suicides in military populations involve personally owned, rather than military-issued, firearms. Firearm access broadly, and gun carrying specifically, is associated with elevated risk for suicide among youth. State level data from California and Washington6 indicate elevated levels of gun carrying among military youth, perhaps due to greater firearm ownership in military families. Given parallel research finding elevated rates of suicidal ideation among military-connected youth, easier access to firearms or increased gun carrying behaviors may potentiate risk for suicide death among military-connected youth. Complicating this picture, however, are recent nationally representative data published by our group that found that among youth reporting suicidal ideation or a suicide plan over the past year, those who had a parent in the US military were significantly less likely to report handgun carrying practices compared with youth without a parent in the US military.

Work conducted by another research group among a convenience sample of military families throughout the US found a similar pattern: service members with a child living in the home reported decreased odds of non-secure firearm storage practices compared with service members without a child living in the home. These findings suggest —promisingly—that military families may be especially cognizant of the importance of preventing unauthorized access to firearms among youth reporting mental health struggles. Additional inquiry into the reasons for these findings is needed. Understanding the protective factors that influence firearm access among military youth can be used to inform the development and expansion of educational campaigns and other programs and interventions designed to promote secure firearm storage practices for injury prevention among military families and their civilian counterparts. The overall objective of this study is to understand military families’ perspectives on firearm storage practices.

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The Role of Women in Community Violence Intervention PI: Michelle Lyttle Storrod, Ph.D. Widener University Award Amount: $54,304.26

This study aims to systematically explore women’s roles in community violence intervention, both online and offline, and to assess how gender affects such work. Interviews and focus groups with women involved in violence intervention will be conducted in formal and informal settings alongside social media analysis to support identifying the complex roles women play. This research contributes to the assessment of whether violence intervention strategies need to be gender-specific and provides a novel approach to gender analysis in practice, policy, and research. The aim of such work is to lead to more inclusive and effective interventions designed to support women in violence prevention roles.

Aim 1: Examine the role of women in community violence intervention. Investigate and understand the contributions of women to community violence intervention efforts, both at the grassroots and professional levels. Aim 2: Analyze the impact of gender in the work that women do in violence intervention. Determine how gender influences women’s roles and effectiveness in community violence intervention work. Aim 3: Develop recommendations for hiring practices. Provide recommendations on increasing the employment of women in violence intervention roles based on the study's findings.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

Investigation of a Hypothetical Coupon Program to Increase Secure Storage of Firearms: A Behavioral Economic Investigation PI: Raymond P. Tucker, PhD Co-I: Shawn Gilroy, PhD Co-I: Ryan Hill, PhD, Louisiana State University Award Amount: $71,220 U.S. firearm owners most prefer biometric in-vehicle lock boxes for their vehicles and lock boxes with a locking feature (e.g., pin code or numeric dial) when firearms are stored in the home. Unfortunately, preferred secure storage methods may be inaccessible to many due to cost. Coupon programs to help interested parties purchase preferred secure storage products to increase secure firearm storage have been proposed as a potential public health strategy to reduce gun violence and data suggests firearm owners may be amenable to such an initiative. Coupon programs have a longstanding history of success in improving important aspects of public health. In regard to a firearm secure storage coupon initiative, determining how the program can best be messaged to increase purchasing of a secure storage product is important.

For example, the optimism bias, or the general tendency to not believe disastrous outcomes will happen to oneself, likely makes framing a coupon program to reduce homicide and suicide (rare, disastrous outcomes) less effective than a program to reduce theft. Similarly, the extent to which in-home and in-vehicle storage devices must be discounted, and thus the final cost for the consumer, will likely impact purchasing behavior in such a coupon program. Thus, research determining how much people are willing to spend on preferred secure storage devices is critical for a successful coupon program.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

EXTERNALLY FUNDED PROJECTS

The New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center (GVRC) received grant funding from a range of external partners to support its research, policy analysis, and community-focused

initiatives.

These

grants have allowed the GVRC to collaborate with leading scholars, the community, and organizations to expand its impact and generate evidence-based solutions to reduce gun violence.

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Project Safe Guard National Guard Roll - $1,001,645

The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine awarded Michael Anestis this grant for $1,001,645. This is a multi-year project. Primary aims are to: (1) train members of the National Guard in the Project Safe Guard protocol, (2) train a to-be-identified group of trainers to expand and sustain the trainings as a longstanding component of violence prevention within the National Guard and (3) provide evaluation of the trainings. As part of the training, we will provide gun locking devices to each site.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

Faith Leaders and Barber’s Project - $57,509

This NJ Department of Human Services grant was awarded to Michael Anestis for $57,509. The primary aim of this project is to equip faith leaders and barbers across New Jersey with the skills to effectively discuss secure firearm storage with their communities. Firearm owners exhibit substantial resistance to secure firearm storage, which complicates efforts to prevent suicide, unintentional shootings, theft, and other problematic firearm-related outcomes. Empowering trusted messengers with the skills to promote greater adherence to public health recommendations on firearm storage could represent a path towards dramatically increasing the reach of the intervention.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

Augmenting Suicide Prevention Interventions for Service Members (ASPIS) - $8,685,072 This is a center grant awarded to Dr. Craig Bryan at the Ohio State University, with Dr. Anestis serving as a Co-Investigator on one of the five studies being conducted within the center (total Rutgers award: $318,790). The study on which Dr. Anestis is serving is an online randomized trial of Project Safe Guard among service members, preceded by or followed by a single session intervention focused on reducing intolerance of uncertainty. The goal of the project is to promote secure firearm storage as a suicide prevention tool and to examine if reductions in intolerance of uncertainty increase the efficacy of the Project Safe Guard intervention.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Crime: a Multi-level Causal Analysis - $117,945

This is an Arnold Ventures: Planning Grant awarded to Daniel Semenza (PI) & Christopher

Thomas (Co-PI) for $117,945. This study focuses on planning a multi-level causal analysis of the relationship between GLP-1 receptor agonists (drugs used for diabetes and weight management) and crime. The research aims to determine the impact of GLP-1 receptor agonist use on crime rates, potentially through examining factors like economic status, health outcomes, and social networks.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

Gun Violence Exposure, Mental Health, and Suicide among Philadelphia Youth - $525,983

This grant is from the Stoneleigh Foundation and was awarded to Daniel Semenza (PI) and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (Sub-I) for $525,983. The team will study how direct and indirect exposure to gun violence influences the mental health of youth in Philadelphia, including their risk for suicidal ideation and self-harm behaviors. This is a mixed methods research project examining how diverse forms of gun violence exposure influence mental health outcomes and shape suicide risk among young people in Philadelphia.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

Secondary Analysis of Add Health and Ecological Data to Assess Violence Exposure and Dental Healthcare Utilization - $358,966

This is a National Institute of Health – National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIH - NIDCR) grant, which was awarded to Daniel Semenza as a Co-I. He was awarded in conjunction with Rahma Mungia (PI), Alexander Testa (Sub-PI), Dylan Jackson (Co-I), and Richard Stansfield (Co-I) for $358,966. This study uses secondary analysis of the "Add Health" data and ecological data to examine the relationship between violence exposure and dental healthcare utilization from adolescence to adulthood. The research aims to identify the impact of violence, including both personal victimization and community exposure, on dental care access and utilization over time.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

EVENTS

GVRC led and participated in a variety of events focused on sharing research, engaging stakeholders, and fostering collaborative dialogue. These events served as valuable opportunities to highlight ongoing work, strengthen partnerships, and advance evidencebased approaches to preventing gun violence.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

GVRC SUMMIT The GVRC Summit is a time when researchers, policymakers, and community members engage in meaningful dialogue and develop actionable strategies to prevent gun violence in New Jersey. This year’s speakers offered diverse perspectives on intervention, prevention, and public health solutions.

This Year’s Speakers: Brooklynn Hitchens, PhD – Assistant Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Maryland, discussed community-based approaches to reducing gun violence.

Michael Sodini – Founder and CEO, Walk the Talk America, shared insights on bridging the gap between the firearms industry and mental health communities.

Craig Bryan, PsyD, ABPP – Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, presented research on suicide prevention and firearm safety.

Kerri Raissian, PhD – Senior Research Scientist, Yale School of Public Health, focused on policy solutions and the role of evidence-based interventions in prevention efforts.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

RUTGERS DAY

Donate Here

March 12 - 13 marked Rutgers Giving Day, a day for the community, stakeholders, and supporters to donate to the GVRC and advance gun violence research. This annual event is an important opportunity to raise awareness and funding for the GVRC’s mission.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

IN THEIR OWN WORDS: GVRC GRANT AWARDEES GVRC serves as a national funding agency, awarding competitive grants each year to support research on gun violence. Through our annual call for proposals, we invite researchers from across the country to submit projects that aim to understand gun violence and develop evidence-based solutions for gun violence. By funding these projects, the GVRC helps build a stronger foundation of knowledge that informs policymakers, community leaders, and practitioners working to reduce the impact of gun violence nationwide.

Watch GVRC grantees on YouTube

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GVRC STUDENT DAY This

year’s

Student

Day

highlighted

research

conducted by the GVRC doctoral students and was held virtually, bringing together members of the Rutgers community to learn from the next generation of scholars dedicated to gun violence research. Each of these doctoral students presented the research findings of their work in addressing various aspects of

gun

violence.

Their

presentations

provided

valuable insights into the latest developments in their fields,

reflecting

the

academic

environment

facilitated by the GVRC.

DEVON ZIMINSKI

BRIELLE SAVAGE

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

FAITH LEADERS AND BARBER’S EVENT

The New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center (GVRC) hosted three free training sessions across the state to equip trusted community members— specifically faith leaders and barbers—with tools to promote secure firearm storage. These individuals play a vital role in encouraging firearm owners and their families to adopt safe practices and engage in meaningful conversations about firearm safety.

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IN THE NEWS

This section documents GVRC’s media coverage and public engagement through news features, interviews, podcasts, speaking engagements, and conferences, which serve to raise awareness of the Center’s mission and research on gun violence prevention

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

“RUTGERS STUDY DEBUNKS ARGUMENT THAT GUNS MAKE PEOPLE SAFER”

Watch the Interview Here

The New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center (GVRC) hosted three free training sessions across the state to equip trusted community members— specifically faith leaders and barbers—with tools to promote secure firearm storage. These individuals play a vital role in encouraging firearm owners and their families to adopt safe practices and engage in meaningful conversations about firearm safety.

“GUN SUICIDES ARE UP AMONG WOMEN”

Read the Article Here

At the time, people said they bought the guns at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, a time of great uncertainty. “Firearms have been really effectively marketed as a tool to keep you safe in an unsafe world,” said Mike Anestis, the executive director of the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, who led the research.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

GVRC STUDY FINDS PARENTS WHO TEACH GUN SAFETY TO KIDS ARE MORE LIKELY TO LEAVE ACCESS TO FIREARMS UNLOCKED

Watch the Interview Here

"Some

parents

may

believe

that

modeling

responsible firearm use negates the need for secure storage,” said Jennifer Paruk, the study's lead author and a postdoctoral researcher at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center.

“GUN SUICIDES ARE UP AMONG WOMEN”

Read the Article Here

At the time, people said they bought the guns at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, a time of great uncertainty. “Firearms have been really effectively marketed as a tool to keep you safe in an unsafe world,” said Mike Anestis, the executive director of the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, who led the research.

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“VENDING MACHINES THAT SELL AMMUNITION COME UNDER HEAVY FIRE IN US”

Read the Article Here

Semenza also questioned the necessity of the machines, saying they did not seem to address any existing problems in ammunition sales. He suggested that the machines, along with efforts to roll back gun regulations, reflect a push towards normalising guns and ammunition in daily life.

“WHY DO AMERICANS KEEP BRINGING GUNS THROUGH AIRPORT SECURITY?”

Read the Article Here

Following covid, there are millions of excess firearms relative to what we would have expected in a country already inundated with firearms,” said Michael D. Anestis, a professor at the Rutgers School of Public Health and executive director of the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center. “If there’s more firearms, then there are more opportunities for people to, even unintentionally, bring a firearm with them to a TSA checkpoint.”

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“VENDING MACHINES THAT SELL AMMUNITION COME UNDER HEAVY FIRE IN US”

Read the Article Here

Semenza also questioned the necessity of the machines, saying they did not seem to address any existing problems in ammunition sales. He suggested that the machines, along with efforts to roll back gun regulations, reflect a push towards normalising guns and ammunition in daily life.

“WHY DO AMERICANS KEEP BRINGING GUNS THROUGH AIRPORT SECURITY?”

Read the Article Here

At the time, people said they bought the guns at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, a time of great uncertainty. “Firearms have been really effectively marketed as a tool to keep you safe in an unsafe world,” said Mike Anestis, the executive director of the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, who led the research.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

“GUN AMMUNITION VENDING MACHINES INSTALLED AT GROCERY STORES IN 3 STATES”

Read the Article Here

Dan Semenza, the director of research at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, said that there is something lost when ammunition is sold by a machine, instead of a person who might notice that a buyer is in crisis. He also said that claims about the vending machine’s technology needed a third-party evaluation.

“GUN VIOLENCE IN RURAL AMERICA RISES WHEN DEER HUNTING SEASON BEGINS”

Read the Article Here

Dan Semenza, director of research at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, was cited as a source for this article.

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“TO PREVENT SUICIDES, WE MUST STORE FIREARMS MORE SECURELY”

Read the Article Here

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, a time when many emphasize the need to strengthen the mental health care system. Michael Anestis, Executive Director of the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center was a contributing author of an oped published in NJ.com.

“CAN GUN STORAGE PROGRAMS STOP SUICIDES?”

Read the Article Here

“The communities that are historically known to be firearm owners are also the ones at greatest risk for firearm suicide. So, often that's White men, that's folks in rural spaces, that's middle-aged or older adults. That's folks with a history of military service or who've worked in law enforcement communities that are more prone to owning firearms and are more prone to firearm suicide,” said Michael Anestis, executive director of research at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

INSIDE THE $3 BILLION SCHOOL SECURITY INDUSTRY AS SHOOTINGS CONTINUE

Read the Article Here

Around $3 billion is spent on school security annually, according to market research firm Omdia, but Rutgers University professor Daniel Semenza says there's "not very good research" to suggest the money is well spent. "It's a fear response, and it's an empowerment," said Dan Semenza, director of research at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center.

GUEST OPED: THE STATE MUST PROTECT GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH IN NEW JERSEY (BRADY: UNITED AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE COLUMN)

Read the Article Here

The New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center was cited as a source for this article as it relates to funding restoration efforts.

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SUICIDE PREVENTION KEY TO CUTTING GUN VIOLENCE, ADVOCATES SAY

Read the Article Here

While New Jersey has some of the strongest gun laws in the country, experts say that gun violence is “still too high” in the state and New Jersey needs to capitalize on the work that’s already been done. This includes the continued support of organizations on the ground that are working to save lives “each and every day,” said Dan Semenza, director of research at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center.

NJ GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER PUBLISHES STUDY ON RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FIREARM ACCESS, SUICIDE RISK

Read the Article Here

Michael Anestis, executive director of the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center and co-author of

this

study,

told

The

Daily

Targum

that

approximately 55 percent of all suicides in the U.S. involve a firearm, and 60 percent of firearm deaths are suicides.

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FIREARMS RARELY USED FOR PROTECTION AGAINST CRIME

Read the Article Here

“Adults with firearm access are far more likely to be exposed to gun violence than they are to defend themselves with their firearms,” lead researcher Michael Anestis, executive director of the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center at Rutgers University, said in a news release.

OWNING A GUN MIGHT NOT KEEP YOU AS SAFE AS YOU THINK, STUDY SHOWS

Read the Article Here

“The research challenges the narrative that gun owners carrying around a firearm for self-defense are routinely preventing tragedies,” said Michael Anestis, executive director of the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center at Rutgers and lead author of the study.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

GUN OWNERS RARELY USE FIREARMS FOR SELF-DEFENSE, RUTGERS REPORT SHOWS

Read the Article Here

Research from the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center at Rutgers School of Public Health found that 92% of gun owners have never used their guns to protect themselves, and less than 1% have done so in the last year. The study also found that people who view the world as unsafe are often distrustful of others and may be more likely to want a gun.

NJGVRC PUBLISHES STUDY SHOWING TOLL GUN VIOLENCE EXPOSURE HAS ON MENTAL HEALTH OF AMERICANS

Read the Article Here

Daniel Semenza, an associate professor in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice at Rutgers—Camden and in the Department of Urban-Global Public Health at Rutgers—New Brunswick and NJGVRC's director of research, spoke to The Daily Targum about the study and the toll exposure to gun violence can have on well-being.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

NEW RESEARCH LINKS GUN VIOLENCE EXPOSURE TO HIGHER RATES OF DEPRESSION AND SUICIDAL IDEATION

Read the Article Here The study, led by researchers at the New Jersey Gun Violence

Research

Center,

surveyed

8,009

respondents across the country, assessing both their exposure to gun violence and their mental health over time. It found that a greater frequency of gun violence

exposure

was

associated

with

higher

depression scores, greater odds of mental health service use, and, perhaps most significantly, greater odds of suicidal ideation compared to having no exposure. It’s the first time, using a national representative survey...

WHAT CUTTING GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION

RESEARCH REALLY MEANS

Read the Article Here

Gun violence research, a handful of states began a push to fund studies that the federal government wouldn’t, reflecting a growing willingness among legislators to invest in a better understanding of the issue. One of the hubs established during that period was the New Jersey Center for Gun Violence Research, which has since produced nationally relevant studies, funded outside research, and worked to help community violence intervention programs better disrupt shootings.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

FLORIDA WALMART SHOOTING SPARKS 'MASS POLICE PRESENCE': WHAT TO KNOW

Read the Article Here

Daniel Semenza, the lead author of a recent study which concluded that nearly two-thirds of adults in the U.S. have experienced gun violence in person, said: "This is a public health crisis hiding in plain sight." "Gun violence exposure isn't just about being a victim. It touches people through what they see, hear and experience. These exposures accumulate and damage health over time."

NEW STUDY BLAMES GUNS FOR POOR ORAL HEALTH

Read the Article Here

According to lead author Daniel Semenza, Ph.D., of the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, firearm violence is now being implicated as a social determinant of oral health. This research, which analyzed over 20,000 census tracts in America’s 100 largest cities from 2014 to 2022, claims that neighborhoods with higher rates of shootings also suffer from lower dental care usage and higher rates of edentulism, or complete tooth loss.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

WHAT ARE SWITCHES? WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE DEVICE LIKELY USED IN FAIRMOUNT PARK

Read the Article Here

"It's a firearm that is capable of inflicting more damage more quickly," said Dr. Mike Anestis of the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center. "You hear about this in mass shootings or mass casualties even though there has been a decent amount of effort to regulate them."

MAJOR GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH HUB ESCAPES CRIPPLING FUNDING CUTS

Read the Article Here

“We feel a sense of greater responsibility given what’s happening on the federal level with gun violence funding going away — and how hard we had to fight, and our allies had to fight, to restore us to $3 million,” Thurman Barnes, the center’s assistant director, told The Trace “Now I think, how can we put more money in the hands of researchers?”

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

WHY EXPERTS FEAR THE DROP IN N.J. GUN VIOLENCE COULD REVERSE THIS SUMMER

Read the Article Here

“Community violence intervention and the adjacent hospital-based violence intervention has been a big part of that investment over the last couple of years,” said Semenza, who also serves as the director of research at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center.

NAVIGATING FIREARM SAFETY DISCUSSIONS IN CLINICAL SETTINGS

Read the Article Here

These partnerships also offer a model for clinicians to approach firearm conversations in their practice— conversations that, when handled with care, can ripple outward and help shift cultural norms. “Our job isn’t to label people as bad or uninformed, or to force everyone to change,” Anestis said. “It’s to position people within their own value system to make healthy choices and stay safe.”

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

RUTGERS STUDY FINDS GUN OWNERS PRIORITIZE OTHERS’ SAFETY WHEN CONSIDERING TEMPORARY OUT-OF-HOME FIREARM STORAGE

Read the Article Here

“Our findings show that firearm owners are more willing to temporarily store their firearms with retailers

and

concerned

law

about

enforcement protecting

when

others

they’re in

their

household rather than themselves,” said Jennifer Paruk, lead author and postdoctoral fellow at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center.

NEW RESEARCH LINKS GUN VIOLENCE EXPOSURE TO HIGHER RATES OF DEPRESSION AND SUICIDAL IDEATION

Read the Article Here

"Until we understand the true scope of what gun violence means for our health and our well-being … we are not going to tackle it in a way that fully addresses the issue with all the resources required," said Daniel Semenza, director of research at the center and the lead author of the study.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

KAMALA HARRIS’S COMMENTS ABOUT GUN OWNERSHIP BELIE THE RISKS, RESEARCHERS SAY

Read the Article Here

“There is plenty of research going back to the early 90s showing that when you own a gun, it increases your risk dramatically for homicide, suicide, and unintentional injury with a firearm,” said Daniel Semenza, director of research at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, who is studying defensive gun use. “I think Harris has really missed an opportunity to signal to voters that she has taken this risk assessment seriously.”

GUN SAFETY BETWEEN GUN-OWNING PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN

View the Interview Here

“There is plenty of research going back to the early 90s showing that when you own a gun, it increases your risk dramatically for homicide, suicide, and unintentional injury with a firearm,” said Daniel Semenza, director of research at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, who is studying defensive gun use. “I think Harris has really missed an opportunity to signal to voters that she has taken this risk assessment seriously.”

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

RUTGERS-EAGLETON POLL: NEW JERSEYANS DIVIDED ON FIREARMS IN THE HOME

Read the Article Here

Although opinions may be divided about the risks involved in having firearms in the home, the data is clear on this issue,” said Michael Anestis, an associate professor in urban-global public health at the Rutgers School of Public Health and executive director of the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center. “Having a firearm in the home dramatically increases the risk of suicide for all members of the household,

while

also

increasing

risk

for

unintentional shootings and fatal domestic violence.

A VETERAN STARTED A GUN SHOP. WHEN A STRUGGLING SOLDIER ASKED HIM TO STORE HIS FIREARMS, HE STARTED SAVING LIVES.

Read the Article Here

Suicide prevention experts know people in crisis who don't have easy access to a gun will not likely find another way to kill themselves. Suicide prevention expert Mike Anestis, executive director of the New Jersey

Gun

Violence

Research

Center

and

a

professor at Rutgers University, said no other methods are as "close to as lethal as firearms for a suicide death." Around 90 to 95% of suicide attempts with a firearm will result in death while less than 5% of all other attempts will result in death, he said.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

THE LEADERS, ADVOCATES, AND RESIDENTS JOINED FOR THE ANTI-GUN VIOLENCE COMMITTEE MEETING, CHAIRED BY COMMISSIONER BRENDAN GILL

Dr. Michael Anestis, executive director of the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, was

joined

by

community

members

and

advocates to discuss the success of current measures to reduce gun violence in Essex County, as well as improvements and new measures the Board can undertake to continue making Essex County a safe place to live, work, and raise a family.

View the Post Here

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

EXTERNAL CONFERENCES The GVRC participated in external conferences

to

share

research,

strengthen collaborations, and advance strategies for gun violence prevention.

These events provided opportunities to present findings, engage with experts, and promote evidence-based solutions.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

2024 NATIONAL RESEARCH CONFERENCE FOR THE PREVENTION OF FIREARM-RELATED HARMS This conference was held from December 9-11, 2024, in Seattle, WA. The conference highlighted the current state of science and research on firearm injury prevention across the lifespan. The GVRC team attended and presented at this conference, and shared their research via poster presentations while engaging in dialogue during breakout sessions. The GVRC team also hosted an exhibitor table to raise awareness about its mission, share current research findings, and engage with attendees.

2025 FIREARM SUICIDE PREVENTION FELLOWS

The GVRC hosted a full day of presentations, panel discussions,

mentoring

sessions,

opportunities

designed

to

bring

and

networking

together

research

scholars from across the United States. The event centered on advancing knowledge and collaboration around firearm suicide prevention, fostering dialogue among experts dedicated to reducing firearm-related deaths.

Learn More About Our Fellows

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

2025 AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SUICIDOLOGY ANNUAL CONFERENCE This conference was held in Ohio from March 30 to April 4, 2025. This event brought together some of the brightest minds in suicide prevention—thought leaders, researchers, and those with lived experience—all working to advance crisis care. Some of the GVRC team were able to attend. Drs. Anestis, Bond, and Burke presented a keynote panel presentation to open the conference.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

PODCASTS

The GVRC team members served as guest speakers and created podcast

episodes

on

recent

research, addressing topics such as firearm storage, community prevention, policy, and mental health

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

“BACK TO SCHOOL SHOOTINGS” WITH DAVID REIDMAN:

Listen Here Guest: Dr. Daniel Semenza is an Associate Professor at Rutgers University and the Director of Interpersonal Violence Research at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center. He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers on issues of gun violence, victimization, and health disparities and his research has been featured in the New York Times, LA Times, Philadelphia Inquirer,

Scientific

American,

The

Trace,

Prevention Magazine, PBS, and NPR.

LET’S TALK ABOUT YOUR GUNS

Listen Here Guest speaker: Dr. Michael Anestis, executive director at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center joins the conversations on gun safety and how “40% of Americans have a gun at home.”

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

BLACK FIREARM OWNERS EXPERIENCES

Listen Here

ADULT CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES (ACES)

Listen Here

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

SOCIAL MEDIA & WEBSITE ANALYTICS The GVRC tracks social media and website analytics to evaluate the effectiveness of its outreach efforts.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

SOCIAL MEDIA The New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center (GVRC) monitors social media analytics to evaluate audience engagement and determine where to focus or adjust outreach strategies. Below is a summary of key metrics.

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

Website Analytics The New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center (GVRC) monitors website analytics to assess visitor engagement and identify where to focus or adjust outreach efforts. Below is a summary of key metrics.

Overview of User Acquisition and Engagment

148k

Event Count: The number of times a user played a video, submitted a request, clicked a button, read an article

Website Traffic of Total Users, New Users, and Returning Users

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THE NEW JERSEY GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH CENTER | ANNUAL REPORT 2025

A Year in Review Male

Female

Female 42.9% Male 57.1%

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