Latest news with #NickSuplina
The Guardian
10 hours ago
- Health
- The Guardian
‘These deaths are not inevitable': state gun control laws reduce children's firearm deaths, study shows
Guns have been the leading cause of death among US children since 2020. A new study shows a clear path to addressing this scourge and saving kids' lives: state gun control laws. The study, published this month in Jama Pediatrics, reveals that states which enacted stricter gun control measures following the 2010 McDonald v Chicago supreme court ruling – a landmark decision that struck down Chicago's ban on handguns and, in effect, expanded the second amendment nationwide – have seen a relative decrease in firearm deaths among children aged up to 17. By contrast, states that expanded gun freedoms have seen a notable increase in kids' deaths from gun violence, including by homicide, by suicide and from accidents. This means that commonsense gun policies make a difference when it comes to keeping kids safe, said Nick Suplina, senior vice-president for law and policy at Everytown for Gun Safety. 'This study sends a message that lawmakers that refuse to take action or who further loosen gun laws are putting kids' lives in peril,' he said. 'That's a very powerful outcome for an academic study.' To conduct their study, researchers divided states into three categories – least permissive, more permissive and most permissive – based on the strength of their gun control laws. They then used data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to look into individual states' rates of pediatric firearm deaths (deaths from gun violence among children ages 0-17) over a 12-year span. What they found was a striking degree of overlap among states based on legislation enacted. In more permissive states, such as Mississippi and New Hampshire, pediatric death rates rose substantially more than expected, especially among children of color. '[We saw] so many excess deaths over and above what would have been expected,' said Jeremy Faust, an emergency room physician and assistant professor of medicine at Harvard University, and the study's lead author. But in states that passed stricter laws – such as background checks, permitting and safe-storage requirements – rates either stayed stagnant or fell. That finding surprised Faust, who anticipated that every state would see at least some increase since the number of kids killed by guns in the US has risen so sharply over the past decade. California, New York and Maryland, all of which have assault weapon bans and safe-storage laws, saw decreased rates of pediatric firearm mortality. And Rhode Island, which requires would-be gun owners to pass a firearm safety course to buy a handgun, saw a 60% drop in gun-related deaths among children. 'These deaths are not inevitable,' said Shriya Bhat, a second-year molecular biology student at Harvard and an author of the study. 'Policy choices matter, and we can learn from the places that have kept kids safer.' Gun policy experts say that research like this, which treats gun violence as a public health concern and considers the impact of on-the-books legislation from a scientific perspective, is desperately needed. 'The insights of the medical community are vital to educating policymakers and the public about the need to address the public health crisis fueled by unregulated access to firearms,' said Nick Wilson, senior director for gun violence prevention at the Center for American Progress. (The White House recently removed former surgeon general Vivek Murthy's advisory on gun violence as a public health issue, and has also slashed funding for gun violence research.) Experts also stress the need for lawmakers to translate knowledge into action. That means prioritizing measures that keep all of society safe from gun violence, such as universal background checks, as well as laws that protect kids specifically, such as safe-storage regulations. 'We really need policymakers to step up,' said Kelly Drane, research director at the Giffords Law Center. Suplina added that moving the needle on policy would require dampening the influence of the country's for-profit gun lobby, which perpetuates the narrative that guns make a society safer – a myth he hopes this study can help dispel. 'Literally the exact opposite is true,' he said. 'If more guns made us safer, the US would be the safest country in the world by far. Instead, we have a homicide rate that's 25 times that of our peer nations.' Sign up to Headlines US Get the most important US headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion But a lack of gun control legislation doesn't mean individuals can't change their own behaviors to keep kids safe. Parents who own guns can safely store their firearms and ask other parents whether there are guns in the house before permitting a playdate, said Drane, much like a parent might ask if another family has a fence around their pool. 'It doesn't have to be a conversation about whether or not it's OK to own firearms, but just knowing that there's a plan in place to keep kids safe in the home is really important.' Nonetheless, researchers and experts are hopeful that political gulfs can be crossed by focusing on how policies can save the lives of children. 'We've seen a lot of public health successes that have been bridged by focusing on the impact of public health threats on children,' said Drane. 'I'm hopeful that research like this can help change minds.' For Faust, who witnessed children die from gunshot wounds first-hand while training in a Queens, New York, trauma center, addressing the epidemic of gun violence is deeply tied to his work as a physician. 'I am interested in how choices we make as a society can have a massive impact on the way we live and die,' he said. 'When you save the life of a kid, think about the decades of life you are giving back.'
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Print and shoot: how 3D-printed guns are spreading online
3D-printed guns could become "the weapon of choice" for criminals and violent extremists around the world, an expert has told the BBC. These DIY, untraceable firearms have been recovered in several recent criminal cases, including the alleged use of a partially 3D-printed gun in the killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Trending has investigated the global spread of 3D-printed guns across social media platforms including Telegram, Facebook and Instagram, as well as websites offering how-to guides. 3D-printed guns, often described as a type of "ghost" gun, are untraceable firearms that can be assembled using a 3D printer, downloadable blueprints and some basic materials. Designed to evade gun-control laws, the technology has advanced rapidly in the last decade, with the latest models capable of firing multiple rounds without their plastic components to Nick Suplina of Everytown, a US-based gun control organisation, 3D-printed guns could become the "weapon of choice" for people planning acts of violence: "The materials have gotten better, the cost has gone down, and the ease of access of these blueprints is at a high," he said. BBC Trending's investigation began with advertisements for guns on Instagram and Facebook. In October 2024, the Tech Transparency Project, a non-profit that monitors technology companies, found hundreds of gun ads - including for 3D-printed and other ghost guns - appearing on Meta's platforms, in violation of its declined to comment on the findings at the time. Several months later, BBC Trending found similar gun adverts still showing as active in Meta's ad database. Many of these gun adverts directed potential customers to Telegram or WhatsApp channels. On Telegram, we found channels displaying a variety of guns for sale. Some of these appeared to be 3D-printed. One Telegram account with over 1,000 subscribers claimed to ship weapons Trending contacted the account, which called itself "Jessy", to confirm whether it would be willing to break the law by shipping 3D-printed guns to the UK. Within an hour, Jessy offered us a Liberator or a Glock switch. A glock switch (also known as an auto sear) is a small, sometimes 3D-printed part that converts a pistol into an automatic Liberator, designed in 2013 by "crypto-anarchist" Cody Wilson, is the world's first widely available 3D-printed gun, capable of firing a single claimed he could smuggle the weapon through UK customs, asked for payment of £160 in bitcoin, then suggested a bank transfer to a UK account we couldn't we later contacted Jessy, identifying ourselves as the BBC, he acknowledged that selling weapons in the UK is illegal but sounded unapologetic."I run my business, sell some straps [slang for weapons] online," he said. We did not proceed with the transaction to test Jessy's claims. While his casual attitude suggested he might have been a scammer, his ability to advertise on Meta and operate on Telegram highlights apparent loopholes that real gun dealers could contacted, Meta told the BBC that the adverts we highlighted had been "automatically disabled in line with our policies", and that inclusion in its ad library "doesn't necessarily mean the ad is still live or visible".Telegram said that Jessy's account had been proactively removed for breaching its policies. A spokesperson added: "The sale of weapons is explicitly forbidden by Telegram's terms of service and is removed whenever discovered. Moderators empowered with custom AI and machine learning tools proactively monitor public parts of the platform and accept reports in order to remove millions of pieces of harmful content each day, including the sale of weapons."Concerningly though, people seeking 3D-printed guns don't need to buy readymade ones through social media. They can assemble their own. Models like the FGC-9 are designed using only 3D-printed plastic and repurposed metal components, with no commercially available gun parts required."You are essentially becoming a DIY gunsmith," says Dr Rajan Basra, a researcher at King's College London. However, "It's not as easy as printing off a sheet of A4 paper in your office printer."As the BBC has previously reported, there are websites offering free step-by-step guides and downloadable blueprints for building 3D-printed such guide was written by Matthew Larosiere, a gun rights attorney in Florida. He's associated with the global pro-3D-printed gun community, which has many members in the USA who see the Second Amendment right to bear arms as a human Trending challenged him about why he is sharing information to help people build a lethal replied: "It's just information. It's ones and zeros. The fact that the information has a use case that makes you uncomfortable, I understand and I sympathise with that, but that doesn't make it correct to say it's anything more than information."Asked about the risk of this "information" being used in a school shooting or massacre, he replied: "I thank God that has not happened." He cited Myanmar as a country where, in his view, 3D-printed guns have served a positive cause. Myanmar is currently the only known case of 3D-printed guns being used in active military conflict. The FGC-9's use by resistance fighters against the junta has been widely as BBC Burmese's Hnin Mo discovered, many of these groups have since stopped using 3D-printed guns. This is despite resistance forces producing hundreds of FGC-9s in 2022 and 2023, which cost over ten times less than machine guns on the black rebel leaders Hnin Mo spoke to cited the junta's tight control over imports of essential materials like glue and metal. Additionally, these groups now have more conventional weapons at their disposal, such as RPGs or machine Myanmar example demonstrates the limitations of current 3D-printed guns for military use. But globally, their spread is clear. Several countries are considering laws to criminalise the possession of blueprints. There are also calls for 3D printer manufacturers to block the printing of gun parts, in the same way that conventional printers restrict the printing of currency. But whether such measures can be effective remains to be reporting by Hnin Mo, BBC Burmese For more on this story:BBC World Service goes inside the world of 3D printed Print and Shoot - the global spread of 3D-printed gunsListen to BBC Trending: Print and shoot: The rise of 3D-printed guns
Toronto Sun
15-05-2025
- Toronto Sun
Mom charged after buying ammo for teen son obsessed with mass killings: Police
Published May 15, 2025 • 5 minute read Ashley Pardo. Photo by Screenshot / Bexar County Sheriff's Office A Texas woman was charged with buying ammunition and tactical gear for her 13-year-old son, who police and school officials feared could carry out mass violence at his middle school, authorities said Thursday. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The boy, who had been suspended in April for allegedly researching mass shootings at school, was also arrested and charged with terrorism, San Antonio police said. The case may be the first in the United States in which a parent has faced serious charges before their child has committed violence, said Nick Suplina, senior vice president of law and policy at the gun-control organization Everytown for Gun Safety. Ashley Pardo, 33, was arrested Monday on a felony charge of aiding in the commission of terrorism. The 13-year-old, who was placed in a juvenile detention facility, was also charged with having an improvised explosive device, which police said they found at his house. The arrests came after the boy's grandmother found the ammunition and tipped off police Monday. The same morning, the boy showed up to school in camouflage and tactical-style clothing but then left campus. As police searched for him, authorities arrested Pardo. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Police then took the 13-year-old into custody on the belief he may have been 'planning some act of violence,' San Antonio Police Chief William McManus told reporters Thursday. He said it was unknown whether the boy was armed when he went to school Monday. No attorney was listed for Pardo in court records Thursday. An attempt to reach her by phone was unsuccessful. She was set to be released on bond but remained in custody pending administrative matters, McManus said. Prosecutors across the country have moved to hold parents responsible when their children commit mass killings, hoping it could move parents to restrict kids' access to their firearms. Last year, the parents of a school shooter in Michigan were sentenced to prison in cases that set a new legal precedent. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Pardo's case could also set a new example for the prosecution of parents as a tool for preventing violence. 'This one stands out for such utter disregard for warning signs that it begs for criminal charges to be brought, even if, thankfully, a major tragedy was avoided here,' Suplina said. The U.S. saw 30 mass killings in which four or more people died in 2024, according to a Washington Post count, and four have occurred so far this year. Pardo's arrest appeared to be the culmination of weeks of concern from authorities and school officials about her son's behaviour. In January, the boy drew a map of his school that concerned law enforcement and expressed to authorities a fascination with previous mass shooters, according to the affidavit filed in Pardo's arrest. In April, he was found to be researching the 2019 mass killings in Christchurch, New Zealand, on a school-issued computer and was suspended, after which he attempted suicide, the affidavit said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. He was sent to an alternative school until last week, when he returned to Jeremiah Rhodes Middle School. He had served the mandated time in the alternative center, police told reporters, and legally had to return to his school. A few days later, his grandmother reportedly found him hitting a bullet with a hammer, and he told her his mother had given him the ammunition, the affidavit said. RECOMEMNDED VIDEO His grandmother told authorities that Pardo had taken the boy to buy firearm magazines, tactical gear and army clothing. Pardo allegedly purchased the goods for him in exchange for his babysitting his younger siblings, the affidavit said. On Monday, the boy told his grandmother he was 'going to be famous' before going to school, and he made reference to white supremacist writings, according to authorities. The grandmother searched his bedroom and found loaded magazines, a homemade explosive device that had been labelled with the name of the New Zealand shooter, and a note written by the boy that listed shooters' names and the number of people they killed, the affidavit said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The grandmother contacted the police, who had previously been in touch with the family about the boy's behaviour. Police found 'very disturbing things' in the house where Pardo and her son lived, which were 'an indication to us that we needed to move very quickly,' McManus said. In charging Pardo, authorities said they believed she was 'facilitating' her son's 'desire to carry out his threats' and said she had 'expressed to the school her support' of her son's 'violent expressions.' 'She appeared to be dismissive and unconcerned with her son's behaviour,' McManus told reporters. Gun-control advocates have pushed for parents to be held responsible when children access their guns or they ignore warning signs displayed by their children – and last year, for the first time, two juries in the Michigan cases determined that a shooter's family could bear some fault for an attack. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Jennifer and James Crumbley, the parents of the Oxford High School shooter who killed four students in 2021, were each convicted on involuntary manslaughter charges and sentenced to prison in April 2024. Advocates said then that they hoped the convictions would make other gun-owning parents more careful about locking up their firearms. In September 2024, another father, Colin Gray, was indicted on the most severe charges yet filed against the parent of an alleged school shooter. Gray's son was charged with killing four people in a shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia. Gray was later charged with second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and cruelty to children for allegedly allowing his son to possess an AR-15-style rifle. He has pleaded not guilty. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In another ongoing case, Jeffrey Rupnow, the father of a Wisconsin teen who killed two people at a private school, has been charged for allowing his daughter to access weapons. He was released on a $20,000 bond this week, court records show, and has not entered a plea. Gun-control groups have also pushed for websites to restrict content related to mass shooters that they say can radicalize young people and lead them to become fascinated with violence. Last year, a report by Everytown and Moonshot, a group focused on online threats, found that content glorifying mass shootings is easily accessible on sites such as YouTube and Reddit, and that the content may play a role in radicalizing young people who become interested in attackers and killings. Suplina, of Everytown, recommended parents monitor their children's online activity and ensure they don't have access to weapons. McManus, the police chief, also urged the public to report concerns to law enforcement, saying speaking up can prevent violence. 'Most attackers show warning signs – obsessive interest in past violence, graphic fantasies, weapons stockpiling or violent writings. These signs must be reported,' he said. 'That's exactly what happened on Monday. A family member spoke up, and within hours, law enforcement responded.'
