Dan Semenza
@daniel-semenza.bsky.social
Criminologist | Associate Professor at Rutgers University | Director of Research at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center | Stoneleigh Fellow
Psychology
42%
Political science
18%
At minimum, we must reckon honestly with whether our current interpretation of the Second Amendment promotes safety and equality, or whether it undermines both.
Equal rights under the Constitution require restraint, accountability, and consistency, not political rhetoric. If a constitutional right cannot be safely exercised without risking death at the hands of the state, we should ask whether it is functioning as a protection at all.
The killings of both legally armed men make clear that when the Second Amendment is conditional, selectively enforced, and overridden by fear, it fails the very people it claims to protect.
When lawful gun possession can be reframed as an inherent threat sufficient to justify killing someone, the Second Amendment ceases to protect life or liberty and instead becomes a rationale for escalation.
This should trouble everyone, regardless of political ideology or views on gun policy. A constitutional right that becomes a liability the moment it is exercised, particularly during encounters with law enforcement, is not being applied equally.
Like Castile, Pretti was legally licensed to carry a firearm. Like Castile, he did not brandish his weapon or threaten law enforcement. And like Castile, the mere presence of a lawful firearm was treated as justification for lethal force after the fact.
I see disturbing parallels between the killings of Alex Pretti and Philando Castile nearly a decade ago, both in Minnesota. When considered together, these deaths should force us to confront a difficult truth: the Second Amendment is not applied equally to all Americans.
Dan Semenza
@daniel-semenza.bsky.social
· Oct 24
Racial Disparities in Victim Compensation Among Homicide Survivors in the United States - Daniel C. Semenza, Jeremy Levine, Tanya Sharpe, Kimberly Burke, Brielle Savage, 2025
This study investigates racial disparities in victim compensation among families of homicide victims across 18 U.S. states from 2015 to 2023. Using individual-l...
journals.sagepub.com
New today in Race and Justice: Families of Black homicide victims file the most victim compensation claims but are approved less often. Disparities largely due to “contributory misconduct,” a discretionary and often biased rule.
📰 Read the full study here:
journals.sagepub.com/eprint/ZNHMK...
📰 Read the full study here:
journals.sagepub.com/eprint/ZNHMK...
Reposted by Daniel C. Semenza
🎙️ Hear from @daniel-semenza.bsky.social, director of research at the #NJGVRC, NEW Vlog/Blog on:
The ripple effects of gun violence exposure — and how it impacts mental, physical, and behavioral health.
👂📖 ➡️ ow.ly/9GO750X0jZq
What does “violence exposure” really mean?
Take a moment to listen.
The ripple effects of gun violence exposure — and how it impacts mental, physical, and behavioral health.
👂📖 ➡️ ow.ly/9GO750X0jZq
What does “violence exposure” really mean?
Take a moment to listen.
Dan Semenza
@daniel-semenza.bsky.social
· Sep 10
Vital City | The 80/20 Rule of Gun Supply
Why focusing on the small fraction of problem dealers offers the clearest path to reducing violence
www.vitalcitynyc.org
When it comes to dealing with illegal guns in the US, the Pareto Principle reminds us that the vast majority are supplied by a small number of bad dealers. So what can we do? Find out in my new @vitalcitynyc.bsky.social piece, out today in a brand new issue.
www.vitalcitynyc.org/articles/the...
www.vitalcitynyc.org/articles/the...
Dan Semenza
@daniel-semenza.bsky.social
· Aug 27
USERN Prize 2025, Evaluation of Top 10 Candidates (Public Votes)
USERN has been established with the noble purpose of the expansion of science and elimination of borders that used to strictly divide knowledge into different majors and fields. In order to serve this...
docs.google.com
Honored to be named a top-10 finalist for the USERN Prize in Social Sciences for my work on gun violence prevention 🌍
If you have 2 minutes, I’d be grateful for your support:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
📄(Select Social Sciences → my name → give a “5” → submit)
If you have 2 minutes, I’d be grateful for your support:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
📄(Select Social Sciences → my name → give a “5” → submit)
Early Life Violent Victimisation and Dental Care Use From Adolescence Through Adulthood
Objectives This study examined the relationship between early-life violent victimisation and dental care utilisation patterns from adolescence to middle adulthood (ages 11–43). Methods Data were f...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
New paper out today led by @testaalex.bsky.social. We use all 5 waves of Add Health to show that early violent victimization is linked to long-term gaps in dental care.
Violence early in life shapes our health trajectories for decades.
🦷 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Violence early in life shapes our health trajectories for decades.
🦷 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Dan Semenza
@daniel-semenza.bsky.social
· Jul 30
🚨 Our GVRC FY26 RFP is now live!
Up to $1M in funding across 3 tracks for gun violence prevention research.
Faculty, postdocs, and students at U.S. universities are eligible.
Due Sept 1.
📄 gunviolenceresearchcenter.rutgers.edu/FY26RFP
🔗 Apply: rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Up to $1M in funding across 3 tracks for gun violence prevention research.
Faculty, postdocs, and students at U.S. universities are eligible.
Due Sept 1.
📄 gunviolenceresearchcenter.rutgers.edu/FY26RFP
🔗 Apply: rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Reposted by Daniel C. Semenza
🚨New Research 📝 from #NJGVRC
📚 “Local Homicides Increase Suicide in U.S. Counties”
Lead author: @daniel-semenza.bsky.social
Co-PIs: @mikeanestis.bsky.social & Dr. Kimberly Burke
Local homicide spikes linked to rising suicides—underscoring the toll of community violence.
📚 Read 🔗 ow.ly/xVmT50Wxo6O
📚 “Local Homicides Increase Suicide in U.S. Counties”
Lead author: @daniel-semenza.bsky.social
Co-PIs: @mikeanestis.bsky.social & Dr. Kimberly Burke
Local homicide spikes linked to rising suicides—underscoring the toll of community violence.
📚 Read 🔗 ow.ly/xVmT50Wxo6O
Dan Semenza
@daniel-semenza.bsky.social
· Jul 29
Local homicides increase suicide in US counties
Suicide remains a leading cause of death in the United States, with rates rising over the past two decades. While research suggests an association bet…
www.sciencedirect.com
New paper out today in Social Science & Medicine:
Higher homicide rates → higher suicide rates the next year, especially with firearms.
50 years of U.S. county data + quasi experimental design.
Biggest impacts in rural & White communities.
🔗 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Higher homicide rates → higher suicide rates the next year, especially with firearms.
50 years of U.S. county data + quasi experimental design.
Biggest impacts in rural & White communities.
🔗 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Daniel Webster, Daniel C. Semenza
John Roman
@johnkroman.bsky.social
· May 13
Explaining the COVID Violence Spike and the Roaring Crime Decline
Four Reasons for the Historic Beginning to the 2020s
open.substack.com
Crime in America spiked with the COVID-19 pandemic, then plummeted. Here are four reasons why. open.substack.com/pub/johnkrom...
Dan Semenza
@daniel-semenza.bsky.social
· Jul 15
Gun violence rates are down across the U.S. In our latest No Jargon podcast episode, @daniel-semenza.bsky.social explains what's working to keep these rates down and what we stand to lose as federal support for violence prevention is rolled back. #GunPolicy
🎧 Listen. ⤵️
scholars.org/podcast/real...
🎧 Listen. ⤵️
scholars.org/podcast/real...
Really enjoyed being a guest on the No Jargon podcast w/ @scholars.org to talk about the recent declines in gun violence - and what we need to do to make sure that progress continues.
Click below or check it out wherever you listen to podcasts.
Click below or check it out wherever you listen to podcasts.
Reposted by Daniel C. Semenza
Scholars Strategy Network
@scholars.org
· Jul 15
Gun violence rates are down across the U.S. In our latest No Jargon podcast episode, @daniel-semenza.bsky.social explains what's working to keep these rates down and what we stand to lose as federal support for violence prevention is rolled back. #GunPolicy
🎧 Listen. ⤵️
scholars.org/podcast/real...
🎧 Listen. ⤵️
scholars.org/podcast/real...
Trump administration targets ATF, with plans to cut jobs and ease gun restrictions
DOGE staffers have been working on changes at the ATF that would roll back dozens of gun restrictions. The DOJ wants to downsize the agency — a move some fear will hinder criminal investigations.
www.npr.org
Less ATF funding = fewer inspectors for firearm dealers = more risk for guns to get into the wrong hands. It's not rocket science.
Trump's DOJ cuts to the ATF have nothing to do with keeping Americans safer or being tough on crime - it's pure politics.
www.npr.org/2025/07/02/n...
Trump's DOJ cuts to the ATF have nothing to do with keeping Americans safer or being tough on crime - it's pure politics.
www.npr.org/2025/07/02/n...
Thanks Daniel, much appreciated!
Major Gun Violence Research Hub Escapes Crippling Funding Cuts
New Jersey lawmakers decided against slashing the state research center’s budget, a move that provides stability to the field amid shaky federal support.
www.thetrace.org
It's official: New Jersey lawmakers REJECTED a $1 million cut to the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center and the budget approved by the state includes full funding for our center this year. Some welcome good news after so much bad. 🎉 🎉 🎉
www.thetrace.org/2025/07/new-...
www.thetrace.org/2025/07/new-...
Dan Semenza
@daniel-semenza.bsky.social
· Jun 26
Doing a final recruitment push to work with teenagers in New Jersey and learn about their exposure to gun violence on and off social media. Total compensation is up to $200 - please share with your networks!
Dan Semenza
@daniel-semenza.bsky.social
· Jun 25
Violence intervention programs reel from Trump funding cuts | NJ Spotlight News
Some violence intervention programs, including in NJ, have had layoffs or ended services after grant funding was abruptly canceled.
www.njspotlightnews.org
Spoke with @njspotlightnews.org about the massive funding cuts to violence intervention programs here in NJ and across the country. Gun violence is down, but the recent historic gains won't hold if we dismantle all of the systems that made them possible.
www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/06/trum...
www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/06/trum...
Dan Semenza
@daniel-semenza.bsky.social
· Jun 25
It is HOT🔥And with the heat comes greater risk for violence, especially shootings in cities.
I'll be talking about heat and gun violence TODAY at 6:40pm EST on The Weather Channel, including why violence rises with the temperature and most importantly, what we can do about it.
I'll be talking about heat and gun violence TODAY at 6:40pm EST on The Weather Channel, including why violence rises with the temperature and most importantly, what we can do about it.
Reposted by John Roman
Dan Semenza
@daniel-semenza.bsky.social
· May 16
It's really important to share good news right now. According to the Real-Time Crime Index and @jeffasher.bsky.social, murders are down nearly 22% across the country. That's a big deal and we should continue fighting to keep progress going.
Dan Semenza
@daniel-semenza.bsky.social
· May 13
If you're planning to submit an abstract to join us in Tempe this year, consider attending the webinar on 5/21 or office hours this spring to help develop your abstract!
Reposted by Daniel C. Semenza
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America’s Safety Is Fragile; Trump Is Tearing Down the Systems That Protect It | Common Dreams
The systems that protect our lives and our communities were built through years of tireless effort. They can’t be allowed to collapse overnight.
www.commondreams.org
The systems that have made America safer are under attack.
My new op-ed in @commondreams.org explains why we can’t stay quiet as the Trump admin rapidly dismantles much of our violence prevention + public safety infrastructure. We can't go backward.
www.commondreams.org/opinion/trum...
My new op-ed in @commondreams.org explains why we can’t stay quiet as the Trump admin rapidly dismantles much of our violence prevention + public safety infrastructure. We can't go backward.
www.commondreams.org/opinion/trum...