Dan Semenza
@daniel-semenza.bsky.social
1.9K followers 1.5K following 140 posts
Criminologist | Associate Professor at Rutgers University | Director of Research at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center | Stoneleigh Fellow
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Reposted by Dan Semenza
njgvrc.bsky.social
🎙️ 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.
daniel-semenza.bsky.social
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...
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
daniel-semenza.bsky.social
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)
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
Reposted by Dan Semenza
njgvrc.bsky.social
🚨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
daniel-semenza.bsky.social
🚨 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_...
daniel-semenza.bsky.social
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...
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
daniel-semenza.bsky.social
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.
scholars.org
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...
daniel-semenza.bsky.social
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 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
daniel-semenza.bsky.social
Thanks Daniel, much appreciated!
daniel-semenza.bsky.social
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-...
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
daniel-semenza.bsky.social
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!
daniel-semenza.bsky.social
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...
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
daniel-semenza.bsky.social
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.
daniel-semenza.bsky.social
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.
daniel-semenza.bsky.social
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!
daniel-semenza.bsky.social
A sincere thanks to @scholars.org for helping to get the word out. If you're looking to refine or place an op ed, SSN provides incredible support. You can learn more about their work and become a member on their website.

scholars.org
Home | Scholars Strategy Network
Your one-stop resource for timely and reliable research. Get the expertise you need from our responsive network of America's top experts.
scholars.org
daniel-semenza.bsky.social
Erasure is in the DNA of this administration.

This memorial was meant to serve as a permanent reminder to the ATF about who they are meant to protect every day. Now it's gone from an agency that has completely lost its way.

www.npr.org/2025/05/04/n...
An exhibit honoring victims of gun violence is taken down at ATF headquarters
The Faces of Gun Violence exhibit at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) headquarters showed the portraits of 120 people killed in gun violence in the U.S.
www.npr.org
Reposted by Dan Semenza
katestarbird.bsky.social
Thinking about devastating cuts to NSF: US gov-funded science has been the engine upon which most of the tech wealth was generated. But the oligarchs (currently hoarding much of that $) think it’s their own brilliance & not the accident of standing close to the scientific engine that made them rich.
daniel-semenza.bsky.social
Tiny silver lining to all the terrible cuts to funding and research for violence prevention and public safety: all of what is happening is an acute shock we can use to measure effects before and after.

We can test the impact and understand in detail what we've lost. Evidence as we rebuild.
daniel-semenza.bsky.social
Community violence prevention has been decimated in just the last week by the Trump administration, particularly in places like Philly and throughout my home state of New Jersey in places like Camden, Trenton, Newark, and Patterson. A complete reversal of progress.

www.thetrace.org/2025/05/viol...
Trump's Budget Cuts Reach the Front Lines of Philly's Fight to Reduce Shootings
The Trump administration is yanking funding from several Philadelphia organizations, despite their role in slowing bloodshed.
www.thetrace.org