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Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 10d

Trump to attend gathering of top generals, upending last-minute plans

This feels ominous. Trump seems to be setting the table to use the U.S. military against American foes. Military leaders will be selected based on their allegiance to Trump and his clan rather than the Constitution.

Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 20d

The crime reductions are not 1-year blips and seem to signal a clear shift towards less crime and violence since 2022.

Jeff Asher @jeffasher.bsky.social · 20d

It's not just murder. The US is on track to have the largest one-year percent drops in reported murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and auto theft this year based on data through July.

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Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 20d

Much to celebrate with huge reductions in all forms of crime. How ironic that under this set of factual conditions Trump and the GOP justify use of the military, masked federal law enforcement gangs and unconstitutional practices to control what they claim is unbearable levels of crime.

Jeff Asher @jeffasher.bsky.social · 20d

It's not just murder. The US is on track to have the largest one-year percent drops in reported murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and auto theft this year based on data through July.

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Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 25d

I thought he only lasted a semester at college and then went to a trade school in Utah where I’m sure there was leftwing electricians brainwashing students.

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Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 25d

Charlie Kirk shooting suspect had criticized activist, officials say

Interesting headline that fits the narrative that political enemies were behind Kirk’s murder. But he is a 22 year-old white Mormon, son to a sheriff, gun enthusiast since he was a boy, no political affiliation or voting record.

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Reposted by Daniel Webster

Matthew Stiegler @matthewstiegler.bsky.social · 26d

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Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · Aug 29

Gun owners, lock up your guns.
I can’t help but wonder about the thousands of guns lost and stolen from licensed gun dealers. How many were sold off the books? How many were stolen by employees who aren’t required to be vetted? It’s signals poor regulation and oversight.

Andrew Morral @andrewmorral.bsky.social · Aug 29

Per a recent ATF report, in 2023 there were 208,184 firearms lost/stolen:
- 188,560 from private citizens
- 9,479 lost by gun dealers
- 5,755 stolen from gun dealers
- 4,390 lost/stolen in shipping

More than 1M between 2019-2023

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Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · Aug 29

Yes, Blue states will have to fill the void left by the Trump Admin. ATF has been neutered and will incapable or unwilling to regulate gun dealers. States must fill this void with necessary legislation, regulation, and enforcement. It won’t fully fill the void because guns flow from Red to Blue.

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · Aug 29

Something blue states will need to explore: how to create cross-state compacts dedicated to a functioning government as the Trump administration walks away from it's responsibilities.

Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · Aug 29

This is good: With Trump/RFK destroying CDC, JB Pritzker's officials are exploring the possibility of buying Covid vaccines from manufacturers and distributing them in-state themselves, source tells me.

Dem govs must step up and fill the void.

New piece from me:
newrepublic.com/article/1998...

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Reposted by Daniel Webster

Madhu Pai, MD, PhD @madhupai.bsky.social · Aug 28

“Kennedy would be less hazardous if he decided to do cardiac surgery. Then he would kill people only one at a time rather than his current ability to kill by the thousands. Why is it that killing a single person is seen as murder but killing masses is excused if you are a politician?”

Dr Bill Foege

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Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · Aug 28

One reason the CDC leadership drew a line in the sand with RFK Jr is the fatal shooting at the CDC campus motivated by RFK jr’s disinformation on vaccines as being “poisonous” and demonization of public health scientists at CDC calling them corrupt.

Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions @jhucgvs.bsky.social · Aug 27

Earlier this month, a gunman fired 500 rounds into CDC HQ, killing an officer.

When leaders stay silent, political violence thrives. Our leaders must say it plainly: political violence is never acceptable.

Op-ed via @drcrifasi.bsky.social & @daniel-webster.bsky.social: thehill.com/opinion/cong...

thehill.com

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Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · Aug 28

Thrilled to see this outcome. This gun dealer was a gross outlier in its sales of untraceable ghost gun kits, mostly cash sales, in Maryland. Teens, prohibited criminals, and traffickers were their market. $62M for evidence-based prevention programs is fair given the harms created. 👏👏

Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions @jhucgvs.bsky.social · Aug 28

Baltimore was awarded $62M in the trial against a ghost gun dealer, for flooding the city with untraceable guns. The funds will support community violence intervention groups.

@daniel-webster.bsky.social, the Center’s Distinguished Scholar, provided expert witness testimony in the trial.

Largest Ever Verdict Dealt Against Gun Dealer Rendered for the City of Baltimore

The trial against Maryland's largest ghost gun dealer concluded tonight in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, with a jury verdict in favor of plaintiffs for $62 million.

mayor.baltimorecity.gov

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Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · Aug 24

To my eye, it looks like Chicago shootings are more than 50% lower than in 2022 peak with no sign that the sharp reduction in shootings is slowing. Still too many shootings plaguing certain communities, but Chicago seems to have effective strategies for curbing shootings without a military invasion.

Jeff Asher @jeffasher.bsky.social · Aug 24

Chicago shootings are down 38% this year. While gun violence remains far too common, it's is at a far lower level so far this year than it has been in quite a while.

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Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · Aug 24

9. Ignore court orders that curtail presidential power
10. Take care of those with the greatest wealth so that they don’t oppose you.

Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · Aug 24

6. Free individuals who used violence on your behalf to overturn a democratic election,
7. Remove federal law enforcement’s ability to investigate or incarcerate said individuals (see 6) for future use of violence on the president’s behalf,l
8. Purge or conceal objective data on govt performance

Ian Bassin @ianbassin.bsky.social · Aug 24

If a president wanted to become effectively a dictator, he’d likely:

1. Purge govt of non loyalists
2. Weaponize law against opponents
3. Use military to police opposition strongholds
4. Threaten media, schools, businesses w penalties to get them to heel
5. Change election rules in his favor.

Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · Aug 24

6. Free individuals who used violence on your behalf to overturn a democratic election,
7. Remove federal law enforcement’s ability to investigate or incarcerate said individuals (see 6) for future use of violence on the president’s behalf,l
8. Purge or conceal objective data on govt performance

Ian Bassin @ianbassin.bsky.social · Aug 24

If a president wanted to become effectively a dictator, he’d likely:

1. Purge govt of non loyalists
2. Weaponize law against opponents
3. Use military to police opposition strongholds
4. Threaten media, schools, businesses w penalties to get them to heel
5. Change election rules in his favor.

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Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · Aug 18

He stole 6 runs with those grabs and the O’s still won 12-0! But Bummer for Gunner Henderson’s stats and rookie Sam Bassallo’s debut.

Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · Aug 17

500 rounds fired by a man who bought the sack of lies widely promoted by RFK Jr - that the Covid vaccine was “poisonous,” that CDC was “corrupt” and lied about vaccines’ harms. The Washington Post wrote some good articles on this. No response from Trump who uses political violence to his advantage.

Jill Sargent Russell, PhD @jsargentr.bsky.social · Aug 17

It was a MAGA irregular paramilitary attack on the CDC.

Erin Kissane @kissane.myatproto.social · Aug 17

It is so wild to me that we had a terrorist attack on the CDC and it just blended into the rest of the political violence.

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Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · Aug 10

Great quotes insights from Duke Prof Jeff Swanson and UMich Prof April Zeoli about the gaps and weaknesses in federal and state gun laws and their enforcement. Police and family knew the Park Ave shooter was a risk to himself and others, had guns but failed to use NV’s ERPO law to prevent gun access

NPR @npr.org · Aug 10

The New York City mass shooter had been diagnosed with multiple mental illnesses and had been the subject of two "mental health holds" in Las Vegas, but none of that limited his legal right to own firearms.

NYC shooter had two 'mental health holds' in Las Vegas. They didn't affect his legal right to own guns

The New York City mass shooter had been diagnosed with multiple mental illnesses and had been the subject of two "mental health holds" in Las Vegas, but none of that limited his legal right to own firearms.

n.pr

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Dave Levitan @davelevitan.bsky.social · Jul 23

They're going to base a repeal of the greenhouse gas endangerment finding on the idea that regulating automakers is "the real harm to human health."

"That is an impossibly grim sentence. It is the federal government’s abandonment of the entire idea of science and expertise taken corporeal form."

The EPA Is A Farce

Splinter is your home for news and opinions that challenge power in our political and economic system that's becoming more unhinged each and every day.

www.splinter.com

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The Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics @jlme-journal.bsky.social · Jul 23

New on FirstView: "Psychiatrists’ Awareness and Use of Voluntary Self-Prohibition as a Firearm Suicide Prevention Tool in Virginia" by Bryan Barks, Shannon Frattaroli, & Paul S. Nestadt of ‪@jhucgvs.bsky.social‬ reviews mental health professional use of VSP and SRO.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Independent Articles
Psychiatrists’ Awareness and Use of Voluntary Self-Prohibition as a
Firearm Suicide Prevention Tool in Virginia
Bryan Barks1, Shannon Frattaroli2 and Paul S. Nestadt3,4
1Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network, Nashville, United States; 2Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore,
United States; 3Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States and 4Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School
of Public Health, Baltimore, United States
Abstract
Background: Voluntary self-prohibition (VSP) is a suicide prevention policy that allows individuals who recognize their risk for suicide to
voluntarily prevent themselves from purchasing firearms through systems requiring background checks. It is unclear whether psychiatrists are
aware of this suicide prevention tool or when to recommend it appropriately.
Aims: To evaluate Virginia psychiatrists’ awareness and use of VSP alongside Substantial Risk Orders (SROs) to inform policy and practice.
Methods: A convenience sample of Virginia psychiatrists was surveyed on knowledge and use of VSP and SRO, including vignettes of patients
at varying risk levels.
Results: Sixty-three psychiatrists completed the survey. Most (66.7%) were unaware of VSP or SRO. After brief education, 74.1% of
respondents chose VSP in the vignette where it was most strongly indicated and 72.2% chose SRO in the vignette where it was most strongly
indicated. After learning about VSP, 83% agreed or strongly agreed that VSP could be a useful tool.
Limitations: The sample was small and did not collect certain information which may have provided additional insight into respondents’
choices.
Conclusion: After brief education, most respondents found VSP potentially useful. Ensuring knowledge of VSP and SRO may improve the
uptake of both policies and suicide prevention efforts.
Keywords: Suicide; Firearms; Lethal Means; Voluntary Self Prohibition; Substantia…

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Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · Jul 23

Important synthesis of research and new data on Stand Your Ground laws. If you pass laws that allow individuals to use deadly force (almost always this means shooting) whenever they feel threatened more people die.

Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting @pcgvr.org · Jul 23

"In stand-your-ground states, homicides involving white shooters and Black victims were ruled justifiable four times more often than when the roles were reversed. In Michigan, that disparity was more than twelvefold."

Stand-your-ground laws linked to higher homicide rates, new report finds • Stateline

Stand-your-ground laws, which are in effect in more than half of U.S. states, are associated with higher homicide rates, increased racial disparities in legal outcomes and broader public costs,…

stateline.org

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Prof Peter Hotez MD PhD DSc(hon) @peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social · Jul 20

From @bakerinstitute.bsky.social and The Immunization Partnership in Texas

www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/seco...

Opinion | Doctors in Elected Office Are Turning Their Backs on Science

Their actions represent political expediency at the expense of public safety

www.medpagetoday.com

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Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · Jul 21

Same here!

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Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions @jhucgvs.bsky.social · Jul 16

The Center, in partnership with the Violence Prevention Project Research Center, has released a comprehensive guide to support the effective implementation of Minnesota’s Extreme Risk Protection Order law.

Read the news release to learn more about the guide: publichealth.jhu.edu/center-for-g...

New Guide Supports Effective Implementation of Minnesota’s Extreme Risk Protection Order Law | Center for Gun Violence Solutions

The Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, in partnership with the Violence Prevention Project Research Center at Hamline University, has released a comprehensive guide to support the effect...

publichealth.jhu.edu

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Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions @jhucgvs.bsky.social · Jul 8

Effective, data-driven interventions that focus on limiting access to lethal means for firearm suicide prevention exist at many levels of intervention: individual, relationship, community, and societal.

Learn more about firearm suicide prevention: publichealth.jhu.edu/sites/defaul...

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Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · Jul 8

Research shows that more detectives results in much better arrest rates of shooters. Juries are reluctant to convict without video footage. People whose loved ones have been shot or who live where shootings are common want to hold shooters accountable. This requires more investigative resources.

alec karakatsanis @equalityalec.bsky.social · Jul 8

Trying to get over yesterday’s NYT article. We have lowest violent crime rates since 1968, fascists building Gestapo/concentration camps, and NYT is telling liberal readers that “experts” can conceive of only “two” policies to stop murder, more cops and Orwellian surveillance.

alec karakatsanis @equalityalec.bsky.social · Jul 7

The thesis of the article is that because American cops are so terrible at solving murder (and getting much much worse than they used to be), "experts" believe the U.S. must spend massively more money on hiring police and surveillance.

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