Bridging the Divide: Firearm Owners and Non-Owners Working Together on a Policy to Promote Health

Bridging the Divide: Firearm Owners and Non-Owners Working Together on a Policy to Promote Health took place on Friday, April 4, 2025.

Gun policy is currently viewed as a highly polarized, highly contentious issue. It is characterized as a zero-sum, winner-take-all game, as opposed to one where everyone benefits. However, there is more common ground on gun policy than people are led to believe, as well as ways to build on existing consensus to reach actionable solutions to gun violence.

Featuring success stories at both the state and federal level, the symposium explored how policymakers, academics, activists, and other stakeholders can help bridge the cultural and political divide to enact lasting and effective gun violence prevention policy.

Together, we can change the contentious, overly simplistic way that gun policy is currently characterized in America.

If You Missed It…

The entire symposium is available on YouTube.

Part 1 of 3

Part 2 of 3

Part 3 of 3


Agenda

Introduction and Keynote

10:00AM – 10:45AM EDT

  • Adam Miller, Co-Founder, 97Percent

  • Staci Miller, Co-Founder, 97Percent

  • Chris Carita, Senior Training Specialist, Law Enforcement Advisor, 97Percent

  • Q&A Moderator: Dr. Michael Siegel, Professor, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine

Panel 1: Translating Gun Policy Research into Action in Congress: A Success Story

10:45AM – 12:00PM

Break: 12:00PM – 12:15PM

Panel 2: Translating Gun Policy Research into Action at the State Level: A Success Story

12:15PM – 1:50PM EDT

  • Alia Harvey Quinn, Founder, FORCE Detroit

  • Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Chief Medical Executive, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

  • Felicia Brabec, Former Michigan State Representative

  • Aghogho Edevbie, Michigan Deputy Secretary of State

  • Q&A Moderator: Dr. Alice Rushforth, Associate Dean for Programs and Partnerships, Tufts University School of Medicine

Break: 1:50PM – 2:00PM

Panel 3: Bridging the Divide Between Gun Owners and Non-Gun Owners: A Game Changer for Gun Violence Prevention Policy Promotion (Part 1)

2:00PM – 3:00PM EDT

  • Michael Dowling, CEO, Northwell Health

  • Michael Dandorph, CEO, Tufts Medicine

  • Dr. Michael Siegel, Professor, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine

  • Q&A Moderator: Dr. Alice Rushforth, Associate Dean for Programs and Partnerships, Tufts University School of Medicine

Break: 3:00PM – 3:10PM EDT

Panel 3: Bridging the Divide Between Gun Owners and Non-Gun Owners: A Game Changer for Gun Violence Prevention Policy Promotion (Part 2)

3:10PM – 4:45PM EDT

  • Dr. Susan Scavo Gallagher, Founding Director of the Children's Safety Network Resource Center

  • Sen. Keturah Herron, Kentucky State Senator

  • Evan Horowitz, Center for State Policy Analysis

  • Dr. Cedric Dark, Emergency Physician, Author of Under the Gun: An ER Doctor’s Cure for America’s Gun Epidemic

  • Q&A Moderator: Dr. Peter Levine, Professor, Tisch College of Civic Life, Tufts University

Conclusion

4:45PM – 5:00PM EDT

  • Dr. Robert Sege, Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics and Director, Center for Community-Engaged Medicine

  • Staci Miller, Co-Founder, 97Percent

Registration

Registration is now open! Click here to register

Contact

If you have questions or require additional assistance, please email info@97percent.us.