ARM IN ARM

EDUCATING THE PUBLIC: ARM-IN-ARM DOES ORIGINAL RESEARCH, DATA COLLECTION, TELLS THE PERSONAL STORIES BEHIND THE DATA, SHARES EVENT AND ISSUE INFORMATION IN ORDER TO RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF SC GUN VIOLENCE ISSUES AND REMEDIES. INFORMATION SHARING IS ACCOMPLISHED ACROSS A VARIETY OF PLATFORMS ON SOCIAL AND TRADITIONAL MEDIA. BEGINNING IN MARCH 2020, DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, ARM-IN-ARM TRANSITIONED ITS LIVE IN PERSON COMMUNCATION EVENTS TO THE ZOOM PLATFORM.EXPANDING THE CONVERSATION: DURING 2020 IMPORTANT RELATED ISSUES TO GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION EMERGED, ASSOCIATED WITH THE PANDEMIC AND SOCIAL JUSTICE CONCERNS. ARM-IN-ARM IMPLEMENTED A PROGRAM TO EXPAND THE CONVERSATION ACROSS ALL PLATFORMS OF COMMUNICATION ON SPECICS SUCH AS: THE PANDEMIC IMPACT ON MENTAL HEALTH AND REARM SAFETY; PANDEMIC IMPACT ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION; PANDEMIC IMPACT ON FAMILY AND INDIVIDUAL STRESS AND SUICIDE PREVENTION; RACIAL EQUITY AND GUN POLICY; RACIAL EQUITY AND BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS WITH POLICE AND OUR NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES; RACIAL EQUITY AND GUN OWNERSHIP; RACIAL EQUITY AND ASSESSING ORGANIZATIONAL STRENGTH.INCREASING THE SHARING OF INFORMATION: 2020 HAS REQUIRED ARM-IN-ARM TO BE INNOVATIVE AND EXIBLE WITH ITS METHODS OF COMMUNICATION. WE INCREASED THE VARIETY OF PLATFORMS AND MEDIA PRODUCTS AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC TO ACCESS INFORMATION ON GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION. BELOW SPECIC PROJECTS WILL BE DESCRIBED. EACH OF THESE PROJECTS HAD AN IMPACT ON OUR 2020 INNOVATIONS: CREATING ISSUE SPECIC VIDEOS; STARTING A YOU-TUBE CHANNEL; TAKING LIVE SUMMITS AND DISCUSSIONS ONTO ZOOM; VARYING THE TIMING TO INCLUDE: LUNCH AND LEARN, AS WELL AS, "COCKTAIL HOUR" TYPE EVENTS TO ACCOMMODATE MORE PEOPLE AND VARIED LIFESTYLES.PUBLISH THE BLUE RIBBON REPORT: ARM-IN-ARM PRODUCED THE 2020 BLUE RIBBON REPORT ENTITLED: GUN VIOLENCE IN SC: KEEPING OUR CHILDREN SAFE. THIS DIGITAL PUBLICATION RAISED AWARENESS OF SOUTH CAROLINA SPECIC GUN VIOLENCE ISSUES AND REMEDIES. IT PROVIDES DATA AND RESEARCH, AS WELL AS, THE HEADLINES AND STORIES BEHIND THE DATA. THE EXPANDED 2020 REPORT INCLUDED VIDEOS AND POWER POINT PRESENTATIONS EMBEDDED IN THE PUBLICATION. THE 2020 EDITION (AS WAS THE ORIGINAL 2019 PUBLICATION) WAS WRITTEN IN AN EASY TO READ FORMAT. THIS YEAR THE REPORT HAD AN EXPANDED AUDIENCE BEYOND THE SC LEGISLATURE, SC GOVERNOR AND THE SC COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN TO INCLUDED THE GENERAL PUBLIC.ACTION ALERTS: OUR LEGISLATIVE AND COMMUNICATION TEAMS MONITOR GUN VIOLENCE POLICY ISSUES DAILY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THIS SUSTAINED EORT RESULTS IN THE ARM-IN-ARM ACTION ALERT SYSTEM WHICH CONTINUES TO INFORM AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATION, AS WELL AS , OTHER RELEVANT NON-LEGISLATIVE GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION ISSUES.PARTNERS AND COLLABORATIONS IN ACTION: ARM-IN-ARM IS BUILDING COLLABORATIONS WITH ORGANIZATIONS TO INCREASE THE IMPACT OF GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION INITIATIVES AND POLICIES. THESE RELATIONSHIPS INCLUDE LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS; FAITH CONGREGATIONS; DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION GROUPS, SAFE SCHOOLS PROJECTS, PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEES, MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE PREVENTION SERVICES, GUN OWNER/HUNTER GROUPS, NON-PARTISAN VOTER REGISTRATION INITIATIVES. OUR COLLABORATION WITH THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON REINFORCES ARM-IN-ARM'S SUSTAINED COMMITMENT TO LISTEN AND LEARN FROM STUDENTS AS WELL AS SUPPORT THEIR LEADERSHIP ON GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION ISSUES. THE SOUTH CAROLINA COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN ONCE AGAIN INVITED ARM-IN-ARM TO PRESENT TESTIMONY TO THEM ON GUN VIOLENCE PREVENT. THIS YEAR (2020) THEY ASKED US TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL, COMMENTARY ON THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC ON GUN VIOLENCE.IN HOME CONVERSATIONS: ARM-IN-ARM HAS CONNECTED WITH INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS THROUGHOUT SOUTH CAROLINA TO RAISE AWARENESS OF GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION ISSUES AND REMEDIES BY UTILIZING DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY. OUR ZOOM EVENTS ENABLED PEOPLE STATE WIDE FROM THEIR HOMES TO CUSTOMIZE THEIR EVENT. INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO INVITE THEIR OWN GUESTS; OFTEN AT A DAY AND TIME THAT IS CONVENIENT FOR THEM. USING THESE IN-HOME CONVERSATIONS WE ARE BUILDING OUR ARMY OF SUPPORT.FAITH CONGREGATION OUTREACH: IN COLLABORATION WITH THE LOW COUNTRY FAITH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, ARM-IN-ARM HAS CONTINUED TO EXPAND OUR FAITH COALITION BUILDING EORTS. THROUGH WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY, CONGREGATIONS EXPLORE HOW FAITH CAN ENABLE GROUPS OF PEOPLE TO BUILD TRUST AND PROBLEM SOLVE THE DICULT ISSUES OF GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION IN A SAFE AND RESPECTFUL MANNER. THESE BIBLE STUDY CONVERSATIONS HAVE EXPANDED IN 2020 TO INCLUDE RACIAL EQUITY DISCUSSIONS. ARM-IN-ARM BOARD LIAISONS HELP LEAD THESE DISCUSSIONS AND PROVIDE GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION DATA AND POLICY INFORMATION AS APPROPRIATE.PUBLIC HEALTH OUTREACH: THE ARM-IN-ARM PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE HAS DONE UNIQUE RESEARCH AND PARTNERED WITH OTHER MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO RAISE AWARENESS OF GUN VIOLENCE ISSUES AND REMEDIES. THEIR EXPERTISE HAS BEEN EXPRESSED THROUGH COMMUNITY FORUMS, PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS AND EVENTS. THEY HAVE TAILORED INFORMATION SHARING TO NON-MEDICAL AUDIENCES TOO; PROVIDING CONSISTENT COMMUNICATION THROUGH LETTERS IN NEWSPAPERS, OPED'S AND SOCIAL MEDIA BLOGS AND MORE. THIS COMMITTEE HAS ADDRESSED, GUN SAFETY, SUICIDE PREVENTION, LEGISLATIVE POLICY TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE, COMMUNITY BASED GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION, AND RACIAL EQUITY ISSUES. ALL WHILE MANY OF ITS MEMBERS WERE ACTIVELY DEALING WITH TREATING GUN SHOT WOUNDS, SUICIDE ISSUES AND COVID -19.GUN OWNER OUTREACH: WE CREATED THE GUN OWNERSHIP SUMMITS WHICH ASSEMBLED LAW ENFORCEMENT AND GUN OWNERS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND BUILD SUPPORT FOR A SC UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECK BILL. THESE"LISTENING SESSIONS" WITH GUN OWNERS CONTINUED IN 2020 VIA ZOOM. IMPORTANTLY, THEY GIVE VOICE TO GUN OWNERS AND BUILD A CONSENSUS FOR PREVENTATIVE LEGISLATIVE AND NON-LEGISLATIVE REMEDIES TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE.COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD: IN 2019, WE LAUNCHED OUR COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD WITH HONORARY CHAIR, FORMER MAYOR JOE RILEY. THE CAB CONTINUES TO PLAY A KEY ROLE IN LINKING ARM-IN-ARM TO CONCERNED CITIZENS IN THE COMMUNITY. THEIR EORTS FACILITATE A CONTINUOUS CONVERSATION FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY CONCERNS, IDEA SHARING AND RAISING AWARENESS ON THE ISSUE OF GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION.ELECTION ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT: 2020 WAS AN ELECTION YEAR. ARM-IN-ARM WAS THE ONLY SC GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION ORGANIZATION TO ENGAGE SC CANDIDATES ON THEIR GUN POLICY POSITIONS. WE CREATED A SIMPLE TWO QUESTION NON-PARTISAN YES/NO SURVEY. OVER 50 VOLUNTEERS MADE HUNDREDS OF CONTACTS WITH CANDIDATES TO SOLICIT THEIR RESPONSES. THEN ARM-IN-ARM PUBLISHED THE RESPONSES, BEFORE THE NOVEMBER ELECTION, ON SOCIAL MEDIA, ONLINE, AND IN SIX REGIONAL SC NEWS PAPERS. THE EAP ACCOMPLISHED ITS GOALS: RAISE AWARENESS WITH VOTERS OF CANDIDATE POLICY POSITIONS; RAISE AWARENESS WITH CANDIDATES THAT THEIR GUN POLICY POSITIONS ARE A CONCERN OF VOTERS; BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND CONVERSATIONS WITH CANDIDATES OF ALL PARTIES REGARDING GUN SAFETY AND GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION.STOP OPEN CARRY PROJECT: ARM-IN-ARM HAS TAKEN THE LEAD TO STOP THE PASSAGE OF OPEN CARRY LEGISLATION IN SC SINCE 2017. EVERY LEGISLATIVE SESSION WE PREPARE AND IMPLEMENT PLANS TO STOP THIS DANGEROUS LEGISLATION. EACH YEAR WE HAVE EXPANDED OUR STATE-WIDE COLLABORATION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, BUSINESS LEADERS, CLERGY, GUN OWNERS, VETERANS AND FOLKS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE. OPEN CARRY WOULD ENDANGER OUR CHILDREN, FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.GUN SAFETY PROJECT: ARM-IN-ARM HAS BEEN COLLABORATING WITH CHARLESTON POLICE CHIEF REYNOLDS TO ADDRESS THE NEED TO FOCUS ON GUN SAFETY. HIS CONCERN IS TWO FOLD: UNSECURED REARMS AND UNLOCKED VEHICLES HAVE LED TO A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN STOLEN REARMS( WHICH INVARIABLE ARE USED IN CRIME). UNSECURED REARMS ARE A KEY FACTOR IN UNINTENTIONAL USE EVENTS THAT CAN LED TO INJURY AND FATALITIES. ARM-IN-ARM HAS COLLABORATED WITH A MEDIA COMPANY TO PRODUCE A SAFETY PSA VIDEO AND VOICE OVER. CHIEF REYNOLDS HAS ENDORSED THE PSA'S. MOVING FORWARD WE WILL EXPAND OUR 2020 FREQUENT SOCIAL MEDIA AND PRINT MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS ON GUN SAFETY TO INCLUDE THE VIDEO PSA AND OTHER TOOLS TO IMPACT THIS ISSUE.SUICIDE PREVENTION PROJECT: ARM-IN-ARM THROUGH THE EXPERTISE OF OUR PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE HAS SHARED INFORMATION WITH OTHER MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND THE PUBLIC ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GUNS AND SUICIDE. A KEY TO SUICIDE PREVENTION IS LIMITING ACCESS TO LETHAL MEANS WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL IS AT RISK OF AN IMPULSIVE ACT. IN ORDER TO HAVE A GREATER IMPACT ON SUICIDE PREVENTION AND ITS LINK TO GUNS, ARM-IN-ARM HAS BUILT A WORKING GROUP INCLUDING CHARLESTON NAMI (NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS), THE GUN SHOP PROJECT (A CONSORTIUM OF GUN OWNERS, GUN SHOPS AND EDUCATORS THAT HAVE AGREED TO SHARE THEIR TOOLS WITH US THAT FOCUS ON SUICIDE PREVENTION); MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND OTHERS TO CREATE AND IMPLEMENT A SUSTAINED SUICIDE PREVENTION CAMPAIGN.