In Their Own Words: Talking to Gun Violence Survivors

For those who have been directly affected by the gun violence epidemic, the deepest wounds are often the ones we cannot see or understand. Creating a supportive and compassionate environment for gun violence survivors and family members of gun violence victims can therefore be difficult, and when done incorrectly, may force a survivor into reliving trauma or reopening scars they are not ready to share. The Center for American Progress is centering the experiences of survivors in this video to shed light on the invisible harms of gun violence; provide guidance to those seeking to offer comfort; and share survivors’ wisdom on how we can create space for, listen to, and support survivors of gun violence.