![\"Safe](\"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Safe-Horizon-Responds-to-Shooting-at-Tree-of-Life-Synagogue-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
October 29,\u00a02018<\/em><\/p>\n On Saturday, a gunman fueled with hatred opened fire on worshippers at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. A toxic mix of anti-Semitism and easy access to high powered weaponry left 11 men and women dead and six others wounded. The wounded included four police officers who responded to the shooting.\u00a0Pittsburgh and the nation are now mourning this senseless loss of life.\u00a0This news comes right after a shooting last Wednesday in Jeffersontown, Kentucky, where a white man filled with racist hatred shot and killed two African Americans in a grocery store.\u00a0The question many are now asking is, what, if anything, can be done to heal our country?<\/p>\n Ariel Zwang, Safe Horizon CEO, reflects: \u201cNow more than ever, Safe Horizon calls for an end to the harmful words that cause fear of racial, ethnic and religious minorities.\u00a0 This includes the need for all Americans, regardless of political views, to call out and condemn those who embrace anti-Semitism and racism, in whatever form it takes. We once again urge lawmakers in Washington to pass common-sense gun safety laws that keep dangerous weapons off of our streets. Especially semi-automatic assault rifles that can cause the greatest amount of harm in the shortest amount of time.\u00a0 Congress must act now to keep our families and communities safe from gun violence<\/a>.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAuthor and criminal justice reformer Bryan Stevenson writes \u2018hopelessness is the enemy of justice.\u2019 Even as we mourn the tragic and senseless loss of life in Pittsburgh and Kentucky, we must remain hopeful that our best days are ahead.\u00a0 Safe Horizon urges all Americans to embrace our diversity and shared humanity, and to work together to build safe<\/em>, stronger communities.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Related Articles:<\/strong><\/p>\n Safe Horizon CEO Ariel Zwang responds to recent gun violence in Pittsburg at the Tree of Life synagogue.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":{"id":6485,"alt_text":"Safe Horizon Responds to Shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue","caption":"","description":"","media_type":"image","media_details":{"width":1200,"height":800,"file":"2018\/10\/Safe-Horizon-Responds-to-Shooting-at-Tree-of-Life-Synagogue.jpg","sizes":{"thumbnail":{"file":"Safe-Horizon-Responds-to-Shooting-at-Tree-of-Life-Synagogue-150x150.jpg","width":150,"height":150,"mime-type":"image\/jpeg","source_url":"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Safe-Horizon-Responds-to-Shooting-at-Tree-of-Life-Synagogue-150x150.jpg"},"medium":{"file":"Safe-Horizon-Responds-to-Shooting-at-Tree-of-Life-Synagogue-300x200.jpg","width":300,"height":200,"mime-type":"image\/jpeg","source_url":"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Safe-Horizon-Responds-to-Shooting-at-Tree-of-Life-Synagogue-300x200.jpg"},"medium_large":{"file":"Safe-Horizon-Responds-to-Shooting-at-Tree-of-Life-Synagogue-768x512.jpg","width":768,"height":512,"mime-type":"image\/jpeg","source_url":"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Safe-Horizon-Responds-to-Shooting-at-Tree-of-Life-Synagogue-768x512.jpg"},"large":{"file":"Safe-Horizon-Responds-to-Shooting-at-Tree-of-Life-Synagogue-1024x683.jpg","width":1024,"height":683,"mime-type":"image\/jpeg","source_url":"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Safe-Horizon-Responds-to-Shooting-at-Tree-of-Life-Synagogue-1024x683.jpg"}},"image_meta":{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0","keywords":[]}},"post":6478,"source_url":"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Safe-Horizon-Responds-to-Shooting-at-Tree-of-Life-Synagogue.jpg"},"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2013],"tags":[294,1093,1089,1091],"class_list":["post-6478","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-statements-and-press-releases","tag-gun-violence","tag-pittsburgh","tag-tree-of-life","tag-tree-of-life-synagogue","issue-gun-violence","issue-victims-of-other-abuse"],"acf":{"page_header_title":"","page_header_excerpt":"","page_header_image":"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/silhouette_hero_image.png","show_author_bio":false,"original_url":"","related_initiative_title":"How do we help survivors of crime?","related_initiative_link":"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/get-help\/victims-of-other-abuse\/","related_initiative_link_text":"Learn about our services","featured_posts":[{"ID":7050,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2020-02-05 20:21:13","post_date_gmt":"2020-02-05 20:21:13","post_content":"\n Safe Horizon operates the NYC Hotline, a 24\/7, 365 day a year number for anyone who has experienced domestic or intimate partner violence,\u202fcrime,\u202fabuse,\u202for sexual assault.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through one phone call, survivors can access direct, supportive counseling and referral to programs and services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our confidential Hotline is staffed by advocates who provide crisis counseling, safety planning, assistance finding domestic violence shelters, and information about resources, with translation services in over 25 languages. An online chat service is also available through the Hotline. \n
Safety starts with a phone call.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n","post_title":"Hotline and Chat","post_excerpt":"Answering the call with personalized support, safety planning, and help accessing resources, including emergency shelter, for all survivors. ","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"hotlines-2","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-05-21 16:44:00","post_modified_gmt":"2025-05-21 20:44:00","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/safehorizondev.wpengine.com\/?page_id=7050","menu_order":0,"post_type":"page","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6363,"post_author":"13","post_date":"2018-10-05 20:50:33","post_date_gmt":"2018-10-05 20:50:33","post_content":"![\"4](\"https:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/4-Things-You-Can-Do-to-Reduce-Gun-Violence_Gun-Violence-Panel-1024x689.jpg\")
\r\n\r\nOctober 5, 2018<\/em>\r\n\r\nEvery day, 96 Americans are killed with guns, and hundreds more are shot and injured, according to Everytown for Gun Violence.<\/a><\/u>\u00a0At Safe Horizon, we support survivors of gun violence and families of homicide victims every day. We recently convened a panel of experts to discuss the gun violence epidemic, and what we can do about it. Here are four key takeaways from the discussion, and four ways you can take action, today!\r\nWhat You Need to Know About Gun Violence<\/h1>\r\n1. The Issue of Gun Violence is so Much More Complex That What We See in the News<\/strong>\r\n\r\n\u201cMass shootings are just a small part of the issue of gun violence, but also the most publicized.\u201d Eric Tirschwell, Everytown for Gun Safety.<\/em>\r\n\r\nGun violence is frequently a symptom of more fundamental injustices, including racism and economic disempowerment. Most gun violence occurs on a much smaller scale than a mass shooting, but it is frequently not random, either. Systemic disinvestment in communities creates environments more conducive to crime, including gun violence. Lack of opportunities and basic resources can lead an individual to do things they wouldn\u2019t otherwise do, to regain a sense of safety and control.\r\n\r\n2. Reducing Gun Violence Involves Thinking Creatively and Compassionately About Resolving Conflict<\/strong>\r\n\r\nAll violence involves conflict, but not all conflict has to involve violence. \u201cPeace does not mean conflict-free. Peace is being able to work through things in ways that don\u2019t endanger you and me.\u201d Tiffany Murray, Save our Streets.<\/em>\r\n\r\n3.\u00a0Race is a Critical Factor in the Way We Do - Or Don't - Understand Who Feels the Impact of Gun Violence, and How<\/strong>\r\n\r\nIn remembering white victims of gun violence, news reports tend to highlight their achievements, their best qualities, and their lost potential. For many victims who are people of color, the news presents a very different narrative. Individually and systemically, their deaths are minimized or even justified by judgments about their decisions or lifestyle, and the result is a dismissal of their humanity. Representation matters and every life lost to gun violence was a whole person with a complex set of experiences, achievements, flaws, and potential.\r\n\r\n4. There Are Important Parallels Between Gun Violence and Other Forms of Violence<\/strong>\r\n\r\nWomen in abusive relationships are 5 times more likely to be killed if there\u2019s a gun in their home, according to research published in the American Journal of Public Health in July 2003.\u00a0<\/a>The mere presence of a gun can also facilitate crimes like assault, trafficking, and robbery. \u201cA gun doesn\u2019t have to be discharged to do harm.\u201d Kimmi Herring, Safe Horizon<\/em>\r\n
What You Can Do About Gun Violence<\/h1>\r\n1. Connect With Organizations and Communities Who Are Already Working to Address Gun Violence<\/strong>\r\n\r\nIt\u2019s not necessary to reinvent the wheel. Many individuals and groups are making great strides. Connect with them, and work to amplify their message.\r\n\r\n2. Engage on a political level: Campaign! Register! Vote!<\/strong>\r\n\r\nThere are unusually high political and legislative barriers to gun reform, many of which cannot be overcome without responsive representation. Voting is an essential piece of the puzzle.\r\n\r\n3. Build New Relationships, and Start in Your Own Community<\/strong>\r\n\r\n\u201cDon\u2019t just speak to the neighbor who speaks to you all the time, speak to the one who doesn\u2019t speak to you. Those are things that change communities and change relationships.\u201d Tiffany Murray, Save Our Streets Bed-Stuy<\/em>\r\n\r\n4. Keep the Conversation Going, Even When You Encounter Barriers<\/strong>\r\n\r\n\u201cTalk to your friends. Talk to family members. Talk to people who don\u2019t necessarily agree with you.\u201d Eric Tirschwell, Everytown for Gun Safety<\/em>\r\n
Support for c<\/strong>rime victims and their loved ones is available through our 24\/7 Crime Victims Hotline: 866-689-HELP(4357). <\/strong><\/a><\/h1>\r\n
Our Community Programs<\/a> work to provide ongoing support to survivors of crime and violence. To schedule an appointment, call our Helpline during business hours (Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.) at 855-234-1042<\/a>. <\/strong><\/h1>\r\nThank you to our panelists!<\/strong><\/em>\r\n\r\nKimmi Herring <\/strong>\r\n\r\nDirector, Brooklyn Community Program, Safe Horizon<\/a><\/u>\r\n\r\nTiffany Murray <\/strong>\r\n\r\nProgram Manager, Save Our Streets Bed-Stuy<\/a><\/u>\r\n\r\nEric Tirschwell <\/strong>\r\n\r\nDirector, Litigation and National Enforcement Policy, Everytown for Gun Safety<\/a><\/u>","post_title":"Four Things You Can Do to Reduce Gun Violence","post_excerpt":"Safe Horizon recently convened a panel of experts to discuss the gun violence epidemic, and what we can do about it. Here are four key takeaways from the discussion, and four ways you can take action, today!","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"gun-violence-panel","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-06-10 13:11:03","post_modified_gmt":"2025-06-10 17:11:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/www.safehorizon.org\/?p=6363","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"title_font_size":"42","sub-headline_placement":false,"custom_scripts":false},"yoast_head":"\n