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Jennifer Longdon, Gun Victim
“I'm not against guns.
I'm against being shot in the back while holding your fiancé's hand in the car."
News pictures of shootings in the USA reach us almost every day.
The issue of guns divides the country.
We spoke to gun advocates and opponents.
With people like Jennifer Longdon.
Drive to the place where Jennifer Longdon's life took forever exactly 18 years ago: a parking lot in front of the "Paradise Valley" shopping center:
Jennifer Longdon, Gun Victim
“We turned up here.
We were going to pull into the driveway up ahead.
We got hit by another truck.
The driver got out and fired three shots - all of a sudden bullets hit.
My fiancé at the time said, "Get down!" Two more shots were fired.
A bullet must have gone through his wrist.
He had his hand up like that.
And that must have been the bullet that entered his brain through his wrist because he slumped over the steering wheel.
Another bullet was fired.
That was the one that hit me in the back.
Right here, under my ribs.
It felt like I was struck by lightning.«
(Emergency call November 15, 2004)
“Hello, this is the emergency call center.
I got shot.
Where on the body is her gunshot wound?
I do not know. I can not move."
Jennifer Longdon, Gun Victim
“I then told this person that my fiance was dead and that I was going to die.
And that you should please tell my son that I love him.«
Since November 15, 2004, Jennifer Longdon has been paraplegic.
Her fiancé at the time, David, survived, but he suffered massive brain damage and now lives in a nursing home.
Jennifer was left alone with her then 12-year-old son.
Jennifer Longdon, Gun Victim
“The night I was shot, my condition was serious.
I almost bled to death.
My heart stopped because of lack of blood, the heart rhythm had to be restored.
My lungs were so damaged I was literally drowning in my own blood.”
She destroyed photos of her life before the shooting, she tells us.
it was too hard to look at her.
For them, the way back to life is a single, sustained effort.
Jennifer Longdon, Gun Victim
“Yeah, it's been really hard getting back to where I am now.
Physiotherapy, personal bankruptcy.
Something that doesn't happen in other countries.
I owed $5 million on medical bills that I accumulated in the first five years after my injury.
That was possible at the time: the health insurance company gave me notice – and I had nothing left.
Last year alone, more than 40,000 people were injured and injured in shootings in the United States. Like Jennifer Longdon, everyone has an individual story to tell. And the statistics on those who didn't survive are alarming.
Because: The number of deaths from firearms has risen steadily in recent years: In 2020, more than 45,000 cases were registered throughout the USA.
In the previous year there were still 14% fewer cases, in 2015 there were 25% and in 2010 even 43% fewer cases.
In the state of Arizona alone, MORE than one person is killed by gun violence every day - the numbers have remained consistently high in recent years.
Why is that?
Maybe because it's so easy to get a gun?
If you want a gun, you'll find it here: According to self-promotion, MMP Guns is one of the largest gun shops in all of Arizona.
There is also lively activity here on Sundays.
Managing Director Byron Vaughn shows us his bestsellers or similar.
Byron Vaughn, Managing Director MMP Guns
“It's a Daniel Defense AR-15.
For target shooting and home defense.
They're AK-47s from a company called Imperial Arms, they're made here in Phoenix."
Reporter
"And what's that?"
Byron Vaughn
"It's a flamethrower.
This is just fun news.
I think it's important to make it clear that everything is fine in responsible hands.«
We want to know how retailers like Byron find out which buyer is actually responsible.
What is necessary to acquire a semi-automatic assault rifle?
Reporter
"Explain to me: what do I have to do if I want to buy this type of weapon?"
As a foreigner, I'm not allowed to buy a gun from Byron, but for all Americans over the age of 18: show ID, fill out a form.
Because it needs a »background check«, a safety check.
Byron Vaughn, Managing Director MMP Guns
"...a few questions about your background then."
Reporter
»Are you the actual acquirer/buyer?
So that's to let you know I'm not buying them..."
Byron Vaughn, General Manager MMP Guns
"for someone else or..."
Reporter
"...for someone crazy?"
Byron Vaughn
"Exactly."
Reporter
»And if you look at me, would you know how my mental state is?
«
Byron Vaughn, General Manager MMP Guns
“Of course anyone can hide something.
But we try our best to get a feel for a person when we talk to them.
Simply through small talk.
There is no specific set of questions that we go through.«
Reporter
"Have you ever had a strange feeling and said: No, I'm not going to sell..."
Byron Vaughn, General Manager MMP Guns
"I turn down at least five sales a day."
Each request goes to the FBI for processing;
If there is no refusal from the authorities within three working days, the goods are sold.
Reporter
»And does it ever happen that the FBI is late with an answer because the agency is so busy?
«
Byron Vaughn, General Manager MMP Guns
“Absolutely, it does happen.
It has happened that we hear from them four or five days or even a month later.
«
Reporter
»And what if it's a refusal?
«
Byron Vaughn, General Manager, MMP Guns
“In that case, we contact the customer to let them know.
The federal police agency then contacts local law enforcement agencies to get the gun back from the customer.”
The applications must be stored after verification by the dealer for periodic inspections.
Byron Vaughn shows us his archive in the storage room:
Byron Vaughn, Managing Director MMP Guns
“We have about 55,000 records here at the moment.
They are all arranged in the boxes by month, chronologically and alphabetically filed here.
This is what the federal police authority ATF demands.«
Reporter
"And how long do you have to keep them here?"
Byron Vaughn, Managing Director MMP Guns
»As long as the business exists.
The federal police authority comes in and looks at every single form from the calendar year.«
However, this warehouse will soon be history: the applications will soon be digitized and the data sets will then be in the cloud.
Here in Arizona the so-called »Constitutional Carry Law« applies. Anyone who has legally purchased a firearm here in the shop may also carry it concealed – without an extra permit. The manager is no exception.
Byron Vaughn, Managing Director MMP Guns
“When I go to the bank to deposit money, I have a gun with me.
When I go to the supermarket on the way home in the evening, I have a gun with me.
Pretty much everywhere I go I carry a gun."
A basic right that is known to be enshrined in the United States Constitution.
The document on which the great debate about gun rights in the United States rests is the so-called "Second Amendment":
"Since a well-regulated militia is necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to own and bear arms, not be violated.”
Despite its brevity, the Second Amendment still leaves room for legal and political interpretation.
The document was written in 1791.
For gun advocates, this text is downright sacred.
Cheryl Todd, Gun Freedom Radio
“Hi everyone, welcome to another episode of Gun Freedom Radio where we engage, educate and inform.
«
Cheryl Todd recording her podcast Gun Freedom Radio.
Guest today: Dianna Muller from Oklahoma.
The former police officer heads the "DC Project" - a platform for women who campaign for gun rights.
Dianna Muller, DC Project / Podcast excerpt
»We have straights, lesbians, LBGTQ.
Black, White, Asian, Latina - it's all there.
The Second Amendment is something of a melting pot.
This is the glue that holds us all together – or should hold us together.«
Cheryl's Topics: Anything to do with guns, politics, and most importantly, 2nd Amendment issues.
In her opinion, the document is being deliberately misunderstood – and she is fighting against it.
We want to know how this document, written 230 years ago, is still relevant.
Cheryl Todd, Founder/Host Gun Freedom Radio
Well, at the heart of our values is freedom to say what you want.
That's the First Amendment.
And the Second Amendment is the part that allows you to protect those things, as well as your only God-given life.
This is timeless.
These core values are timeless.
In addition to her podcast, Cheryl Todd runs a family business with her daughter.
The Pot of Gold auction house is a collector's paradise.
She is also the dedicated FEMALE
face of various gun lobbying groups, including the NRA - which have traditionally been male-dominated.
Cheryl Todd, "Gun Freedom Radio"
"There are many places where women can safely and discreetly carry a gun and still move around normally."
Reporter
Are you armed now?
Cheryl Todd, "Gun Freedom Radio"
"I would never say it - because that's part of the idea of carrying guns concealed.
An enemy might see easy prey: I am a woman of a certain age.
I wear high heels.
I'm not tactically in a position to run, all this. But here in Arizona, where concealed carry is legal, the bad guys have to take that into account, don't they?”
The mother and grandmother prefer to refer to guns as "tools," as was the old-fashioned way in the Wild West.
Reporter
»
How big do you think the problem of gun violence is today?«
Cheryl Todd, "Gun Freedom Radio"
"I find the wording you use to be misleading.
If there is violence, is it more or less harmful when done with that kind of tool or that ideology etc.?
I would rather say that it is well documented that at least two and a half million lives are saved every year because there are people who are responsibly armed.
For whatever reason, this is often left out of the debate.
«
One thing is clear: saving a human life is harder to prove than killing.
Figures for so-called "defensive gun uses" vary widely: estimates range from 100,000 to more than 3 million times that Americans use a gun for self-defense purposes every year. And even for these cases, there is hardly any scientific evidence that gun use has saved lives.
Nevertheless, such numbers are a powerful argument from the point of view of gun advocates.
We drive to the Ben Avery Shooting Range, one of the largest public shooting ranges in the United States.
David Laird is already waiting for us there.
Not only is he the vice president of the Arizona Citizens Defense League, a pro-gun lobby group, but he's also the executive director of a self-defense school and a licensed all-weapons trainer -- all of which he brought to demonstrate for us.
David Laird, Owner of Dynamic Combative Solutions
“The AR is probably the most popular weapon, everyone is talking about it.
The shotgun is the most common domestic defense weapon.
Simple and easy to use.
This is an AK-47."
Reporter
"And what do you use it for?"
David Laird
“This one?
I use that as my truck weapon.”
Reporter
»Truck gun?
What does that mean?"
David Laird, Owner of Dynamic Combative Solutions
“Well, if I'm going to teach or take a long drive, I'll pack it.
Along with my body armor, my bullets and all.
If I'm stuck downtown and there's a riot and I can't drive away and avoid them, I'll definitely bring it home."
David Laird was a former military man, as were his great-great-grandfathers - his family tree tattooed on his arm stretches back to the Mayflower Pilgrim Fathers.
The father of four represents the so-called FASTER program in Arizona: The organization offers training programs for schools on how to deal with school shootings.
The program is already being used at a number of schools in the state of Ohio – here are photos of the training there.
David Laird, Owner of Dynamic Combative Solutions
“I would love for an instructor to learn how to use a firearm as well as I do.
It would be an asset for the protection of the children and for the school - instead of a weak point.«
The FASTER program aims to offer something like standardized certification for schools.
Cost for a three-day basic course that also includes first responder training: around US$1500.
in the state of Arizona, the Arizona Citizens Defense League offers grants and scholarships for the course.
David Laird, Owner of Dynamic Combative Solutions
“I would invite teachers and school staff to train here, but not children or school classes.
We have to be very careful how we train the kids.
You need to practice something different each time.
Not always going through the same door like in a fire drill.
No, you should go through a different door.
Instead of always barricading themselves in the classroom, they should try to barricade themselves in another area as well.
That way everyone stays in the dark.
Nobody can prepare for it.
If we invested as much in actively defending against deadly threats as we do in our fire protection systems, we wouldn't have many of these problems.«
Reporter
'Do you have any proof that this worked?
«
David Laird, Owner of Dynamic Combative Solutions
“Well, there are similar programs, both in churches and in schools, that have been successful.
The majority of active shooters - if you want to call them that, they are actually active killers - most active killers go for so-called soft, easy targets.
They don't want to be caught.
They want a high body count, and they're constantly changing tactics.
Therefore, they will attack places where guns are not allowed. However, they will not go to places that are heavily armed.
This is my theory: the lack of armed, responsible gun owners to stop them is at the root of the rise in violence.”
Children – when it comes to them, the gun violence debate is probably the most passionate.
Last year, 35 so-called school shootings were registered in primary and secondary schools, in which people were killed or injured.
So far this year there have been 47 such cases.
132 people were killed or injured.
In downtown Phoenix we meet some activists who represent the other spectrum of the debate.
Aaron Marquez is a Phoenix school board member and Army veteran.
Laura Terech and Marie Thearle both volunteer for Moms Demand Action - a gun violence prevention organization.
The organization is the most visible lobby group campaigning for stricter gun laws.
Founded after the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, the Anti-Gun Initiative grew into a nationwide movement.
She organizes demos, campaigns - and mobilizes women to put direct pressure on their congressmen. In the meantime, every state has its own association and hundreds of local groups - like the one in Phoenix.
For her, the topic is anything but abstract.
Marie's son only recently experienced a dangerous situation in connection with gun violence, for which his 8th class had already prepared in various exercises.
Griffin Thearle, student, 13
'Someone fired one shot at another at a nearby restaurant and at first he could not be caught.
So the police said we should lock ourselves in.
It was definitely scary.
But I had a plan.
I crouched with a chair behind the piano.
I figured if someone came in I might throw the chair at their legs.
Maybe that would stop them for a moment so they can't kill anyone."
Reporter
"What do you think of this idea of offering some kind of firearms training not only to teachers but also to staff?"
Aaron Marquez, School Board Member
“As a veteran who served twice with the US Army in Afghanistan, I know that in basic training I did weeks of dry-running before we were even allowed to fire live ammunition.
When you train, there is a very safe process.
However, if you expect a school district, or the teachers, or anyone on campus to achieve the same level of education, it compromises their primary mission of educating the children - and they are not committed to that."
Laura Terech, Moms Demand Action Volunteer “
School shootings in schools often involve former or current students.
So what is required of a teacher is that he may have to end the life of one of his students.
No teacher should be put in this position.”
Marie Thearle, Moms Demand Action Volunteer “
We all want our children to be safe.
The differences of opinion lie in how best to achieve this.
As for me, I have a medical degree.
I believe in statistics.
I'd like to stick to evidence.
And more guns just means more shootings.”
Back to Jennifer Longdon.
Today she leads the political fight against gun violence in Arizona.
As deputy chairwoman of the House of Representatives, she took her case to the US Congress:
'Thank you for this opportunity to be heard.
I had a hard time deciding what to tell you about gun violence.
They have enough statistics and reports in their offices.
But none of them led to any action on their part.
Just as little as the hundreds and thousands of personal reports from those affected.«
Jennifer Longdon is not giving up hope of bringing about change despite political opposition in her own state:
Jennifer Longdon, Member of the Arizona House of Representatives
“Not only will I introduce the bills that I've been trying to introduce so far, I'll expand my portfolio, for example: if you own guns, keep them safe in a gun safe.
You can't just leave them lying around at home.
It's such simple solutions that some of my Republican colleagues fight because they insist on the Second Amendment.
Namely the part that says "shall not be hurt."
And I like to point them to the part that says "well ordered."
And again, I am not anti-gun.
I just want to make sure we have responsible gun ownership."