Resources

Gun violence has emotional, medical, financial, and legal consequences for individuals and communities. This page offers basic resources and information to help victims and survivors of gun violence. This list is not comprehensive and there may be other resources available to you in your community.

Emotional Support for Survivors

Trauma and Gun Violence

Provides basic information about: the signs and symptoms of emotional and physical trauma, ways to cope with the consequences of trauma and to avoid retraumatization.

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Coping with Traumatic Grief

Here is some information aimed at helping survivors understand how grief after a trauma is different than grief that is anticipated, how to cope with complicated grief and, the recovery process.

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Acute Stress and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

In the aftermath of a shooting, some survivors experience acute stress disorder or post traumatic stress disorder. Here is general information about these disorders, including tips for recognizing the signs and symptoms and effective coping strategies.

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Children's Responses to Trauma

Provides information for parents and adults about how to support children and teens who have experienced a shooting or are upset by images of gun violence.

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Taking Care of Yourself

Provides information about the importance of self care for gun violence survivors, including guidance on how to develop a self care plan.

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Legal

Navigating the Criminal Justice System

Many survivors have never experienced the criminal justice system and learn quickly that legal case processing is complicated. Understanding how different system agencies work and interact with one another may help survivors to navigate what lies ahead of them.

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Financial Support

Crime Victim Compensation

The Crime Victims’ Compensation (CVC) Program helps crime victims and their immediate families with the financial costs of crime. CVC covers crime-related costs such as counseling, medical treatment, funerals, and loss of income not paid by other sources. Here is general information about the CVC program and eligibility, as well as links to each state crime victims compensation program.

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Finding Help

There are many organizations that provide emotional support and assistance to individuals experiencing the effects of a trauma. While Everytown for Gun Safety does not endorse any particular organization, these agencies may be able to help in a crisis, or connect individuals to area community resources.

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Research

A Nation of Survivors: The Toll of Gun Violence in America

Everytown for Gun Safety’s new report reveals that the majority of Americans or someone they care for have experienced gun violence in their lifetime. Newly compiled research on the health and economic impacts of gun violence, coupled with stories from Americans of all backgrounds, show that we are a nation of survivors. To learn more about the impact of gun violence in America, check out our latest report.

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Deciding to Share Your Story

Survivors of gun violence can talk about the issue of gun violence with unique lived experience. The voices, faces, and stories of survivors of gun violence are critical to creating lasting social and legislative change — and social media and other platforms can help amplify survivors’ voices in powerful ways. Sharing your story is your choice, and you should make informed decisions about whether and how you do it. This page is meant to be a resource to you as you evaluate whether you want to share your story with the public.

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DISCLAIMER. This information does not and cannot constitute or substitute medical, financial or legal advice. Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund is an organization dedicated to educating and bringing awareness around the issue of gun violence prevention, and does not provide advice. These resources merely provide general information and coping tips. More importantly, mental health conditions, financial situations and legal issues are complex, people differ widely in their conditions and responses, and interactions with other conditions and treatments are best evaluated by a physical examination and consultation with a qualified clinician. Everytown suggests that this page is a good starting point to discuss potential needs with a professional.