Keeping Guns Out Of Unsafe Hands
WELCOME TO SAFER COUNTRY!
“Since 2020, gunfire has been the leading cause of death for children and teens. Inspired by personal tragedy, I am committed to making meaningful and measurable progress to prevent more lives from being lost and families damaged.”
— Founder/President/ Executive Director Paul A. Friedman, JD
In connection with Gun Violence Prevention Awareness Month (June), Safer Country, sponsored an Alexandria Aces game on Sunday, June 7 at Frank Mann Field. Photos are on our Facebook page.
On Tuesday, June 16, Paul Friedman was in Richmond for Governor Abigail Spanberger’s Celebration of Legislation to Keep Virginia Communities Safe in the Patrick Henry Building. Her guest speakers were Peter Read, The Hon. Antoinette Irving, Sheriff of the City of Richmond, Ms. January Serda, Dr. Jessica Burgess, and Secretary Stanley Meador.
Pictured with Paul Friedman are, from top left to right and again from left to right, Lori Haas, Advocacy Manager/Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, Senator Jennifer Boysco, Delegate Rip Sullivan, Board Member Andy Goddard, Senator Saddam Salim, Delegate Adele McClure, Senator Elizabeth Bennett-Parker, Senator Russet Perry, and Governor Abigail Spanberger.
21 Bills – 15 Laws
SAFER COUNTRY IS TAKING LEGISLATIVE ACION TO ADDRESS THE MURDER-SUICIDE BY VA’s FORMER LT. GOVERNOR
The murder of Cerina Fairfax by her husband and former Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax could have been prevented. Had Virginia’s Red Flag law — the emergency substantial risk order — been invoked, Cerina’s life could have been saved since it was known that Justin had a gun and there were a number of other obvious red flags.
We must do better. Safer Country has been working to prevent these types of gun tragedies and is committed to raise public awareness about this law. That is visible below. There are lives in the balance.
Now we are going beyond public awareness to advocate for a Virginia law that would require prosecutors, police, judges, and lawyers with credible knowledge of a person who is a danger to themselves and/or others to seek a substantial risk order, commonly called an SRO. It’s based upon a New York law. As well, an SRO should automatically be issued in cases of contested divorces and custody cases.
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SAFER COUNTRY NEWS
I appreciate your efforts on the Red Flag law… The goal is to keep this program top of mind for residents to keep our community safe. Thank you again for your advocacy.
Sincerely,
Jeff
Jeffrey C. McKay
Chairman
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
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Leana Paradkar, who is in 10th grade at Rock Ridge High School in Loudoun County, has become our first Student Advocate.
Safer Country will support Rock Ridge’s Safer Country club by providing guidance and assistance on club projects.
Breaking News: Raj Paradkar will be holding a fundraiser for Safer Country very soon. One of the speakers will be State Senator Kannan Srinivasan (VA-26). Click here to join as a sponsor now.
Our 2026 Agenda Highlights
1) Taking legislative action, as described above, to reduce the number of murder/suicides in Virginia and, eventually, all 50 states. The Violence Policy Center’s 2026 report estimated there are nine murder/suicides a week in our nation.
2) Improving and expanding our successful “Prevent A Gun Tragedy-SPEAK UP! Red Flag law public awareness campaign in Fairfax County and bringing it to the entire Commonwealth of Virginia.
3) Promoting the passage of the RIFL Act, which has been proposed in Illinois to hold gun manufacturers accountable.
4) Promoting the passage of a law to bar guns from people convicted of a misdemeanor hate crime to reduce hate-based and politically-motivated gun violence.
5) Preventing impulsive suicides by veterans using firearms, which are 90% fatal, with the leadership of a retired Army Colonel; and, critically,
We hope you’ll stand with us and support Safer Country!
Based in Alexandria, Safer Country, a gun tragedy prevention 501(c)(3), was incorporated in Virginia on February 14, 2019.
Safer Country news can be seen on our Facebook page.
Click here to learn how you can vote to have an impact on our gun laws.
Political Gun Violence
Safer Country is outraged by and condemns political violence, particularly when guns are involved.
Right now, we have a special concern about ICE and CBP agents, as they pose a danger to everyone living in our nation, including American citizens. Trump’s federally empowered thugs must be stopped by our legislators and our courts.
“ICE has a chilling history of shootings — though when and how its agents use deadly force has long been shrouded in secrecy. In 2024, journalist Lila Hassan obtained records that shed some light, revealing that from 2015 to 2021, ICE agents were responsible for at least 59 shootings, 23 of which were fatal. There was no evidence that any ICE agent was held accountable. In regard to Good’s killing, Trump officials have blocked state and local agencies from the investigation and barred them from accessing evidence in the case. That could complicate any efforts by Minnesota authorities to hold the agent accountable.” — The Trace 1/9/26
The same lack of accountability exists with the other murders committed over the past year, including Alex Pretti’s. One murder had been covered up for a year and was just revealed in February 2026.
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Gun Violence Numbers
According to the Gun Violence Archive, of the 5,151 children and teenagers under 18 who were shot in 2024, 1,403 died. That is more than 70 Sandy Hook mass shootings in one year given that 20 children were murdered that day. We can do far more to protect children and teens!
Stunningly, although gun suicides among all children are on the rise, the Trump regime just shut down the special suicide hot line for LGBTQ+ children as if they aren’t worthy of help in a crisis. We are working to end gun suicides by children, teens, military veterans, and active-duty service personnel.
For the last year where numbers are available, 2023, the CDC reported that 46,728 died from a gunshot. 58%, or 27,300, were classified as suicides. 38%, or 17,927, were classified as homicides. 463 were classified as accidents and another 434 were unable to be classified. The statistics also show that, by and large, the states with stronger gun tragedy prevention laws and that are grouped together in the northeast, have the lowest homicide rates.
Safer Country recognizes that nearly 400 million guns are owned by approximately 85 million people, so our work is not about removing all guns. No group is attempting to do that.
On the other hand, we do support temporarily removing guns from people when sufficient evidence exists to convince a judge that the person is a danger to themselves or others.
Fighting Crime
Every year, approximately 250,000 guns are stolen from gun owners and firearms dealers. That’s why Safer Country supported the new Virginia law to prevent gun thefts from cars, and reduce the number of road rage incidents at the same time. It’s time to get tough on criminals by passing laws to prevent such thefts!
Nationally, we are speaking up against the Trump regime’s protection of criminals with guns, such as its pardoning of armed and violent criminals who attacked, harmed, and killed members of law enforcement on January 6, 2021 and its recent order to DC prosecutors not to charge people illegally carrying rifles and shotguns in public.
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Safer Country is a 501(c)(3). Contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. CFC (Combined Federal Campaign) #52580. EIN (Employment Identification Number) #83-3583969.
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Paul Friedman with actor Bryan Cranston at Yankee Stadium holding our “Prevent A Gun Tragedy” hats
Paul in the community and in the news.
URGENT: If you feel concerned about your mental health and are in need of special help, call 988, the SUICIDE & CRISIS LIFELINE.
