SYNOPSIS: In the wake of the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk last week, blame flew in multiple directions. As usual, nobody on the right wanted to talk about guns. But Kirk’s wasn’t even the first newsworthy shooting of the day — there was a school shooting in Colorado a few hours earlier — or the first American political assassination of the year. This week we look at the issues of guns and gun deaths in the U.S. — and particularly in the South, home to some of the nation’s loosest gun laws and highest levels of gun ownership. On gun safety, as on so many other issues, most of our state leaders are out of step with what the people of their states want. The conversation this week is with Katie Blankenship of Sanctuary of the South — a grassroots organization working across multiple states to provide legal representation for immigrants and havens for marginalized communities. She talks about the challenge of representing clients in the nightmarish ICE detention system — and about reclaiming the word “sanctuary” from right-wing scorn. And in our arts and culture segment, a look at this weekend’s Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion. The music festival celebrates Bristol’s history as “the Birthplace of Country Music” and spreads across outdoor stages throughout downtown. It also takes place in two states simultaneously — Virginia and Tennessee — because the state line runs through the center of the city.

SHOW NOTES:

Sanctuary of the South

“School Shootings in the U.S.: Fast Facts” CNN

Everytown for Gun Safety

“Gun Ownership by State 2025” World Population Review

“Firearm Mortality: State of the States” CDC

Charlie Kirk comments Media Matters

Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion

CONTACT: Jesse Mayshark [email protected] (865) 214-7764