Raising Kids in a Country with Gun Violence: What Actually Helps with Moms Demand Action

As a pediatrician, I spent years looking at firearm safety through a clinical lens—as a major public health crisis and a tragic statistic. But after practicing in South Florida during the Parkland shooting and becoming a mother myself, the stakes became deeply personal. My husband is an ER doctor who sees the devastating aftermath of gun violence firsthand, and as a parent, I refuse to accept that this is now the leading cause of death for American children. We cannot just treat the symptoms of this crisis in our clinics; we have to get out ahead of it, which is why I expanded my platform to advocate for change outside the exam room. Connecting with grassroots leaders like Angela Ferrell-Zabala reminds us that we don’t have to succumb to helplessness or political polarization. Real change happens in our everyday lives—like normalizing a simple question about secure firearm storage before a playdate, or supporting local legislation in our own backyards. Advocacy is a massive ecosystem, and as parents and healthcare providers, our voices carry immense weight. By breaking down political divides and working together, we can move past the noise and build a world where our children are safe to just be kids. What we discuss: Why treating gun violence as a public health issue is the key to real safety reform. The truth behind the leading cause of death for children in America and how to change it. How Moms Demand Action became a leading volunteer movement against gun violence. Easy, non-confrontational ways to ask other parents about safe firearm storage before playdates. Why ER doctors, pediatricians, and parents must work together to prevent gun injuries. Breaking down the impact of America’s historic federal gun safety legislation. How grassroots advocates are successfully outlawing 3D-printed firearms and machine gun conversion kits. How to find common ground and have constructive conversations with responsible gun owners. To connect with Angela Ferrell-Zabala follow her on Instagram @momsdemandaction and @FerrellZabala, check out all her resources at https://momsdemandaction.org/ and text “READY” to  64433. 00:00 – Introduction 02:18 – Meet Angela Ferrell-Zabala 04:19 – Shifting from Helplessness to Action 08:35 – The Diverse Impact of Gun Violence 13:58 – Finding Common Ground Across Political Lines 19:07 – Pressing Legislative Priorities & Recent Wins 24:39 – Simple Ways for Parents to Advocate 28:44 – Finding Joy and Closing Thoughts Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠. Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠! And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices