Chris Cassella describes the moment he learned about the tragic Sandy Hook mass shooting that occurred only forty-five minutes away from his school. Using social science to bring objectivity to the conversation, Chris explains a complex issue in more digestible terms through revealing research that describes the effect of a mass shooting on gun purchases. Chris Cassella is a current Senior at the University of Richmond. Originally from Orange, Connecticut, Chris has spent most of his academic career researching gun policy and mass shootings. His research attempts to bridge the gap in scholarship between instances of mass shootings with their immediate and long term political effects. He aspires to apply a new policy feedback modeled approach to understanding gun policy. When not doing work in the Political Science department, Chris participates in the University’s improv comedy troupe, Subject to Change, and is an avid ultimate frisbee player. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx