Ep 248 Peacewarts Summer Break & Bullet Poof Launch In this personal riffing episode, Avis shares an update on the Peacewarts curriculum, reflects on the first three departments of the series, and introduces the upcoming Resonant Charms classes beginning later this summer. He also discusses the launch of his new novella, Bullet Poof, releasing during National Gun Violence Awareness Month. The episode moves between curriculum reflections, satire, personal storytelling, and broader questions about fear, normalization, and the systems that sustain gun culture and war culture. Avis shares experiences from workplace active shooter trainings, real estate safety seminars, and family tragedies involving firearms, while explaining why satire can still serve as a human response to systems of fear and absurdity. Beginning June 1, the podcast will feature daily Bullet Poof Bulletins with the return of Kitty O’Compost broadcasting from the fictional Spoke Easy Community Forge and Makerspace. Topics covered include Universal Understars, Living Roots, Chronicled Courage, the overview effect, peace as biological reality, Indigenous peace traditions, Vasily Arkhipov, Bayard Rustin, systems of militarization, war budgets, satire and social critique, active shooter culture, National Gun Violence Awareness Month, and the upcoming Resonant Charms department. Resources & Links National Gun Violence Awareness Month: Wear Orange WearOrange.org Bullet Poof by Avis Kalfsbeek: Bullet Poof Aviskalfsbeek.com/bullet_poof More books, podcast episodes, and Peacewarts classes:  AvisKalfsbeek.com Podcast music: Javier Peke Rodriguez on Bandcampe https://javierpekerodriguez.bandcamp.com/ Ways to Take Action The book Bullet Poof is book is fiction. The work is real. If you want to help reduce gun violence, support survivors, volunteer, learn more, or safely surrender firearms, these organizations are a place to begin. These are places to begin, not a full inventory of everyone doing good work.  Turn In or Repurpose Firearms Support a gun turn-in or repurposing effort, donate to one, or attend a local event. Guns to Gardens (https://rawtools.org/swords-to-plowshares/) A national movement that provides a safe, legal, and community-centered way to discard unwanted firearms. Working through local networks, they host safe-surrender events where weapons are permanently disabled according to federal ATF guidelines, preventing them from ever causing future harm. RAWtools (rawtools.org) An organization dedicated to turning weapons into gardening implements, literally guiding the modern-day execution of beating swords into plowshares. They take the steel from disabled firearms and hand-forge it into tools that cultivate food, life, and community growth.           •     The Humanium Metal Initiative (humanium-metal.com) — A global program transforming illegal firearms into peace metal for watches, pens, and art, reinvesting all proceeds into survivor support programs. Art is My Weapon (org) A community initiative that takes decommissioned firearms from safe-surrender programs and distributes them to artists to create expressions of peace and healing. Robby Poblete Foundation (org) Founded by Pati Navalta Poblete after her son was killed by gun violence in Vallejo, California in 2014. Runs community gun buybacks and distributes decommissioned parts to artists to create works of healing and remembrance through the Art of Peace exhibition series. Fonderie 47 (com) A global initiative that has destroyed over 70,000 AK-47s and assault rifles in Africa, transforming the metal into luxury products whose proceeds fund weapons removal programs in conflict zones. Support Survivors and Prevention Work Take action, volunteer, donate, organize locally, or support survivors and prevention programs through these groups. Many have targeted initiatives. Everytown for Gun Safety (org) National advocacy, research, and survivor support. Sandy Hook Promise (org) Founded by Sandy Hook families; focused on prevention programs and youth education. Brady United Against Gun Violence (org) Works on legislation, litigation, and public education. Sign an open letter to Hollywood to end gun violence: https://www.bradyunited.org/take-action/join-movement/show-gun-safety/open-letterfrom-hollywood-film-and-tv-leaders Moms Demand Action (org) A grassroots volunteer network active in all 50 states; part of the Everytown movement. Learn the Facts Read the research. Share accurate information. Support independent reporting and legal analysis. Giffords Law Center (org/lawcenter) Law center to prevent gun violence. Legal and policy analysis, including state-by-state gun law information. The Trace (org) Independent nonprofit newsroom covering gun violence in the United States. Gun Violence Archive (org) Real-time incident data and reporting. Contact Your Representatives Call, write, or meet with your elected representatives. Many advocacy organizations also provide simple online forms that help you contact your representatives in a few minutes such as Everytown.org’s Action page: https://www.everytown.org/actions/ Or, write your own letter in your own words. If you use AI to help draft, here’s a sample prompt: Help me write a short, respectful message to my elected representative explaining why reducing gun violence matters to me personally. Keep it under 200 words and grounded in my own experiences and values. U.S. Senators directory (senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm) U.S. House directory (house.gov) • Capitol switchboard  (202) 224-3121 Get Crisis Support If you or someone you love is in crisis, reach out now. Free, confidential support is available any hour of the day. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (org) Call or text 988 for immediate support in the U.S. 988 Lifeline Chat (https://chat.988lifeline.org/ ) Online chat is also available through the official 988 website. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.