Coalition for Gun Control uses mapping technology to send a powerful message about gun violence

The Coalition for Gun Control has launched a new project to show how gun violence touches every corner of Toronto, the fourth largest city in North America. And one that has seen a major rise in gun violence over the past year.

The project, titled Dodge the Bullet, uses geo-location technology to show how many meters away residents of the city of Toronto were from an actual shooting. The project taps into the Toronto Police Services’ API of shootings and homicide data to create an interactive map that shows every user how close they are, or have been, to a shooting. The campaign’s goal is to turn that data into a digital experience that creates a personal connection between every Torontonian and the rise in gun violence in their city.

By visiting dodgethebullet.ca, the experience explains to users that even though they “Dodged a Bullet,” they shouldn’t “Dodge the Issue” of gun control in Canada. From there, the web app directs them to sign the Coalition’s most recent petition on the House of Commons website.

Created by Toronto agency Zulu Alpha Kilo, the digital experience is the most recent activation in the Trigger Change campaign, an effort by the Coalition for Gun Control to pass a national handgun and military assault-style weapon ban.

The first phase of the campaign launched in November of 2018 with the delivery of a 13-foot bullet sculpture to Toronto City Hall. It resulted in over 22,000 petition signatures in support of a national ban on handguns and military-style assault weapons, more than any other Canadian petition in support of gun control.   The campaign has literally helped trigger change. In February 2019, Toronto Mayor John Tory officially endorsed the campaign. And while Bill C-71 was passed in the Senate this May which introduces modest improvements to gun control, recent polls show clearly that Canadians want more: the majority support a complete ban on handguns and military assault weapons.

Our problem is not just the well-resourced and aggressive gun lobby. Our problem is that while the majority of Canadians support stronger gun control, they do not do anything about it (…) I have heard far too many people tell me that they never thought about gun control until someone they loved was caught in the crossfire.  Victims want more than prayers and flowers.  We need Canadians to stand up for gun control.

Wendy Cukier,

President of the Coalition for Gun Control

As the Coalition continues building TriggerChange into a long-term grassroots movement, the Dodge The Bullet technology and web app will be available for use globally by other major cities worldwide.

Founded in the wake of the Montreal Massacre in 1989, the Coalition for Gun Control was formed to support strategies to reduce gun death, injury and crime. For almost 30 years, the Coalition for Gun Control has been working to make Canada safer and is supported by more than 200 health, crime prevention, victims, public safety, women’s and community organizations from across Canada.

Credits:

Client (Company): Coalition for Gun Control

Agency: Zulu Alpha Kilo