N.J. Gun Violence Researcher Talks About Pulling the Trigger

Tony Simon started the Second is For Everyone Diversity Shoots over a decade ago. A Rutgers Gun Violence Research Center member attended a shoot and dished on the positive experience.

Several times a month across New Jersey, Tony Simon and his volunteers from supportive organizations like the Coalition of New Jersey Firearm Owners, host Diversity Shoots. The inception of the group was to create an environment that’s apolitical for all walks of life to enjoy exercising the Second Amendment. Simon recently invited researchers from Rutgers’ GVRC to attend one of the events. One member spoke enthusiastically and positively about the experience afterwards.

Simon posted on social media that it’s important to reach out beyond the folks we keep in our circles in order to truly educate. “You can’t spread information by only shouting into an echo chamber,” Simon says. “2A4E Diversity Shoots educate all people about their 2nd Amendment civil rights, racist gun control policies, laws, firearms & firearms safety. Dr. Kim Burke, Rutgers Gun Violence Research Center, attended 2A4E.”

You can’t spread information by only shouting into an echo chamber.
2A4E Diversity Shoots educate all people about their 2nd Amendment civil rights, racist gun control policies, laws, firearms & firearms safety.
Dr. Kim Burke, Rutgers Gun Violence Research Center, attended 2A4E. pic.twitter.com/9SaHmz4SuB

— Tony Simon (@2nd4Everyone) May 12, 2025

The post included an enthusiastic video of Dr. Burke from the center talking about her experiences shooting a firearm for the first time. Simon asked Burke if that was her first Diversity Shoot, to which she said it was. When asked if she had fun, Burke stated “It was awesome.”

“It was hilarious, it was a great time,” Burke said to Simon when he asked her what she thought about the shoot. “Tony, you are amazing. And I learned a lot. I learned a lot about the permit laws and the experience of shooting itself was really empowering. And I think just in one short session, I went from very scared and flinching to actually being able to hold the gun steady. So already [an] improvement [after] just one one stop.”

Simon explained that his thing is to take that initial fear away when it comes to shooting a firearm. He further noted that anything beyond removing that fear is a “bonus.”

Simon’s shoots include short lectures on civil liberties, safety briefings, and he often invites Second Amendment advocates to speak about gun rights from an apolitical point of view. Simon provides pizza and drinks, which are made possible by the limited number of sponsors he has and from the small participation fee he charges attendees. Sponsors also provide Simon and his group with gear and swag to give away as door prizes.

Simon’s the Second is For Everyone Diversity Shoots are run on a shoestring budget, but he recently announced that the group will soon be a bona fide non-profit. Once the final formulation process is done, Simon and his group will be able to accept donations on a larger scale and hopefully service more areas.

Over the years, Simon has had limited opportunities to bring his group out of state to Pennsylvania, Nebraska, and elsewhere. Jumping across the river to the Keystone State was easy, and also made sense during the range shutdowns of 2020. However, bringing Simon to Nebraska involved serious logistics.

Regardless, Simon has been happy to spread the methods and message of the Second is For Everyone to anyone and anywhere he can make it to as requested.

More information about Simon and his group can be found at https://diversityshoot.com/. If you’re in the Garden State, think about signing up to attend one of the shoots. Also, consider sending Simon a much needed donation. More details to follow on the official formulation of Second is For Everyone as a non-profit organization.