Kenzo's Legacy: A Father's Fight for Gun Safety and Activism

Red, Blue, and Brady

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On May 29, 1994, the Dix family's life was irrevocably altered when Kenzo, a beloved and vibrant fifteen-year-old, was tragically shot and killed by a friend playing with an unsecured firearm. In this episode, hosts Kelly and JJ delve into this heart-wrenching story with Griffin Dix, Kenzo's father, through excerpts from his poignant book, "Who Killed Kenzo: The Loss of a Son and the Ongoing Battle for Gun Safety." Griffin paints a vivid picture of the emotional turmoil and profound impact Kenzo's death had on both his family and the shooter's family.
Griffin's narrative transcends the pain of loss, highlighting his relentless journey towards advocacy and justice. We explore the family's legal battle against Beretta USA, scrutinizing the firearm's features, and the broader systemic failures that enabled such a tragedy. Griffin also shares how he found solace and strength through the support of activists and the community, and the enduring legacy of Kenzo.

Further reading:
Long Battle Against Guns Began With a Son's Death (the New York Times)
After son's fatal accident, father fights to make weapons safer (the Times Herald)
Dix v. Beretta (Brady)
COVID-19, gun sales and guns in homes (the Hill)
The gun industry's six deadly lies (the Seattle Times)
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Full transcripts and bibliographies of this episode are available at bradyunited.org/podcast.
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Music provided by: David “Drumcrazie” Curby
Special thanks to Hogan Lovells for their long-standing legal support
℗&©2019 Red, Blue, and Brady

Chapters

1. Kenzo's Legacy: A Father's Fight for Gun Safety and Activism (00:00:00)

2. Who Killed Kenzo (00:00:08)

3. Advocacy Against Gun Violence Lawsuit (00:08:06)

4. Legal Battle Over Defective Firearm (00:12:53)

5. Gun Safety Laws and Activism (00:23:57)

6. The Impact of Gun Regulations (00:30:14)