Since the 1999 Columbine High School mass shooting and the subsequent explosion of gun violence in the U.S., Judy Dater has been driven to explore the many sides of the gun divide in America. Her research revealed that gun owners, and their personal reasons for owning them, are diverse and do not fit neatly into stereotypes.

These portraits and interviews were conducted without judgement and with the desire to display the diversity of gun owners in Judy’s backyard; the Bay Area. The intent of these photographs, as for most of her work, is to open a dialogue and ask questions, not to give answers. Judy loves the phrase, “Don’t believe everything you think.”

This exhibition has been funded by the Leonian Foundation and Joan Brenchley, friend and supporter of Judy Dater.