By Chris Marvin
I recently had the chance to join Massachusetts State Senator Michael Moore on his “More Than Politics” podcast to talk about gun safety and the Train SMART program. We covered Massachusetts’ updated gun safety legislation, the growing push for live-fire training in licensing courses, and why the country needs a culture of responsible gun ownership that treats training as standard, not optional.
I’m grateful for the tone Senator Moore brought to the conversation: serious, practical, and focused on what keeps people alive. We didn’t dive deep on politics and legislation; rather, we talked about behaviors — what people do (or don’t do) before they pick up a firearm, and what real competence actually looks like.
There were a few standout moments during the course of the conversation:
First was the core idea that gun safety education shouldn’t be political. If we can normalize seatbelts and smoke detectors, we can normalize secure storage, consistent handling habits, and training that reflects the lethality of firearms. Train SMART does this by meeting gun owners where they are. I emphasized this when it told Senator Moore, “If you don’t own a gun, it’s hard to practice gun safety.”
We also had a conversation about live-fire training. I talked about my time in the military and the types of firearms familiarization required for anyone who serves. I also hit on how important it is that Train SMART training emulates that military-style training and focuses on competency from the ground up.
I also reminded him that at Train SMART, “We’re not selling guns, we’re not selling insurance, and we’re not selling membership. So when you ask us, ‘Should I buy a gun?’ We’ll give it to you straight.”
Finally, Senator Moore gave space for what I care about most: a future with fewer gun deaths that still respects the Second Amendment. And that the right to bear arms in the United States is not a slogan, but rather a real-world standard we have to live up to.
As I shared with him, “There are so many gun owners out there who have been inappropriately pegged to the gun lobby’s agenda.” We know that most gun owners strive to subscribe to proper safety protocols.
If you like what you hear, then give the episode a listen by clicking here. It’s about 32 minutes long and easy to knock out on a walk or commute.
Chris Marvin is a former U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter pilot and combat-wounded veteran of the war in Afghanistan. He serves as a Train SMART advisor and Everytown’s veteran lead. No component of the Department of Defense has approved, endorsed, or authorized this program.