This Is Our Lane (TOL) is an initiative of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence that advocates and organizes research, education, and reporting of firearms deaths and gun control efforts. It mobilizes health care professionals to speak against firearm deaths, advocate gun control legislation, and secure designation of firearm deaths as a public health issue. It conducts trainings, storytelling, research and education on safe firearm storage and suicide prevention. It was founded by Joseph V. Sakran, a trauma surgeon and medical school professor at John Hopkins University. ^{1 2}

Advocacy

This Is Our Lane (TOL) is a member of the judicial advocacy group Just Majority (JM), a left-of-center coalition that has advocated for “packing” the U.S Supreme Court as well as implementing term limits for Supreme Court justices. Other members of the coalition include March for Our Lives, Guns Down America, Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence (which is affiliated with American Federation of Teachers), and Newtown Action Alliance. Individual members include Shannon Watts of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and David Hogg. ³

In 2025, since the start of the second Trump administration, TOL has made several posts on its X (formerly Twitter) profile critical of budgetary cuts made or recommended by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In May 2025, it posted an article from the Brady Center expressing opposition to budgetary cuts made by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Fire Arms, and Explosives (ATF) while claiming such cuts would hinder the agency’s efforts to monitor illegal gun trafficking as well as enforcing the Violence Against Women Act. ⁴

In April 2025, TOL released a post on its X profile criticizing layoffs at the Department of Health and Human Services recommended by DOGE, alleging that positions terminated include those tracking and monitoring gun violence. ⁵

TOL has previously reported or made social media posts regarding support or opposition to political candidates. In August 2024, TOL reposted a post made by Joseph Sakran supporting the presidential campaign of then-Vice President Kamela Harris as well as her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) during the 2024 presidential election. ⁶

Leadership

Members of This Is Our Lane Advisory Council include Joseph V. Sakran, chair; Halleh Akbarnia; Robin Cogan, a school nurse; Rochelle A. Dicker, founder of Wraparound Project at San Francisco General Hospital; Cornelia Griggs, a member of the board of advisors of Scrubs Addressing the Firearm Epidemic; Emily Lieberman, founder of OnCall4Kids; Fabiola Plaza; LJ Punch, founder of Power4STL; Megan L. Fanney, Senior Strategic Advisor to AFFIRM at the Aspen Institute; Babak Sarani; Chethan Sathya; Randi Smith; and Layla Soliman. ⁷

1. “Learn More about This Is Our Lane.” Brady United. Accessed May 19, 2025. https://www.bradyunited.org/take-action/join-movement/this-is-our-lane.
2. “Joseph Victor Sakran, MD, MPH, MPA.” John Hopkins Medicine, Accessed May 21, 2025. https://profiles.hopkinsmedicine.org/provider/joseph-victor-sakran/2703185#profile-expertise
3. Brownlee, Chip. “Gun Reform Groups Want to Expand the Supreme Court.” The Trace, April 24, 2023. Accessed May 19, 2025. https://www.thetrace.org/2023/04/gun-reform-supreme-court-just-majority/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=trace-branded&utm_content=edit-promo
4. “Brady Denounces President Trump’s Proposed Budget Cuts Threatening…” Brady United. Accessed May 19, 2025. https://www.bradyunited.org/press/trump-budget-cuts.
5. ThisIsOurLane on X. Accessed May 19, 2025. https://x.com/ThisIsOurLane/status/1907430101559423275
6. Sakran, Joseph on X. Accessed May 19, 2025. https://x.com/JosephSakran/status/1826415837055496425
7. This Is Our Lane Advisory Council.” Brady United. Accessed May 19, 2025. https://www.bradyunited.org/take-action/join-movement/this-is-our-lane/this-is-our-lane-advisory-council.