Every Fourth of July, fireworks light up the sky in a dazzling salute to freedom. Yet beneath that celebration, another kind of explosion continues to echo through American neighborhoods—gunfire that shatters lives, fractures communities, and erodes the very liberties the holiday is meant to honor. Award-winning filmmaker Terry C. Carney Sr. believes true freedom cannot flourish while this violence persists—and his documentary, Put the Guns Down: A World Epidemic, delivers that message with unflinching urgency.
Now streaming on Amazon Prime, Peacock, Apple TV, and Google TV, Put the Guns Down reframes the national conversation by exposing the mental health crisis at the core of modern gun violence. The documentary amplifies the voices of parents who’ve lost children, survivors navigating trauma, and community leaders working to reclaim their streets. Their stories remind us that even a single bullet carries a human cost—one that ripples far beyond the trigger pull.
Raised in neighborhoods where gunshots were more familiar than silence and grief was a constant companion, Carney grew up navigating a world shaped by trauma. His creative path began as a form of survival—an outlet to process the pain he saw and lived daily. That path has since become a platform to confront uncomfortable truths, amplifying the real stories behind the statistics. Through raw testimonies and expert insight, the film pushes past surface-level awareness and exposes the deep-rooted issues driving gun violence—mental health struggles, systemic neglect, and a cycle of loss that too many communities know firsthand.
This Independence Day, Carney invites Americans to expand their definition of patriotism. “We honor the sacrifices of the past by insisting on safety and dignity for every family today,” he says. “Freedom without peace is only half the promise.” In that spirit, the documentary issues a national call to action: watch, share, and host watch parties on July 4th weekend. Carney hopes households will replace some holiday small talk with frank discussions about mental health resources, responsible gun ownership, and youth mentorship. These conversations are as essential to our freedom as accountability and civic action are to preserving it.
As momentum builds, Terry C. Carney Sr. has galvanized powerful new voices to join the movement. Recently, he’s rallied incarcerated individuals to speak out against gun violence from behind bars—transforming remorse into purpose. He’s also engaged members of the hip hop community, uniting artists in the fight for peace. Support continues to grow from nonprofits across the country, many of whom are organizing citywide screenings, panel discussions with public officials, and community watch parties. This groundswell is a powerful breakthrough—but there’s still much work ahead. To truly elevate this message nationwide and bring the full 12-part docuseries to life, support is urgently needed to produce the remaining 11 episodes. The time to act is now.
Streaming data already shows the message is resonating. Put the Guns Down has garnered thousands of views and rising engagement across digital platforms. Before its streaming debut, it earned critical praise and won over 50 awards on the festival circuit—underscoring its power to move audiences in every format. Social media traction has also surged, fueled by influencers and podcasters interviewing Carney on live Instagram casts, and powerful video messages from incarcerated former gang members calling on young people to change their path and break the cycle. These voices are traveling far beyond prison walls and podcast feeds, turning online conversations into real-world momentum for change.
Carney’s call is clear: Put the Guns Down challenges Americans to move beyond symbolic gestures and take meaningful action—by honoring our freedom with a renewed commitment to lasting peace and safety in every American community.
Watch Now: Put the Guns Down: A World Epidemic is currently streaming on Amazon Prime, Peacock, Apple TV, and Google TV.
Learn more or connect: Visit www.terryccarneysr.com
