The southern US state of Mississippi has some of the least restrictive gun laws in the country. The ease of purchasing a firearm, combined with poverty and drugs, has created a climate of violence. Police head out on patrols knowing their lives are at risk. Some individuals are working to rewrite the narrative gripping their community by promoting anti-violence initiatives, but many of the calls for change remain unanswered by the authorities. Our France 2 colleagues travelled to Jackson, Mississippi to discover this culture of violence.