A Fairfield man is hoping to start a new initiative to reduce gun violence in the wake of the New Zealand mass shooting.

Dr. Kareem Adeeb, a Muslim who works for the United Nations, tells News 12 Connecticut he was horrified by the massacre in Christchurch.

He says he wants to find a practical way to address gun violence in the United States and overseas.

Dr. Adeeb took part in a recent U.N. initiative targeting gun violence.

While Dr. Adeeb says tightening gun control is important, it's equally important to use extreme care when expressing opinions about volatile issues that could lead somebody to use a gun.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal says by helping to educate the public, Dr. Adeeb is using the latest massacre "as a teaching moment for everyone.”

Adeeb has worked for the U.N. for more than a decade.