The recent increase in gun deaths in the last few years puts gun violence squarely within the definition of a public health epidemic which is “an increase, often sudden, in the number of cases of a disease above what is normally expected in that population in that area”. By using the public health epidemic approach as we did with car accidents and smoking, we can use evidence -based research to implement policies and programs that work to reduce gun violence. Each category of gun violence has its particular root causes, and each requires its own multi-faceted solution.

With gun ownership at an all-time high of FOUR MILLION civilian owned guns (1.2 per every man, woman and child) (newtownactionalliance.org) we see the expected result which is increasing gun violence impacting everyone in our communities and many beyond who no longer feel safe in their spaces.

In the US:

• Every year in America some 45,000 lives are lost to gun violence (gunviolencarchive.org)
• 110 people are killed every day (stophandgunviolence.org)
• 230 people are shot every day (everytown.org)
• You are 25X more likely to be murdered with a gun in this country than are people in other developed countries (theguardian.com)
• 60% of teens say they worry about experiencing a shooting at their school (giffords.org)

Guns are not going away. We are committed to saving lives in our communities by having the gun violence prevention conversation. We will work to advance state and national legislative strategies and develop initiatives to promote gun safety.

More information:

• Safe Storage
• Suicide Prevention
• Domestic Abuse
• Urban Gun Violence