Gun Violence Prevention / Public News Service

<a href= — The Chicago Police Department reported recovering 458 ghost guns in 2021, up from 139 in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, May 19, 2022

IL Governor Signs Ban on 'Ghost Guns'

Illinois has a new law banning the sale and possession of "ghost guns," essentially untraceable firearms that are sold in kit-form online or at gun sh…

In 2020, Connecticut had 219 firearm deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, May 19, 2022

Hartford Launches Hospital-Based Gun-Violence Intervention Program

With firearm deaths in Connecticut and across the country on the rise, a new initiative in Hartford aims to interrupt gun violence through a …

"We have to refuse to live in a country where Black people going about weekly grocery shopping can be gunned down by weapons of war deployed in a racist cause," President Joe Biden said during a speech in Buffalo Tuesday. (Mike Groll/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

In Buffalo After Mass Shooting, Biden Calls White Supremacy 'A Poison'

President Joe Biden traveled to Buffalo Tuesday to grieve with residents of the city, after 10 people were killed over the weekend in an anti-Black …

An estimated 1,600 Pennsylvanians die from gun violence every year. (Commonwealth Media Services)

PA Prepared to Carry Out Stricter Ghost-Gun Regulations

Pennsylvania stands ready to implement a new Biden administration federal rule on ghost-gun regulations at the state level. Ghost guns are …

Multiple states including California, Colorado, Maine, Oregon and Washington are moving to protect election workers from intimidation. (New Africa)

Hearing Tuesday on Bill to Protect Election Workers

Since 2020, a growing number of election workers have been threatened, harassed, and even spat on - so tomorrow the State Senate Judiciary Committee …

"Ghost guns" are weapons with no serial number, which makes it very difficult for law enforcement to track the weapon if it is used in a crime. (LNM/Adobestock)

NV Gun-Violence Prevention Groups Praise New Ghost Gun Rule

Gun-violence prevention advocates in Nevada are applauding a new rule by the Biden administration to close a loophole allowing the proliferation of un…

A January 2022 report from the advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety found more than half of gun deaths in Indiana are suicides. (Adobe Stock)

Concerns Raised Over IN's New Permitless Handgun-Carry Law

Indiana's new law allowing people to carry a handgun without a permit is raising concerns from the state's gun-safety advocates. Under the law …

Senate Bill 215 is the latest law loosening gun restrictions in Ohio. In April 2021, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 175, the "stand your ground" law, making Ohio the 36th state to no longer require people to retreat before using a firearm in self-defense. (Adobe Stock)

OH 'Constitutional Carry' Bill Worries Domestic-Violence Survivor Advocates

By Halena SepulvedaBroadcast version by Emily Scott reporting for the Kent State-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. Even though Ohio has been …

There are more than 17 gun deaths per 100,000 residents in Idaho. (prathaan/Adobe Stock)

Study: ID Among States with Weakest Gun-Safety Laws

A new report ranks Idaho near the bottom among states for its laws on gun safety. The organization Everytown for Gun Safety places Idaho 49th for …

A bill repealing restrictions for banned private militias had a hearing in the Idaho House Transportation and Defense Committee this week. (kaninstudio/Adobe Stock)

ID Bill Would Repeal Prohibitions for Private Militias

Idaho lawmakers are considering a bill which would repeal restrictions on banned private militias. Paramilitary actions such as parading in public …

Kylie Myrand is a survivor of the Oxford High School shooting that occurred on Nov. 30, 2021. (End Gun Violence Michigan)

MI Coalition Forms to Take Gun-Violence Prevention to Ballot Box

A new coalition is urging the Michigan Legislature to tackle the epidemic of gun violence. Michigan ranks 21st for overall gun homicides, though the …

According to the Gun Violence Archive, more than 19,400 Americans died from gun violence in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

WI Lawmakers Introduce Gun Control Legislation

Democratic lawmakers are seeking to reinstate Wisconsin's 48-hour handgun purchase waiting period, a proposal facing long odds in the Republican-held …

Melissa Ladd of Maryland Moms Demand Action says soon-to-be-introduced legislation would lead to a ban on "ghost guns" in the state by 2023. (Moms Demand Action - MD/Facebook)

Maryland Moms Demand Action; Rally Calls for "Ghost-Gun" Ban

Around 125 gun-law reform advocates and gun-violence survivors rallied in Annapolis Tuesday, less than a week after gun deaths across Baltimore and a …

In recent years, Minnesota has seen anywhere between 400 and 500 gun-related deaths annually. (Adobe Stock)

Retooling MN Gun-Violence Prevention for 2022

Gun-violence prevention in Minnesota is likely to see some different approaches in 2022. That's according to a statewide group, which says one …

Firearms, rifles and shotguns are used to kill almost 40,000 people every year in the United States, including 800 people in New York State alone. (Adobe Stock)

NY Lawmaker Proposes 10-Day Gun-Purchase Waiting Period

The gun violence crisis in the U.S. has taken a toll on communities across the country. In New York, pending legislation would require licensed gun …

Some lawmakers have brought a bill to require Michiganders to secure their firearms, but it hasn't made it through the Legislature. (Terry/Adobe Stock)

Groups: Gun-Violence Prevention Overdue After Oxford School Shooting

OXFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- Michiganders are mourning the loss of four students after this week's school shooting at Oxford High School, and advocates …

To draw Hollywood to New Mexico, the state reimburses filmmakers 25% of everything they spend. (riograndefoundation.org)

NM Sheriff: 'Suspected Live Round' Killed "Rust" Cinematographer

SANTA FE, N.M. -- The sheriff of Santa Fe County said the projectile that killed a cinematographer on a movie set last week was a "suspected live …

The shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue occurred in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, killing 11 and injuring six people on Oct. 27, 2018. (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks)

Three Years After Tree of Life Shooting, Continued Calls for Gun Reform

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Today marks three years since the Tree of Life shooting in Pittsburgh, where 11 people at the synagogue were killed in a targeted …

Texas has more registered firearms than any state in the nation. (bradyunited.org)

Are Lenient Texas Gun Laws Tied to Latest School Shooting?

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Texas has some of the weakest gun laws in America, and gun-control advocates say the permissive attitude may be why a student …

Starting today, Texas is the most populous state among two dozen that allow residents to carry an unregulated handgun. (skotselby/Pixabay)

Texas Becomes Most Populous State with Permitless Gun-Carry Law

AUSTIN, Texas - Texans age 21 and older can carry handguns without a license or training starting today, despite opposition from instructors who …

A death is reported at one out of 62 demonstrations where guns are identified as part of the event, compared with one in 2,963 protests where no gun possession is identified. (Flickr)<br /> — A death is reported at one out of 62 demonstrations where guns are identified as part of the event, compared with one in 2,963 protests where no gun possession is identified. (Flickr)

Report: Armed Protests, as Seen in VA, More Likely to Spark Violence

RICHMOND, Va. - Armed protests in the United States are six times more likely to turn violent as unarmed protests, according to a new report…

Seven states mandate that police officers wear body cameras. (Adobe Stock)

Mixed Response to Ohio Body-Camera Legislation

By Troy Pierson Kent State/Ohio News Service Collaboration COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Legislators in Ohio are considering a bill that would require police …

Ayolanda Evans Mack of the group Protect Minnesota is at the helm of a new documentary about what it would take to rid a community of gun violence. (Black Light Media)

New MN Film Tries to Bring Context to Gun-Violence Debate

MINNEAPOLIS - Cities such as Minneapolis are getting attention over waves of gun violence in recent months. A statewide group hopes a new documentary …

Groups such as Veterans for Responsible Leadership and We the Veterans are urging current and former military officials to continue to stand up for democracy. (eurobanks/Adobe Stock)

Veterans Raise Concerns About Far-Right Group Membership

PALM BEACH, Fla. - Veterans across the aisle are concerned about what they call recent attacks on democracy by far-right organizations. On July 4th…

This session, Nevada lawmakers voted to expand automatic voter registration and make vote-by-mail a permanent option. (Darylann Elmi/Adobestock)

NV Progressive Group Releases 2021 Legislative Scorecard

CARSON CITY, Nev. - Progressive groups in Nevada are holding an online summit tonight to marshal their forces for the next round of policy battles - …

On Wednesday, President Joe Biden announced a comprehensive strategy to address gun violence, which has increased in cities like Philadelphia since the start of the pandemic. (Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons)

Philly to Be Part of Biden Community Violence Intervention Plan

PHILADELPHIA -- The Biden administration has a new federal strategy to address gun violence surging in cities across the country, including …

In 2019, 163 Mainers died from injury by firearm. (fotomek/Adobe Stock)

ME Lawmakers Urged to Make Gun Safety a Priority

AUGUSTA, Maine -- Today is National Gun Violence Awareness Day, and gun-safety advocates in Maine are urging the Legislature to take up bills they …

An average of five people per week died by gun violence in Massachusetts in 2019, according to the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence. (pfeifferv/Adobe Stock)

MA Group Urges Steps to Curb Gun Violence

BOSTON -- Gun-safety advocates in Massachusetts are looking to put pressure on lawmakers to tackle the nationwide epidemic of gun violence on National…

After meeting for four months, the Nevada Legislature has ended its 2021 session this week. (Annette Magnus/Battle Born Progress)

Mixed Bag for Progressive Priorities in NV Legislative Session

CARSON CITY, Nev. - Progressive groups are describing the just-ended legislative session as a rollercoaster year, with both victories and defeats…

The United States accounts for 35% of global firearm suicides, despite having only 4% of the world's population, according to the Giffords Law Center. (Adobe Stock

U.S. Senate Hearing Introduces Safe Gun Storage Act, Echoing CT Law

HARTFORD, Conn. -- A federal bill intended to curb gun violence would establish Consumer Product Safety Commission safety standards for firearm locks …

In the aftermath of George Floyd's death, communities experiment with different ways to promote public safety. (Chad Davis/Wikimedia Commons)

Special YES!/PNS Report - George Floyd Anniversary & Reimagining Public Safety

Atlanta-based journalist Anoa Changa and Laura Rosbrow-Telem out of Oakland, CA reported and produced this special report with YES! Magazine and …

A law allowing concealed carry of firearms on Montana colleges and universities is set to go into effect on June 1. (jonbilous/Adobe Stock)

MT University System Holds Hearing on Concealed Carry on Campuses

HELENA, Mont. -- Montanans have a chance to weigh in on firearms on college campuses at a listening session today. Gov. Greg Gianforte signed a …

Domestic-violence hotlines are a lifeline for victims seeking safety and support. <br />(AdobeStock) — Domestic-violence hotlines are a lifeline for victims seeking safety and support.
(AdobeStock)

Domestic-Violence Support: Not All Calls for Help Getting Answered

Clarification: Added additional information on the General Assembly budget process. 5/12/2021 5:26pm Central COLUMBUS, Ohio -- During a single 24-…

Unfinished gun parts are sold online and at gun shows, without background checks. (Stephen Lindley/Brady United)

Hearing Today in NV Senate on Bill to Ban Ghost Guns

CARSON CITY, Nev. -- A bill to ban so-called "ghost guns" gets a hearing today in the state Senate Judiciary Committee. Assembly Bill 286 would …

According to the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence, 71% of gun deaths in Wisconsin are suicides. (Adobe Stock)

Gun-Safety Innovation Focus of New Campaign to End Violence

MILWAUKEE - Unsecured guns are among the top contributors to the nation's gun violence, so a coalition of public officials and law enforcement is …

According to the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence, 58% of Illinois gun deaths in 2019 were homicides and 40% were suicides. (Guy Sagi/Adobe Stock)

Public Officials, Law Enforcement Want Gun-Safety Innovation

CHICAGO - Unsecured guns are among the top contributors to the nation's gun=violence epidemic, and a coalition of public officials and law …

In 2019, suicides made up more than 60% of gun deaths in Ohio, according to the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence. (Adobe Stock)

OH Cities Join Coalition Calling for New Gun-Safety Technology

CINCINNATI - Toledo and Cincinnati officials are leading the Gun Safety Consortium, a group of cities across the United States that is calling on the …

More than 60% of 2018 gun deaths in Maryland were homicides, according to the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence. (Adobe stock)

Group Pushes for "Smart" Gun-Safety Technology in MD

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Calling gun violence in America a public health crisis, a new coalition is challenging startups and manufacturing firms to create …

The Gun Safety Consortium says many gun owners fear gun locks will prevent their being able to access their firearms quickly. (Atlantist studio/Adobe Stock)

A Call for Innovative Gun-Safety Products

NEW YORK - Civic, business and religious leaders joined with local elected officials and law enforcement Tuesday, calling for development of new …

The American Public Health Association says 40% of gun-owning households with children store firearms unlocked, which contributes to the 2,700 children injured by gunfire and 110 fatal unintentional shootings every year. (Adobe Stock)

CT Cities Join Push for More Firearm Safety

HARTFORD, Conn. - Every year, 39,000 Americans perish from gun violence. A new Gun Safety Consortium is taking an unusual step to curb that number…

The Gun Safety Coalition says gun safety has lagged in terms of technology and innovation. It hopes financial incentives to create "smart" gun-safety products will reduce gun deaths in the United States. (Adobe Stock)

National Group Calls for High-Tech Gun Safety Products

LANSING, Mich. - Lansing's mayor and police chief are part of a national effort to push the gun industry to produce safer guns. The Gun Safety …

Just 21% of Americans believe relations between Republicans and Democrats will improve this year, according to the Pew Research Center; 37% expect them to worsen, and 41% think they'll stay about the same. (mediamodifer/Pixabay)

Could Curiosity Help Americans Bridge Deep Divides?

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Polarization is seen as a growing problem in the United States, and many blame social media. But polls show Americans agree on …

Despite COVID-19 lockdowns, gun violence killed nearly 20,000 Americans in 2020, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive, more than any other year in at least two decades. (preventioninstitute.org/Michael Flesman)

Road Trip Promoting Gun Laws Heads to Nation's Capital

AUSTIN, Texas -- A 10-day road trip by gun-control advocates, calling on senators to pass background checks on all gun sales, will end in Washington…

High-profile shootings in states like Minnesota and Colorado this year have renewed calls for stricter gun laws. (Adobe Stock)

Despite Obstacles, Gun-Control Advocates See Hope

MILWAUKEE - There's a renewed push for gun-control measures in Wisconsin and at the federal level, with President Joe Biden's executive actions this …

Gun-safety advocates are urging Congress to pass the first major federal gun control laws in two decades. (JP Photography/Adobe Stock)

Groups Urge Gun-Violence Prevention in Wake of Boulder Shooting

BOULDER, Colo. -- After last week's mass shooting in Boulder, advocates for gun safety are calling on both state and federal lawmakers to take …

According to Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, seven of the ten states with the strongest gun laws have background checks for all gun purchases, and the lowest rates of firearm deaths. (Adobe Stock)

State, Congress Feel New Urgency for Stronger Gun Laws

Correction: the Connecticut Lottery mass shooting occurred in 1998. An earlier version of this article incorrectly said that the event happened in 199…

Officer Eric Talley, an 11-year veteran of Boulder Police Department, was shot and killed Monday responding to reports of an active shooter at a King Soopers grocery store. (Boulder PD)

Ten Dead, Including Police Officer, in Boulder Grocery Store Shooting

BOULDER, Colo. -- An intensive investigation is underway into a mass shooting that killed ten people, including a police officer, at a Boulder…

Connecticut has averaged 14 deaths from domestic violence each year since 2000, according to the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, but a spike in abuse cases amid the pandemic has likely changed that. (Adobe Stock)

In Congress, Domestic-Abuse Prevention Bill Takes Cue from CT

HARTFORD, Conn. - A new part of the Violence Against Women Act, passed in the U.S. House on Wednesday, would close a loophole that has allowed people …

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