National Gun Violence Awareness Month
June ushers in National Gun Violence Awareness Month, a time to discuss the horrific long-lasting effects of gun violence and implement more prevention measures. Recent data shows that in 2022, over 48,000 people died from gun-related incidents (Johns Hopkins University). Sadly, firearms are now the leading cause of death among children and teenagers and black children and teens are the ones most affected (Johns Hopkins University). The disturbing frequency of school shootings in the U.S. have shown the need for more solutions. There were at least 83 school shootings in 2024, causing 38 deaths and over 116 injuries (Matthews, O’Kruk, and Choi). In this article, I will discuss both community-based and personal initiatives that can help reduce gun violence.
There are many different community-driven initiatives that can prevent gun related incidents. Firstly, violence interruption programs can help train community members to manage personal conflicts and give at-risk individuals resources to help them choose a better path. There are numerous violence interruption programs spread across the country, including Chicago CRED (Create Real Economic Destiny), a nonprofit organization created in 2016, that develops relationships with communities that are prone to gun violence. It offers stipends, therapy, job placement assistance, and mentorship to at-risk individuals (Chicago CRED). Secondly, safe storage campaigns that encourage people to safely store their firearms to prevent the wrong people from using their guns, including children. Promoting safe gun ownership practices to the public is important. In 2015, The Be SMART campaign was created by Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. They hold gun safety workshops, give away gun locks, and work with local governments, pediatricians, and schools (Be SMART Campaign). The campaign promotes five simple actions:
Secure all guns in homes and vehicles
Model responsible behavior
Ask about unsecured guns in other homes
Recognize the role of guns in suicide
Tell others to be SMART
These safe storage campaigns help reduce accidental shooting and educate gun owners about safety tips. Lastly, addressing environmental factors, including improving underprivileged neighborhoods, by increasing green spaces, having safe transportation, and adding streetlights can help reduce gun violence. One interesting TED Talk I saw in college was called “Greening the Ghetto” where Majora Carter discussed environmental justice and how adding green spaces in the Southern Bronx made it safer. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is helping reduce crime through urban planning initiatives by removing abandoned buildings, giving better street lighting, and keeping public spaces well-maintained (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design). In Oakland, implementing these CPTED practices, along with their Oakland Ceasefire strategy, resulted in a 50% drop in shootings from 2012-2018 (City of Oakland).
Taking a look at some of the personal ways you can help stop gun violence include advocating for policy change and volunteering or donating to relevant non-profits, such as Chicago CRED and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. Additionally, educate yourself about gun violence by exploring resources, like The Trace, Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, Brady United, and Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions. Support local legislation that promotes universal background checks and safe storage laws. If you or people you know own firearms, make sure to follow safe storage practices by being SMART. The next time a horrible shooting happens, don’t look away or become disillusioned by it, but continue to use your voice to change the tides.
Works Cited
Be SMART Campaign. Be SMART for Kids: A Program to Keep Kids Safe from Gun Violence. Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, 2024, https://besmartforkids.org/. Accessed 29 May 2025.
Brady United. “Home.” Brady United, https://www.bradyunited.org/. Accessed 30 May 2025.
Carter, Majora. “Greening the Ghetto.” TED, Feb. 2006, https://www.ted.com/talks/majora_carter_greening_the_ghetto. Accessed 30 May 2025.
Chicago CRED. Home. Chicago CRED, https://www.chicagocred.org/. Accessed 29 May 2025.
City of Oakland. Oakland Ceasefire Strategy. City of Oakland, https://www.oaklandca.gov/topics/oaklands-ceasefire-strategy. Accessed 29 May 2025.
“Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design.” Design for Security, Greater Manchester Police, 2025, https://designforsecurity.org/crime-prevention-through-environmental-design/. Accessed 30 May 2025.
Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. Library of Congress Web Archive, 2012, https://giffords.org/lawcenter/gun-laws/. Accessed 30 May 2025.
Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions. “Center for Gun Violence Solutions.” Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, https://publichealth.jhu.edu/center-for-gun-violence-solutions. Accessed 30 May 2025.
Matthews, Alex Leeds, Amy O’Kruk, and Annette Choi. "School shootings in the US: Fast facts." CNN, 10 Dec. 2024. https://edition.cnn.com/us/school-shootings-fast-facts-dg/index.
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. Home. Everytown for Gun Safety, https://momsdemandaction.org/. Accessed 30 May 2025.
The Trace. “Reporting on Guns and Gun Violence in America.” The Trace, https://www.thetrace.org/. Accessed 30 May 2025.
“To Reduce Gun Violence, We Must Address Root Causes.” Johns Hopkins in Washington, D.C., 28 June 2024, https://washingtondc.jhu.edu/news/to-reduce-gun-violence-we-must-address-root-causes/. Accessed 30 May 2025.
