Center for American Progress

Donate

Rights and Justice

Gun Violence Prevention

Our goal is to reduce gun violence by enacting strong gun laws, increasing investment in local solutions, and growing the movement dedicated to this mission.

Gun control advocates take part in a candlelight vigil to honor of the victims of the mass shootings in El Paso, Texas; Dayton, Ohio; and Chicago, Illinois outside the National Rifle Association headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia, August 2019. (Getty/Michael A. McCoy/The Washington Post)

What We're Doing

Implement strong gun policies

The United States has fallen far behind its peer nations when it comes to keeping communities safe from gun violence. We work to develop federal and state legislative and executive action strategies to reduce gun violence and save lives.

Increase oversight of the gun industry

A combination of weak laws and lack of resources has left the gun industry in the United States essentially unregulated. We work to shine a light on this problem and develop effective solutions to ensure that this industry is required to help solve the epidemic of gun violence.

Support for public health and community-based solutions

Laws alone are not enough. Reducing gun violence requires a dedicated investment in public health approaches and community-based violence intervention programs.

Build an effective national coalition

We partner with national, state, and local gun violence prevention allies and organizations to harness our collective power to make meaningful change.

Featured Experts

More Experts

Featured Work

Latest

Compact View

  • Filter by
  • Type
    • Type
    Show Results
  • Date
    • Date
    • Date

    • to

    Custom range Fixed range
  • Topic
    • Topic
    Show Results
  • State
    • State
    Show Results
  • Toggle Search

  • 253 Results

Clear filters

CAP Joined by National Security and Gun Violence Prevention Advocates To Urge Congress To Protect Firearm Export Rule Podcast

CAP Joined by National Security and Gun Violence Prevention Advocates To Urge Congress To Protect Firearm Export Rule

The Center for American Progress, along with 34 organizations, authored a letter to Congress about protecting the Commerce Department’s firearm export rule, which will establish a new regulatory framework to protect U.S. national security interests.

Allison McManus, Nick Wilson, Laura Kilbury, 1 More Allison Jordan

10th National Gun Violence Prevention Summit Past Event

10th National Gun Violence Prevention Summit

Join CAP for a summit featuring speeches and discussions by leading advocates of the gun violence prevention movement.

Center for American Progress

In U.S. v. Rahimi, Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Domestic Violence Survivor Safety but Upholds Problematic Bruen Framework Article
Photo shows a Supreme Court building partly lit inside, against a dark blue sky

In U.S. v. Rahimi, Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Domestic Violence Survivor Safety but Upholds Problematic Bruen Framework

On June 21, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court determined that a sensible and effective gun violence prevention law protecting domestic violence survivors remains constitutional; however, the fact that survivor safety was compromised because of the politicization of the judiciary—and could be again in the future—should not be forgotten.

Sabrina Talukder, Nick Wilson

The Impacts of U.S. Gun Violence in Black, Latino, and Indigenous Communities Town Hall Past Event

The Impacts of U.S. Gun Violence in Black, Latino, and Indigenous Communities Town Hall

Join the Center for American Progress for a town hall that provides a binational perspective on the gun violence prevention movement, highlighting the efforts of U.S.-based and Mexico-based leaders.

Center for American Progress

Film Screening: ‘Columbine 2024: 25 Years of Trauma’ Past Event

Film Screening: ‘Columbine 2024: 25 Years of Trauma’

A documentary film that follows two survivors of the Columbine Shooting Massacre, followed by a panel discussion with the film's director and survivors.

Center For American Progress | 1333 H St. NW Suite 100E Washington DC 20005

CAP Joined by Gun Violence Victim Advocates To Comment on OVC’s Proposed Rules on Victim Compensation Grant Program Article

CAP Joined by Gun Violence Victim Advocates To Comment on OVC’s Proposed Rules on Victim Compensation Grant Program

The Center for American Progress, along with 47 organizations, submitted a comment letter advocating on behalf of victims to the U.S. Office for Victims of Crime on the agency’s proposal to replace the existing Victim Compensation Grant Program guidelines and clarify program requirements.

Nick Wilson, Chandler Hall

Community Violence Intervention: Juan Carter and Giffords Center for Violence Intervention Video

Community Violence Intervention: Juan Carter and Giffords Center for Violence Intervention

Juan Carter, outreach manager for the Giffords Center for Violence Intervention, explains how community violence intervention (CVI) programs take a holistic approach to public safety by investing in the long-term health and well-being of individuals affected by violence.

Chandler Hall, Nick Wilson, Hai-Lam Phan, 3 More Ala Al Sadi, Toni Pandolfo, Matthew Gossage

Community Violence Intervention: Susan Lee and Chicago CRED Video

Community Violence Intervention: Susan Lee and Chicago CRED

Susan Lee, chief of strategy and policy at Chicago CRED, explains why gun violence is a modern-day civil rights issue and how community violence intervention (CVI) strategies must be part of any public safety strategy to address racial inequity and structural violence.

Nick Wilson, Chandler Hall, Hai-Lam Phan, 4 More Ala Al Sadi, Toni Pandolfo, Madalyn Reagan, Matthew Gossage

Community Violence Intervention: Denise Villamil and Southern California Crossroads Video

Community Violence Intervention: Denise Villamil and Southern California Crossroads

Denise Villamil, executive director of Southern California Crossroads, discusses how her own lived experience in a community with fewer opportunities has informed her holistic approach to community violence intervention.

Nick Wilson, Chandler Hall, Matthew Gossage, 4 More Hai-Lam Phan, Madalyn Reagan, Toni Pandolfo, Ala Al Sadi

9th Annual National Gun Violence Prevention Summit Past Event
Photo shows four people sitting on a stage, one holding a microphone, with an American flag in the background

9th Annual National Gun Violence Prevention Summit

Join CAP for a summit featuring speeches and discussions by leading advocates of the gun violence prevention movement.

Online

2023 CAP IDEAS Conference Past Event
CAP IDEAS Conference logo

2023 CAP IDEAS Conference

Join the Center for American Progress as we celebrate 20 years of innovative policy solutions and look boldly forward to a progressive future.

From the Front Lines: Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Programs Give Gun Violence Survivors Opportunities To Thrive Video

From the Front Lines: Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Programs Give Gun Violence Survivors Opportunities To Thrive

Chris Edge, a survivor-advocate from Washington, D.C., shares his story of triumph and why he credits a hospital-based violence intervention program with helping him become a leader in his community.

Nick Wilson, Chandler Hall, Hai-Lam Phan, 4 More Matthew Gossage, Ashley Joo, Ronnie Rivera, Ala Al Sadi

What Does Community Violence Intervention Mean? Hear From People on the Front Lines of Preventing Gun Violence Video

What Does Community Violence Intervention Mean? Hear From People on the Front Lines of Preventing Gun Violence

Community violence intervention workers from across the United States explain and reflect on their work in preventing violence in their communities.

Nick Wilson, Chandler Hall, Tymoni Correa-Buntley, 6 More Audrey Smith, Matthew Gossage, Ashley Joo, Hai-Lam Phan, Ronnie Rivera, Ala Al Sadi

The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, 1 Year Later Report
President Joe Biden

The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, 1 Year Later

The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the first major federal gun safety bill passed in nearly 30 years, has closed gun law loopholes and implemented new gun violence prevention policies, as well as made significant investments in school and community safety that are saving lives.

Nick Wilson, Chandler Hall, Allison Jordan

La súplica de una madre para detener el flujo de armas estadounidenses a México Video

La súplica de una madre para detener el flujo de armas estadounidenses a México

La activista de derechos humanos mexicana María Herrera Magdaleno discute el impacto devastador del flujo de armas estadounidenses hacia México, incluyendo la desaparición forzada de cuatro de sus hijos.

Nick Wilson, Andrew Sonntag, Rafael Medina, 4 More Gaby Blanco, Ala Al Sadi, Hai-Lam Phan, Julia Schroeder

A Place for Us: A Memoir, in Conversation With Brandon J. Wolf and Chasten Buttigieg Past Event
Cover art for

A Place for Us: A Memoir, in Conversation With Brandon J. Wolf and Chasten Buttigieg

Join Brandon J. Wolf, Chasten Buttigieg, and the Center for American Progress for an armchair conversation to discuss LGBTQI+ rights, gun violence prevention, and finding purpose and power through tragedy.

Center for American Progress

8 Ways To Reduce Gun Violence in Minnesota Report
A collection of confiscated guns is stored in the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office crime lab.

8 Ways To Reduce Gun Violence in Minnesota

In Minnesota, violent crime is increasingly fueled by firearms, as the state lacks foundational gun control laws that would improve public safety and save lives.

Allison Jordan

Delaware Lawmakers Can Reduce Gun Violence by Passing a Permit-to-Purchase Law Fact Sheet
Three individuals at gun control rally

Delaware Lawmakers Can Reduce Gun Violence by Passing a Permit-to-Purchase Law

Lawmakers have an opportunity to increase public safety and save lives by passing and effectively implementing a permit-to-purchase law, which requires an individual to obtain a license before purchasing a firearm.

Nick Wilson, Eugenio Weigend Vargas, Marissa Edmund, 1 More Traci Manza Murphy

How Policymakers Can Reduce Gun Violence in Michigan Report
Students hug each other after placing flowers honoring the lives of those killed during the Michigan State shooting.

How Policymakers Can Reduce Gun Violence in Michigan

This report highlights additional opportunities for Michigan policymakers to improve public safety through the enactment of popular and proven policies that many other states have successfully adopted to save lives.

Allison Jordan

Guns Without Borders Past Event

Guns Without Borders

Addressing the flow of U.S. firearms to Mexico and Central America

Online

School Shooting Survivor Mia Tretta Shares Message on Staying Focused Amid Endless Tragedies Video

School Shooting Survivor Mia Tretta Shares Message on Staying Focused Amid Endless Tragedies

Mia Tretta—a survivor of the Saugus High School shooting in Santa Clarita, California—speaks with the Center for American Progress about her experience and the need to maintain momentum following such gun violence tragedies.

Tymoni Correa-Buntley, Andrew Sonntag, Hai-Lam Phan

8th Annual National Gun Violence Prevention Summit Past Event

8th Annual National Gun Violence Prevention Summit

Addressing the largest challenges and opportunities facing the gun violence prevention movement

Location provided after registration.

Weak Gun Laws Are Harmful to Women and Survivors of Domestic Violence Fact Sheet
Woman in close-up shielding candle flame with hand

Weak Gun Laws Are Harmful to Women and Survivors of Domestic Violence

States with weak gun violence prevention laws see significantly higher rates of female gun homicide, while states with strong guns laws have much lower rates.

Marissa Edmund

Gun Violence in Rural America Fact Sheet
A man peers through the scope on his rifle in rural Texas.

Gun Violence in Rural America

While politicians and the media have largely focused their attention on gun violence in large cities, rural communities continue to see a rise in gun-related deaths.

David Correa, Nick Wilson

National Film Premiere: ‘Suppressed and Sabotaged: The Fight to Vote’ Past Event

National Film Premiere: ‘Suppressed and Sabotaged: The Fight to Vote’

Please join CAP's Reel Progress program and Brave New Films for a film screening of "Suppressed and Sabotaged: The Fight to Vote," followed by a discussion with a panel of esteemed experts.

Online only

Recommendations for Newly Confirmed ATF Director Steve Dettelbach Article

Recommendations for Newly Confirmed ATF Director Steve Dettelbach

This coalition letter, led by the Center for American Progress in partnership with gun violence prevention and allied organizations, includes a list of immediate actions the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives can take to reduce gun violence.

Nick Wilson, Allison Jordan

Media Coverage Often Ignore Guns as the Main Driver of the Recent Rise in Violent Crime Article
A TV camera is seen at a memorial for shooting victims.

Media Coverage Often Ignore Guns as the Main Driver of the Recent Rise in Violent Crime

The word “gun” or another synonymous variation was only included in 3.5 percent of headlines and summaries of online news posts that included the words “murders” or “homicides,” even though 80 percent of homicides are committed with a firearm, and gun homicides increased by 35 percent.

Will Ragland

Guns and Anti-Government Extremism in Nevada Report
An AR-15 pictured at in Boulder City, Nevada, on March 14, 2018.

Guns and Anti-Government Extremism in Nevada

The rise in white supremacist and anti-government violence is fueled by weak gun laws and easy access to firearms.

Marissa Edmund, Annette Magnus, Amber Falgout