By: Devin Hughes

This summer, John Lott of the Crime Prevention Research Center launched a coordinated push to convince Americans that the countries frequently praised for their strong gun laws are actually more dangerous than the United States. Lott touts this conclusion in a RealClearInvestigations article, a Toronto Sun op-ed co-authored with Professor Gary Mauser, and an Australian Spectator piece with Australian Federal Senator Malcolm Roberts.

The articles claim that Canada’s total violent crime rate is 295% higher than America’s (175% higher after dropping sexual assault), robbery 268% higher, burglary 259% higher, and Australia’s sexual assault rate triple ours.

While Lott concedes the U.S. murder rate is roughly double Canada’s and Australia’s, he dismisses it because homicides are just 0.21% of American violent crime. The gun lobby’s Firehose of Falsehood infrastructure promptly touted the findings, from Bearing Arms to HotAir to Rebel News, alongside dozens of other right-wing media sources.

The goal of these claims is clear: if gun-restrictive peer nations are actually more violent, then “more guns, less crime” is internationally supported, and America’s genuine status as the developed world’s outlier in lethal violence becomes a statistical illusion.

However, Lott’s findings are a statistical illusion, crafted by his time-honed strategy of not comparing like to like. When genuinely similar surveys are compared, these claims evaporate.

Lott compares two different types of surveys

Lott’s method is to divide figures from Canada’s General Social Survey (GSS) and the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) crime survey by figures from America’s National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). However, these instruments belong to different methodological families.

The NCVS is a bounded, rotating panel: the same households are interviewed seven times over three years, with prior interviews screening questions deployed to reduce the influence of “false positives.” The GSS and ABS surveys are one-shot instruments posing broad, behaviorally specific questions to first-time respondents — a design that reliably produces dramatically higher counts for the same crimes, no matter which country runs it. We know this because the United States runs both kinds of surveys on itself.

In 2010, the CDC’s one-shot National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey counted 1.27 million women as victims of rape or attempted rape; the NCVS counted 188,380 victimizations that same year. The National Research Council attributed this nearly sevenfold gap largely to questionnaire design. Same country, same year, same crime, but a within-America gap larger than the entire U.S. to Canada difference Lott reports. When the instrument alone can move a number sevenfold, dividing a GSS-style figure by an NCVS figure measures the questionnaire, not the country.

Indeed, Statistics Canada is so wary of these effects that it cautions against comparing the redesigned 2019 GSS even to its own 2014 cycle. A survey that cannot safely be compared with itself cannot be compared with a foreign survey built on a different architecture.

Lott responds to this objection by claiming his comparison is biased against his conclusion: the NCVS supposedly counts threats while the Canadian assault category “generally requires physical contact.” This is backward. Statistics Canada’s published definition of GSS physical assault explicitly includes face-to-face threats of harm and incidents where a weapon was present, and both surveys count threats. The “conservative” 175% figure rests on Lott’s misrepresentation of the Canadian instrument, upending his Canada-based argument.

Further, Lott’s own tables refute him. He calls the burglary data “highly comparable.” Yet by his own figures, victims report burglary to police at nearly identical rates — 45% in Canada vs. 44% in the U.S. — while police-recorded burglary rates differ by roughly 26%. If both populations report equally and the surveys measure the same thing, the survey gap should also be about 26%. Instead, the table shows a 259% gap.

Motor vehicle theft is worse: police-recorded rates are essentially identical, yet his survey gap is 412% because the GSS counts theft of vehicle parts while the NCVS does not. Either the surveys are comparable, making his burglary and vehicle numbers statistically impossible, or his core claim is an illusion. Both conclusions demonstrate that Lott’s overall assertions are false.

What comparing like to like actually shows

Comparing like to like involves holding the Canadian and Australian numbers fixed and swapping the American survey by replacing the NCVS with the methodologically GSS-like NISVS. Canada’s claimed sexual assault gap collapses from 18.8 times the U.S. rate to 1.9 times. Australia’s flips from 3.1 times higher to 0.31, below the United States. A ranking that reverses based on the American questionnaire selected is not measuring the countries, but the type of survey.

A survey purpose-built for this international comparison also exists, and Lott cites it. His Australian piece invokes the International Crime Victims Survey to claim Australia’s violent crime was 104% higher back in 2000. But citing the ICVS concedes his raw ABS vs. NCVS comparisons fail his own standard. Further, the 2000 round actually found victimization broadly similar across wealthy democracies, with the U.S. and Canada clustered in the same band.

What distinguished America then and now is lethality, with the exception not in crime but in killing, driven overwhelmingly by gun violence. Additionally, that snapshot has also expired as Australian assault prevalence has nearly halved since 2008–09 alone.

This leaves the one measure no questionnaire can inflate: homicide. The U.S. rate of roughly 4 per 100,000 is about double Canada’s 1.91 and Australia’s. Lott’s answer that murder is basically a rounding error of violent crime asks readers to treat the debate’s only artifact-free statistic as the one that doesn’t count.

Even more importantly, Lott’s analysis flattens crime numbers, treating a threat the same as a severe gunshot injury or even death. As has long been understood, the U.S. is not unique relative to similarly wealthy countries when it comes to its overall crime rate, but is tragically a major outlier when it comes to the severity and lethality of those crimes.

Canadian crime data also contains genuine bad news, and it points south. As we documented in The Gun Lobby’s Arsenal of Anarchy, Canada, which still has far lower gun violence than the U.S., has seen shootings surge 869% as firearms flow north from American dealers — the same trafficking pipeline arming cartels in Mexico and gangs in Haiti. To the extent Canadians are less safe, the American gun lobby is a primary culprit.

How this survey trick is used in the defensive gun use debate

Not comparing like to like is the same statistical manipulation Lott and Gary Kleck have run for three decades in the defensive gun use debate. The claim that guns are used defensively more often than criminally requires comparing Kleck’s one-shot private survey estimate of 2.5 million DGUs against the NCVS count of roughly 500,000 gun crimes.

As Dr. David Hemenway of Harvard University demonstrated, the trick only works by mixing survey types. Keep the comparison within a single methodology, and the result reverses every time: one-shot private surveys find roughly 10 million criminal gun uses against 2.5 million defensive ones; the NCVS finds more than nine times as many people victimized by guns as protected by them; Harvard surveys found three times as many offensive uses; and a study of adolescents found thirteen times as many. And empirical data from the Gun Violence Archive finds vastly more offensive than defensive uses. Every same-instrument comparison points the same direction.

Comparing like to like is a cardinal rule of statistical analysis for a reason. Otherwise, as Lott has demonstrated numerous times, analysis becomes a fishing expedition to find a survey that produces large numbers and a different type of survey that produces small numbers — all to fit a pre-established narrative.

Devin Hughes is the President and Founder of GVPedia, a gun violence prevention non-profit that provides access to research and data to combat disinformation.

Photo by Thomas K; via Pexels

As there is a pause at the federal level for gun violence prevention, the most productive action has moved to the local level. Every other week, we bring you the Regional Wrap to get you caught up on gun violence prevention news that might be happening right in your town.

CALIFORNIA:

California Legislature Passes Groundbreaking Legislation to Stop 3D-Printed Guns

“California has spent years building some of the strongest gun safety laws in the country, and we cannot allow rapidly evolving technology to create a new way around them….”

COLORADO:

Sheriffs, NRA oppose law requiring training for gun purchases

“The Colorado legislature, officially called the General Assembly, last year passed the gun control bill, which took effect on Aug. 1, 2026.”

DELAWARE:

Wilmington safety office aims to protect residents by speaking with those at risk for gun violence

“Now, Mayor John Carney has created the Office of Community Safety. He’s named longtime social worker John Cook… to lead what’s currently a one-man unit, but it could expand.”

FLORIDA:

In Florida, Bullet Wounds Send a Child to the Hospital More Than Once a Day

“The numbers reflect how Florida’s long history of racial discrimination and permissive gun laws undermine public health, said researchers, public officials, community activists, and grieving parents.”

VIDEO: New data reveals toll of youth gun violence in Central Florida

“9 Investigates, along with KFF Health News and The Trace, analyzed Florida hospital discharge data from 2018 through 2024.”

Where Florida’s gun violence exacts its biggest toll on Black and Latino children

“But the Florida Department of Health does not focus on gun violence as a public health threat… despite its being the nation’s leading cause of death for children and teens. The State Health Improvement Plan, a set of goals developed by the health department and an advisory committee, does not mention guns, the toll they take on children, or efforts to reduce firearm deaths and injuries to young people.”

INDIANA:

VIDEO: Hospital resources helping gunshot victims work through trauma

“Zalin Green, Dazaun Harris, and Trevon Turman are victims of gun violence offering their unique stories of survivorship and strength.”

LOUISIANA:

VIDEO: Moms on a Mission helps families hurt by gun violence

“Moms on a Mission is a nonprofit that supports mothers who have lost a child to gun violence, and they support senior citizens.”

New Orleans ranks among top cities for violence prevention efforts

“The city scored 65 out of 100 in the 2025 Violence Prevention Index, putting New Orleans among the top 10 cities included in the report. It also had the highest score of the four Louisiana cities evaluated….”

MARYLAND:

Baltimore again ranks second in nation for violence prevention strategy

“[Community Justice Action Fund] looked at 100 cities for its 2025 study, known as the Violence Prevention Index (VPI). The city receiving the highest score to rank No. 1 was Washington, D.C. At No. 3 was Chicago, followed by Philadelphia and Memphis.”

“Safer Futures Program” Advances Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety

“LifeBridge Health has launched the Safer Futures Program, a systemwide initiative designed to make firearm safety conversations, education and resources a routine part of health and wellness across the communities it serves.”

MICHIGAN:

VIDEO: Fourth annual prayer walk against gun violence held in Muskegon

“Each participating church prayed a specific prayer for those impacted by gun violence, all in an effort to create change in their community.”

Lansing, Michigan, Reduced Shootings. Now Community Groups Are Trying to Keep the Peace.

“Gun violence has reached historic lows in this city, but unstable funding is testing its progress.”

MINNESOTA:

Exploring Community-Based Violence Intervention Programs

“Research cited from other states shows that CVI strategies can reduce violence by up to nearly 100 percent in certain neighborhoods when consistently supported.”

NEW JERSEY:

At Newark seminar, Secret Service offers tips for preventing school shootings

“Experts from the Secret Service’s National Threat Assessment Center presented findings from their research on targeted school violence and shared tips for identifying, assessing, and intervening with students exhibiting concerning or threatening behaviors.”

NEW YORK:

VIDEO: BPD: Gun violence remains below average due to crackdown on illegal weapons

“With violent crime overall down 8% from this time last year, Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan and Police Commissioner Erika Shields highlighted the department’s efforts to keep the city safe, including 282 gun arrests made so far in 2026.”

OHIO:

PHOTO GALLERY: Communities Against Gun Violence March

“Families and residents gathered for the annual Communities Against Gun Violence March in Toledo….”

Photo: Addison Annis; via The Blade

VIRGINIA:

VIDEO: Portsmouth takes new approach to gun violence, treating crime as a public health emergency

“The initiative is called Project Impact, which stands for Inter-Agency Multi-Disciplinary Prevention Analysis and Community Transformation. It would bring city departments and partner agencies together within 24 hours of certain shootings.”

WASHINGTON:

After Seattle Center shooting, WA gun reform up against rifts, fatigue

“There were programs set up that were doing great, successful work, that have lost funding from the state because of what’s going on….”

This is Part 1 of our three-part Back To School series that will gather recent academic studies covering various permutations of the troubling trend of firearms infiltrating school grounds. Check our monthly “Research Rewind” feature for consistent updates of such peer-reviewed reports.

School is back in session. Across elementary, high school, and college campuses, students, parents, and educators are not just brushing up on curriculum or the latest laptop, they often seek the most up-to-date information on firearms on campuses.

Below is a list of academic studies from the last few years that investigate the realities of this landscape.

Adapting to the Disconnection: An Examination of School Alienation and Adolescent Gun Carrying

Attitudes toward Concealed Carry of Firearms on Campus: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Guns and Gun Threats at College

Guns at College

Gun Laws and School Safety

Examining the Extent and Predictors of the Negative Impacts of a Campus Carry Law Among Faculty and Students

Intrastate and Interstate Influences on the Introduction and Enactment of Campus Carry Legislation, 2004–2016

Is There a Difference Between Democrat and Republican States in the Percentage of Male High School Students Who Carry Weapons on School Property?

Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Carrying a Gun to School During Adolescence: A Statewide Study of Middle and High School Students

School Handgun Carrying Among Youth Growing Up in Rural Communities

GVPedia & Armed with Reason Merch!

On Fridays, we highlight articles and videos from the gun violence prevention realm that might’ve been missed during your busy week.

ATTENTION: As of Friday, September 4th, Armed with Reason readers will get a preview of selected articles going forward — the full articles on those topics will be available to paid subscribers.

Why subscribe? As disinformation surrounding firearms and their usage grows rampant in the United States, Armed with Reason aims to provide readers with accurate and timely information in the battle against the gun lobby’s misinformation machine. We provide informed, impassioned content — from original articles and podcasts to shared content across the gun violence prevention spectrum. Your support is critical in continuing this effort.

Inflated Claim About Guns and Self-Defense Returns to CDC Website

“The agency’s website now features misleading statistics about how often Americans use guns to protect themselves. Here’s where those numbers come from — and what the data actually shows.”

Concealed Carry Killers

“Concealed carry permit holders are supposed to be the ‘good guys’ with guns. In reality, far too many permit holders are a direct threat to public safety.”

Gun Violence Prevention Strategy Successes

America’s murder rate hasn’t been this low in 70 years

“Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott’s Group Violence Reduction Strategy identifies the few people most likely to shoot or be shot…. Separately, the longer-running Safe Streets program puts outreach workers with real street credibility between disputes, aiming to interrupt them before they become shootings.”

What Can New York City’s Crime Prevention Efforts Teach Us About Gun Violence?

“For more than a decade, city leaders have prioritized public health strategies to prevent shootings. Research shows community violence intervention has been key to its success.”

100 Strategies for Hospitals to Advance Gun Violence Prevention

“Now, a new toolkit makes that more practical than ever. It offers hospitals a roadmap for creating firearm injury and violence prevention programs tailored to their communities.”

VIDEO: Stop Guns from Going Back to School

“We don’t need to rely on legislation to enact real change. Preventing the next school shooting can start right at home.”

Trump threatens lawsuit against nonprofit that questioned whether National Guard plan lessened crime

“The report… criticized the administration for taking credit for a historic drop in violent crime at a time when that decline was already underway. The analysis concluded that Trump’s deployment of the National Guard ‘had no measurable effect on violent crime trends.’ Tanden said the work was based on the nonprofit’s analysis of crime data and its findings were simply ‘inconvenient to the Trump administration.’”

CAP Response: Baseless Threats from the Trump Administration Won’t Stop CAP’s Independent Research

Anniversary of Annunciation Church and School Shooting

LISTEN: One year after Annunciation: Healing and the push to prevent gun violence

“Thursday [marked] one year since the shooting at Annunciation Church and School in Minneapolis when a shooter opened fire during a back-to-school Mass. One hundred and sixteen bullets shattered windows of the building in less than two minutes.”

A memorial outside Annunciation Catholic Church and School on Aug. 29, 2025. (Photo: Alex V. Cipolle; via MPR News)

The shooting finally stopped. Then came everything else

“Survivors of last year’s attack on a Minneapolis Catholic school want you to know: In class and at home, the trauma colors everything.”

Related: One Year After the Deadly School Shooting at the Annunciation School in Minneapolis, Everytown, Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action Remember the Lives Stolen and Renew Call for Action on Gun Violence Prevention

Civilian Marksmanship Program Announces Sale of Surplus M14 Rifles

“Not surprisingly, the gun press and pro-gun message boards have reacted with glee to the CMP’s announcement. But their excitement is not limited to the prospect of paying nearly $2,000 for a nearly 70-year-old surplus rifle. As Guns.com noted, “This could open the door to applying the same logic to the millions of surplus 5.56 firearms (M16A1, A2, A4s, etc.) in military storage, provided Congress tweaks the organization’s charter to include that caliber….”

Gun violence rattles Brussels as mayor points to ‘bullet holes in the ground’

“A gunman opened fire with an automatic weapon near the Brussels Midi train station on Monday night amid a spate of shootings in the Belgian capital.”

Miami street artist completes 50-state gun violence mural project

“I’ve experienced the consequences of violence personally, but I never wanted violence to have the final image. The message was always about peace, hope, and possibility. No matter where we traveled, people understood that.”

Peace murals in Alaska (left) and Miami (courtesy of Kyle Holbrook; via AXIOS Miami)

While we love summer, and it technically doesn’t end until September 21, there’s no doubt we’re into the school season, as most schools around the country started back this week.

Last week we posted this list of articles related to the increasing focus on preventing shootings on campuses. In case you missed it, we’ve reposted it, below.

As we gather up new school supplies and outfits, a sad reality of America’s back-to-school ritual is that parents must be updated on the latest movements in gun violence prevention on campus. Below, we’ve gathered a number of news and informational articles that help you stay current on school-centered GVP action from around the country.

A noticeable, if depressing, trend in this year’s search for such articles was a creeping capitulation to the dystopian notion of “hardening schools.” There seems to be a white flag wave by some school districts to relent to the instant gratification of tech-y security tricks, even more metal detectors, and adding security guards or police on campuses — all of which haven’t proven to deter shooters and only add to the fear American children face just walking up to the school doors.

Still, there are voices out there focusing on the real problem — guns — and gathering information you can use to keep your kids safe now while planning for a brighter future.

Tech to the Rescue? - Drones & AI for School Shooting Protection

VIDEO: Three U.S. states to deploy 60mph drones armed with pepper spray to neutralize school shooters — ‘Campus Guardian Angel’ drones can also smash windows and ram attackers

“The drone arms race is set to enter U.S. schools with Mithril Defense’s Campus Guardian Angel drones in at least nine schools across three states before the year is out. The Washington Post reports that the pilot program will be tested in Florida, Georgia, and Colorado schools with and without resource officers on campus.”

Pepper-spraying drones being used to help stop active school shooters

Atlanta Public Schools debuts tactical response and drone teams to strengthen school security: “We want to make sure our kids are protected”

“… the Atlanta Board of Education approved placing a police officer at every school. Since then, APS has expanded its police department from about 60 officers to roughly 100, making it the largest school police force in Georgia, according to the district. The expanded staffing allowed APS to create a dedicated tactical unit equipped with two drones designed to assist officers during emergency situations.”

VIDEO: Drone program expands to new Florida districts, aims to improve response times during school shootings

“Their drones are equipped with strobes, sirens, and pepper spray. They are remotely operated from Austin, Texas.”

Are school shooter drones breaking federal law?

“Three days before Christmas, the FCC made the surprise and unprecedented announcement that Chinese drones and drone components made in China had been added to the List of Equipment and Services Covered By Section 2 of The Secure Networks Act. This action effectively banned the import, marketing, and sale of all Chinese drones and components in the United States.”

Lamar County Schools introducing weapons detectors, AI camera detection

“Behind the scenes, Chief Hill says school resource officers have been busy preparing, too, including active-shooter training with realistic weapons to perfect muscle memory. ‘We’re excited to welcome students back because that’s when we are just geared up, ready to go,’ Hill said.”

Keeping guns out of schools, what measures [Las Vegas] has in place

“I want them to feel comfortable, but it also put me in an uncomfortable situation where I had to bring up a conversation about guns with—I have six-year-olds….”

A leading school shootings researcher says he was wrong

“Anti-bullying and social-emotional learning haven’t reduced school shootings. Minimizing public attention on shooters might.”

Treat youth gun violence with the urgency it demands

“Youth gun violence speaks to the availability of handguns, the lack of parental or adult guidance, and the failure among lawmakers in creating sensible laws that treat gun violence, and prevention of it, with the seriousness it deserves.”

Meeting Educators Where They Are

“Abbey Clements — co-founder and Executive Director at Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence — recently spent time checking in to a number of coordinated teacher conferences across the country that were tasked with, among the mirad of other educational issues, addressing gun violence as a workplace safety issue.”

SCOTUS Rulings Favor Most School Shooter Weapons

What the Supreme Court’s test for gun rules could mean for AR-15s this year

“In a big decision, the Supreme Court reaffirmed its ‘historical’ test for gun laws. Now, it prepares to debate AR-15 bans in the upcoming term.”

New Jersey Just Lost Its Assault Weapons Ban. Here’s Why That Matters for the Rest of the Country.

“The ruling against New Jersey’s assault weapons ban is likely only the first, and could mark the beginning of the end for similar laws in nearly a dozen states.”

Riedman Report: Risk, AI, Education, & Security

Our colleague, David Riedman, has recently rebranded his Substack to expand his focus on his reportage of school shooting statistics. Here are a few of his recent posts:

First school shooting of 2026-27 school year

Hollywood keeps romanticizing the school shooter

Missing school shootings in the FBI’s 2025 Active Shooter report

Via Riedman Report

Schools Closed, Buildings Sat Empty — and Gun Violence Rose, Study Finds

“… researchers at the University of Chicago and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that neighborhoods surrounding these long-vacant buildings saw a 10 percent increase in gun violence, compared to similar neighborhoods where schools didn’t close.”

Image courtesy of Elisha McDowell (r), via Cultured.

While on the search for gun violence prevention news for our weekly Friday Finds feature, we often come across editorials, personal stories, or wider-lens articles that don’t necessarily fit into a current events window. With GVPanorama we highlight some of these thought-provoking pieces.

Lately, it’s been increasingly difficult to stay positive about common sense gun reform in America. So stories like this offer hope for the future. After growing up on some of the toughest streets of Cleveland, Elisha McDowell made her way to Florida A&M University where she became the co-founder and president of Florida A&M University’s Students Demand Action. Even after living in two of the most detrimental states for any meaningful firearm legislation, Ms. McDowell picks up her literal and metaphorical bullhorn every day to affect real change and inspiration on her campus.

Check out the full interview here.

On Fridays, we highlight articles and videos from the gun violence prevention realm that might’ve been missed during your busy week.

ATTENTION: As of Friday, September 4th, Armed with Reason readers will get a preview of selected articles going forward — the full articles on those topics will be available to paid subscribers.

Why subscribe? As disinformation surrounding firearms and their usage grows rampant in the United States, Armed with Reason aims to provide readers with accurate and timely information in the battle against the gun lobby’s misinformation machine. We provide informed, impassioned content — from original articles and podcasts to shared content across the gun violence prevention spectrum. Your support is critical in continuing this effort.

Subscribe now

2025 Violence Prevention Index Report

“Community Justice’s fourth annual Violence Prevention Index (VPI) is the only national analysis of municipalities’ programs, services, and policies designed to reduce gun and other forms of violence. The 2025 VPI assesses the 100 U.S. cities with the highest incidence of gun violence….”

Portions of 1934 NFA Law Deemed Unconstitutional:

Trump DOJ Allows Lapse in NFA Enforcement

“On August 5, 2026, a federal judge for the Northern District of Texas ruled that key enforcement provisions of the National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934 are unconstitutional as applied to silencers, short-barreled rifles and shotguns, and other easily concealed weapons, including pen guns and cane guns.”

The Guns Affected by the New Texas Firearm Ruling

“The types of guns that some Americans can own and how they will be registered is about to change following a ruling by a Texas judge—issued to deregulate certain weapons—that the Trump administration had declined to pause.”

Texas court order kicks in striking federal rules on silencers and certain guns

“The order benefits parties that brought the lawsuit, including some dealers based outside northern Texas, but it is not a national injunction. Advocates say there are similar challenges in federal courts in other states. Separately, some states have their own prohibitions on silencers.”

Trump Admin Streamlines Silencer Exports

“The transition will reduce the vetting required for silencer export applications, thus making it easier for silencer manufacturers and retailers to export these tactical accessories to more customers abroad, and for silencer owners to travel with them.”

Trump administration just moved silencer exports quietly

“Silencer exports are about to be handled by a different arm of the federal government, and the shift has reopened one of the oldest arguments in American gun policy.”

Biden-era ‘Ghost Gun’ Restrictions Ruled Unconstitutional

“U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor held that the 2022 measure, which required that self-assembled guns be treated like any other firearm, conflicts with the nation’s “historical tradition” of personal gunsmithing and self-manufacture of firearms.”

• Brady Reacts to Federal Court Undermining ATF Ghost Gun Rule

• Everytown Law Denounces Federal District Court Ruling Narrowly Blocking Enforcement of ATF Ghost Gun Rule As Applied to Two Defense Distributed Products, Calls on DOJ to Appeal

• GIFFORDS reacts to federal court striking down ATF’s ghost gun rule

Justice Department Opens Path to Restore Gun Rights for Some Felons

“The Justice Department, under Attorney General Todd Blanche, announced Monday a new rule allowing certain people previously barred from owning firearms due to felony convictions to apply for restoration of their federal gun rights…. The department expects approximately 330,000 felons to apply for restoration.”

• Brady Responds to AG Blanche’s Introduction of Final Rule to Restore Gun Rights to Individuals Prohibited from Owning Firearms

SMART Week - August 24–28, 2026

“August 24–28, 2026, will mark the third annual SMART Week — a time when we come together to spread the word on the critical importance of secure gun storage to prevent gun violence.”

How a Brief Conversation About Firearm Safety Can Increase Openness to Storing Guns Outside of the Home

“Researchers at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center at Rutgers found that Project Safe Guard more than doubled the proportion of participants who initially opposed out-of-home firearm storage….”

New Study Finds “Suicide by Cop” Labels are Shaped More by how a Police Encounter Unfolds than by Mental Health History

“Johns Hopkins and Vanderbilt University researchers find domestic disturbance calls, warrant service, and investigative stops were more likely to be labeled “suicide by cop” than calls specifically about a mental health crisis.”

Registration for the Atwood Institute gun violence prevention training extended to Aug. 30

“The Sept. 15-18 event at Heartland Retreat Center near Kansas City is offered by the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship”

David Caba is preventing gun violence with B.R.A.G in communities

“B.R.A.G. (Bronx Rises Against Gun Violence) takes a community-based approach to preventing gun violence. Rather than relying solely on traditional law enforcement, the program works with young people, residents, community organizations, and other partners to identify conflicts and intervene before violence occurs.”

For more such local GVP news, check out our bi-weekly post, Regional Wrap.

As there is a pause at the federal level for gun violence prevention, the most productive action has moved to the local level. Every other week, we bring you the Regional Wrap to get you caught up on gun violence prevention news that might be happening right in your town.

CALIFORNIA:

Children affected by gun violence need support, or they may continue the cycle

“Nearly every person I have worked with who committed a gun offense had first experienced firearm-related trauma. Many witnessed shootings as children.”

Gun violence crackdown led to 51 arrests, 76 firearms seized across East Bay

“Federal agents and Oakland police say ‘Operation Disarm’ targeted people responsible for violent crime.”

COLORADO:

Stopping gun violence before it happens in Aurora. Is SAVE salvation or harassment?

“An Aurora community youth gun-violence prevention program is highlighting tension between a desire for safer communities and a lack of trust in police.”

CONNECTICUT:

CT groups will receive $3.1M to help prevent gun violence

“Groups operating in and around Bridgeport, Hartford, New London, New Haven, Stamford and Waterbury are set to receive $3.1 million to pay for mentoring and afterschool programs, hospital-based violence intervention programs and street outreach. The goal is to identify root causes of gun violence, build trust with the community, and intervene before violence occurs.”

VIDEO: ‘It’s our future’: Hartford teens participate in gun violence prevention program

“The program is a partnership between Hartford Communities That Care, Yale School of Public Health, and Project Unloaded…. Over six weeks, 50 teens 13-17 years old worked on social media campaigns that convey the message “guns make us less safe.”

KENTUCKY:

VIDEO: Kentucky families honor loved ones lost at ‘Walk a Mile in Our Shoes’ event

“The shoes are more than a symbol at the event. Families place their shoes in front of photographs of their loved ones as a tribute to the lives they lost and a reminder of the struggle that continues after a sudden death.”

Lexington gun violence initiative finds no grant recipient

“Five organizations applied, but only one met the requirements. One Lexington said that group later declined the grant after reviewing its requirements and expectations.”

Louisville reports lowest July homicide numbers since 2014, continuing decline in gun violence

“Non-fatal shootings also reached their lowest level since 2018, while combined homicides and non-fatal shootings were at their lowest since 2017.”

MICHIGAN:

VIDEO: More than 1,000 illegal firearms taken off Michigan streets

“The program, launched under Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, teams Michigan Department of Corrections parole and probation agents with local law enforcement to conduct enhanced compliance checks on people who are legally prohibited from owning a firearm.”

MINNESOTA:

Local residents launch new Moms Demand Action chapter in Wright County

“The chapter aims at bringing together residents committed to promoting responsible gun safety, supporting survivors of gun violence and working toward safer communities for everyone.”

Study shows St. Paul’s Project PEACE shows promise in gun violence prevention

“Run by the city’s Office of Neighborhood Safety (ONS), the initiative focuses on addressing the root causes of gun violence across local neighborhoods.”

NEW YORK:

New York Moves to Counteract ATF Rollbacks

“Governor Hochul’s strategy for fighting the Trump administration’s new gun rules serves as a model for other states to follow.”

VIDEO: NYPD reports record-low shootings and murders through July 2026

“The NYPD also reported the fewest shootings ever recorded during a Fourth of July holiday period, with nine incidents between July 3 and July 5.”

Related: NYPD touts removing 3,200+ guns off NYC streets so far this year

Rise, Respond and Rebuild: Conference to explore solutions for ending gun violence, healing communities

“National experts in public health, medicine, violence prevention, trauma recovery, education, social work and community advocacy will gather at the University at Buffalo Sept. 11-12 for the Rise, Respond and Rebuild Conference: Healing Communities by Ending Gun Violence.”

OHIO:

VIDEO: Akron anti-violence gathering encourages kids to trade real guns for water guns

“It’s all about being together…. One step to violence prevention — just getting to know your neighbors. Just getting to know your community”

OREGON:

VIDEO: Interrupting the cycle: Advocates talk solutions amid surge in youth gun violence

“There is a lag in statewide and countywide data…. However, data from previous years shows that statewide, the severity of crimes Oregon's youth are committing is on the rise and that youth are committing those crimes at much younger ages.”

Measure 114’s passage spurred Oregonians to purchase thousands of guns, new study finds

“The law still has not taken effect since its passage in 2022 as the Oregon Supreme Court weighs whether to uphold it.”

TEXAS:

Limits on certain firearms, silencers lifted for some in Texas after judge’s order takes effect

“‘Today, our government is failing us,’ Brady President Kris Brown said in a statement. ‘Today, the gun industry and silencer dealers are celebrating, while Americans are left less safe.’”

VIRGINIA:

VIDEO: Newport News police report declines in violent crime, shootings and overall crime at mid-year

“[Newport News Police Chief Steve] Drew said the department is taking a data-driven approach to determine where officers and resources are needed.”

VIDEO: Richmond adds violence interrupters to its gun violence prevention strategy

“City leaders said the program, modeled after efforts in Baltimore, Chicago and Oakland, relies on ambassadors who already have established relationships and trust within the communities they serve.”

WASHINGTON:

‘We are building safer communities’: King County receives $15M grant to strengthen crisis response, prevent gun violence

“The funding will support crisis intervention training for law enforcement and corrections officers, enhance behavioral health crisis response, and bolster community-based gun violence prevention efforts across the region.”

As we gather up new school supplies and outfits, a sad reality of America’s back-to-school ritual is that parents must be updated on the latest movements in gun violence prevention on campus. Below, we’ve gathered a number of news and informational articles that help you stay current on school-centered GVP action from around the country.

A noticeable, if depressing, trend in this year’s search for such articles was a creeping capitulation to the dystopian notion of “hardening schools.” There seems to be a white flag wave by some school districts to relent to the instant gratification of tech-y security tricks, even more metal detectors, and adding security guards or police on campuses — all of which haven’t proven to deter shooters and only add to the fear American children face just walking up to the school doors.

Still, there are voices out there focusing on the real problem — guns — and gathering information you can use to keep your kids safe now while planning for a brighter future.

Tech to the Rescue? - Drones & AI for School Shooting Protection

VIDEO: Three U.S. states to deploy 60mph drones armed with pepper spray to neutralize school shooters — ‘Campus Guardian Angel’ drones can also smash windows and ram attackers

“The drone arms race is set to enter U.S. schools with Mithril Defense’s Campus Guardian Angel drones in at least nine schools across three states before the year is out. The Washington Post reports that the pilot program will be tested in Florida, Georgia, and Colorado schools with and without resource officers on campus.”

Pepper-spraying drones being used to help stop active school shooters

Atlanta Public Schools debuts tactical response and drone teams to strengthen school security: “We want to make sure our kids are protected”

“… the Atlanta Board of Education approved placing a police officer at every school. Since then, APS has expanded its police department from about 60 officers to roughly 100, making it the largest school police force in Georgia, according to the district. The expanded staffing allowed APS to create a dedicated tactical unit equipped with two drones designed to assist officers during emergency situations.”

VIDEO: Drone program expands to new Florida districts, aims to improve response times during school shootings

“Their drones are equipped with strobes, sirens, and pepper spray. They are remotely operated from Austin, Texas.”

Are school shooter drones breaking federal law?

“Three days before Christmas, the FCC made the surprise and unprecedented announcement that Chinese drones and drone components made in China had been added to the List of Equipment and Services Covered By Section 2 of The Secure Networks Act. This action effectively banned the import, marketing, and sale of all Chinese drones and components in the United States.”

Lamar County Schools introducing weapons detectors, AI camera detection

“Behind the scenes, Chief Hill says school resource officers have been busy preparing, too, including active-shooter training with realistic weapons to perfect muscle memory. ‘We’re excited to welcome students back because that’s when we are just geared up, ready to go,’ Hill said.”

Keeping guns out of schools, what measures [Las Vegas] has in place

“I want them to feel comfortable, but it also put me in an uncomfortable situation where I had to bring up a conversation about guns with—I have six-year-olds….”

A leading school shootings researcher says he was wrong

“Anti-bullying and social-emotional learning haven’t reduced school shootings. Minimizing public attention on shooters might.”

Treat youth gun violence with the urgency it demands

“Youth gun violence speaks to the availability of handguns, the lack of parental or adult guidance, and the failure among lawmakers in creating sensible laws that treat gun violence, and prevention of it, with the seriousness it deserves.”

Meeting Educators Where They Are

“Abbey Clements — co-founder and Executive Director at Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence — recently spent time checking in to a number of coordinated teacher conferences across the country that were tasked with, among the mirad of other educational issues, addressing gun violence as a workplace safety issue.”

SCOTUS Rulings Favor Most School Shooter Weapons

What the Supreme Court’s test for gun rules could mean for AR-15s this year

“In a big decision, the Supreme Court reaffirmed its ‘historical’ test for gun laws. Now, it prepares to debate AR-15 bans in the upcoming term.”

New Jersey Just Lost Its Assault Weapons Ban. Here’s Why That Matters for the Rest of the Country.

“The ruling against New Jersey’s assault weapons ban is likely only the first, and could mark the beginning of the end for similar laws in nearly a dozen states.”

Riedman Report: Risk, AI, Education, & Security

Our colleague, David Riedman, has recently rebranded his Substack to expand his focus on his reportage of school shooting statistics. Here are a few of his recent posts:

First school shooting of 2026-27 school year

Hollywood keeps romanticizing the school shooter

Missing school shootings in the FBI’s 2025 Active Shooter report

Via Riedman Report

Schools Closed, Buildings Sat Empty — and Gun Violence Rose, Study Finds

“… researchers at the University of Chicago and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that neighborhoods surrounding these long-vacant buildings saw a 10 percent increase in gun violence, compared to similar neighborhoods where schools didn’t close.”

On Fridays, we highlight articles and videos from the gun violence prevention realm that might’ve been missed during your busy week.

Todd Blanche Confirmation; Immediate GVP Rollbacks

Everytown for Gun Safety Statement on Senate Confirmation of Todd Blanche as Attorney General

“By rolling back life-saving gun safety regulations, Blanche is boosting gun industry profits while making mass casualty events more likely, as ATF itself admits.”

Gun law in limbo as Justice Department holds off appeal

“‘Today, our government is failing us,’ Brady President Kris Brown said in a statement. ‘At midnight, uniquely lethal weapons and devices — including silencers, short-barreled rifles, and shotguns — were deregulated for the first time in nearly a century. The Department of Justice had the opportunity to act to protect our safety, but it failed to do so.’”

Everytown for Gun Safety, Brady, GIFFORDS Denounce DOJ’s Failure to Protect Foundational Federal Gun Safety Law Against Gun Lobby Attacks

“Less than a week after Senate Republicans confirmed Todd Blanche as Attorney General, DOJ has failed to defend a 100-year-old public protection against some of our nation’s deadliest weapons – even as it actively defends this exact same law in other courtrooms….”

Gun Industry Lobbying Disclosure Report [Q2 2026] - Guns Down America

“In July 2026, Guns Down America examined Lobbying Disclosure Act records submitted by representatives of major firearms companies and trade associations in the second quarter of 2026. The lobbying detailed in this report coincides with a wider push for the Federal government to prioritize ease of doing business over proven public health policies.”

The Quiet Campaign: How the Guns Everywhere Industry Is Quietly Dismantling America’s Silencer Laws

“The guns everywhere industry’s effort to deregulate gun silencers may seem like a technical debate about gun accessories, but it is anything but technical. It represents yet another step in a decades-long strategy to weaken federal gun laws, normalize increasingly dangerous gun accessories, and expand profits for manufacturers at the expense of public safety.”

Gun Law Trendwatch: States Are Moving Forward in 2026 - Giffords

“So far this year, a dozen states have passed new gun safety laws.”

In Oregon, voters’ passage of gun control measure led to more firearms in the state

“Upon passage, Measure 114 faced multiple legal challenges that are still unresolved, and Oregon lawmakers this year passed legislation delaying the measure’s implementation – if supporters win in court – until Jan. 1, 2028.”

New Study Finds Bacterial Infections Affect About 1 in 20 Hospitalized Adults With Firearm Injuries

“Firearm injuries are a major public health concern in the United States, but relatively little research has examined the infectious complications that can occur after treatment.”

Thailand suspends new gun permits after mass shooting

“The South East Asian country has one of the highest rates of civilian gun ownership in the region, with around 10.3 million firearms in civilian possession, and high levels of gun crime. In response to the recent shooting, the prime minister has promised to pass tough new gun control laws with severe penalties, suspending new permits in the meantime.”

Snaps, Likes, and Shares Are Teaching Teens About the Dangers of Guns

“The results, published in July, found that one in six Snapchat users between the ages of 13 and 17 surveyed were aware of SNUG, the organization’s Safer Not Using Guns campaign, which uses Snapchat to share messaging about firearm access. They found that teens aware of the campaign were 17 points more likely to believe they were safer without guns.”

Stars, trees, mountains: Santa Rosa outdoor youth program is using nature to combat gun violence

“Working with the city, LandPaths, an environmental conservancy non-profit, takes at-risk youth out of their concrete, urban environments and into the natural one, where they hike, camp and explore the natural wonders of Sonoma county, offering many of them their first encounters with the land.”

Abbey Clements (L), at the International Society for Technology in Education meet-up

Last month, Executive Director at Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence, Abbey Clements, gave us a wrap-up of various educational conferences she or her org’s ambassadors attended across the country this summer.

In case you missed it, here is her report below.

Our colleague Abbey Clements — co-founder and Executive Director at Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence — recently spent time traveling to, speaking at, or checking in to a number of coordinated teacher conferences across the country that were tasked with, among the mirad of other educational issues, addressing gun violence as a workplace safety issue. Here is her report.

By: Abbey Clements

Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence ambassadors have been busy leading sessions, tabling, and hosting meet-ups at education conferences across the country this summer — from Florida, Texas, and Connecticut to virtual gatherings with the Attachment and Trauma Network, International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), National Teachers Hall of Fame, National Network of State Teachers of the Year, the School Safety Summit for School Administrators in Leon County, and the Connecticut Teacher of the Year Council.

Through these efforts, more than 15,000 new educators and leaders have been introduced to our work, with over 150 attending our deep-dive sessions led by teachers, clinicians, school shooting survivors, and education leaders.

It is absolutely essential that we meet educators where they are — both physically and in the everyday challenges they face — because gun violence impacts school communities deeply; and teachers, staff, and district leaders must be centered in conversations and actions for change.

Building on this momentum at the national level, I attended the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Convention last week in Washington, D.C. to advance a pivotal resolution framing gun violence as a workplace safety issue.

As an AFT retiree and 32-year educator, I was honored to speak on behalf of the resolution and share why this work matters so deeply alongside union leaders, educators, healthcare workers, and school staff from across the country.

Schools should be educating parents about secure firearm storage. Just as we have changed public health outcomes around smoking, seatbelts, and car seats, we can shift the culture from easy access to responsible security. That’s what this resolution aims to accomplish.

National Teachers Hall of Fame meet-up

I believe with all my heart that it won’t be politicians who save us, it won’t be another law. It will be teachers and schools doing what they do best — educating.

The resolution advocates for codifying school-led prevention strategies, including collective bargaining and secure firearm storage education. Following a comprehensive union process and unanimous support, the resolution was adopted on July 19 to a standing ovation from nearly 3,000 voting delegates in attendance.

This milestone represents the core mission of Teachers Unify: serving as the bridge between the education and gun violence prevention sectors while empowering educators and allies to lead solutions. We are profoundly grateful for AFT’s ongoing commitment to ending this public health crisis, the leading cause of death for kids and teens in America.

Read the resolution here.

Not only did the resolution pass, but we are receiving overwhelming support for this mission across the country. Looking ahead, our next step is organizing educators and school staff to do what they do best: educate. Secure storage saves lives, and school communities are uniquely positioned to lead the way in making it standard practice.

Abbey Clements is the Executive Director, co-founder, and a board member of Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence. She is a survivor teacher of the Sandy Hook School tragedy in 2012, and was an elementary educator for over 30 years.

Photos courtesy of Abbey Clements

A prime directive of GVPedia is to continually search for and compile the latest peer-reviewed academic and scientific studies and reports related to gun violence. With this monthly feature, we list the most up-to-date information as an easy go-to to help fight the disinformation that floods our digital age.

Economic and social drivers of school shootings: Analyzing recent trends

“The significant factors (social media usage, gun supply, and inflation rate) highlight the urgent need to address the role of social media in amplifying harmful ideologies, the economic stress from inflation, and the importance of tracking gun accessibility.”

Effects of two community violence interruption programs on firearm violence in Washington, DC

“Federal investment in community violence intervention (CVI) programs increased dramatically during the Biden Administration (2021-2024)^… however, the Trump Administration discontinued much of the CVI funding in April 2025.”

Extreme risk protection order policies and homicide risk among cohabitants of handgun owners

“The current study is motivated by the possibility that violence perpetrated by gun owners against the adults they live with is a subpopulation of potential homicide victims whose deaths might be appreciably and detectably affected by ERPOs.”

Guns and Perceptions of Safety Among U.S. Women

“In this survey study of U.S. women, more than half of overall respondents perceived they would not feel safer with greater exposure to firearms, although results varied by personal gun ownership.”

Bar Graph of Affirmative Responses for Perceptions of Safety Among Women Overall and by Gun Ownership Status

Intravascular projectile embolism from firearm injuries: How did it get there?

“Intravascular projectile embolization is a rare but potentially fatal complication of penetrating firearm injury, in which a low-energy projectile enters the cardiovascular system and migrates to a site remote from the wound of entry.”

“It is nice, but it can’t keep me safe”: perspectives on the effectiveness of hospital-based violence intervention programs

“Drawing on long-term multisited ethnographic research at the programs associated with the two busiest trauma centers in the state of Maryland, we examine how survivors of violent injury, their loved ones, and program staff evaluate the effectiveness of HVIPs.”

Jumping the Gun: The Effects of Permitless Concealed Carry Laws on Crime

“This article examines the effect of permitless carry laws on crime to inform ongoing policy debates between those who favor expanding permitless carry and those who oppose or seek to repeal it.”

States by permitless carry adoption status. Permitless carry adoption in Vermont occurred in 1903 and is grouped with Alaska (2003) as treated before 2004.

Seasonality of Mass Shooting Events and Deaths by Suicide in the United States, 2014 to 2021

“Whereas the seasonality of depression and suicidality are well-characterized, the historic rarity of mass shooting events has precluded more definitive characterization of their temporal pattern.”

The Broader Impact of Mass Shootings on Traffic Fatalities

“Increases in traffic fatalities were consistent across driver age and sex, vehicle occupancy, rurality, and lighting conditions, and persisted when restricted to states outside the affected state and its neighbors.”

Dot Plot Showing Traffic Fatalities on Days Surrounding the 10 Deadliest Mass Shootings in Distant States

Who Do Service Members and Veterans Tell? Patterns of Disclosing Suicidal Thoughts Prior to Firearm Suicide Death

“This study uses a subset of data from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) to better understand frequency of disclosure of suicidal thoughts and/or plans among military service members and Veterans who died by firearm suicide, and explore which sources were disclosed to.”

This week’s GVPanorama is the latest The Jeff-alytics Podcast episode featuring Northwestern University professor Andrew Papachristos, who has studied the spread of gun violence using network science. These tragedies don’t just happen out of nowhere, but often spread through social ties. One way to predict and reduce gun crime is by knowing how to read those social ties better.

Check out the full podcast below.

Jeff-alytics

Using Social Networks To Reduce Gun Violence With Andrew Papachristos

My guest today is Andrew Papachristos, one of the smartest people (though he is a Bears fan) thinking through how to use data to reduce gun violence. Andy has spent his career trying to read networks more systematically. He’s a professor at Northwestern University who studies how social ties and relationships shape who becomes a victim and who doesn’t a…

Listen now

a month ago · 4 likes · Jeff Asher

Thanks so much for joining in our fight for Gun Violence Prevention by checking out our daily Armed With Reason posts.

While it may seem a bit vintage, we’re bringing back “Follow Friday” — a term that has traditionally been used to connect like-minded individuals and organizations over social media. Like you, we are always interested in gaining knowledge and coming up with solutions for the gun violence epidemic in our country. And we’re guessing you probably have friends who feel the same.

So on the first Friday of every month, we’re asking if you could ask five friends to add themselves to our subscription list, either with a free or paid subscription.

Just copy and paste this link and email it along to some similarly concerned friends.

Also, if you find one of our articles interesting please press the heart button, leave a comment, and/or share it on social media. Every little bit helps.

We are also inviting new submissions! So if you have a gun violence-related article for which you’ve been trying to find an outlet, please contact us at eric@gvpedia.org.

We also feature social links to our writers and other members of the movement so you can follow them as well.

Thanks for subscribing, and keep up the good fight.

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Top photo by Pixabay

On Fridays, we highlight articles and videos from the gun violence prevention realm that might’ve been missed during your busy week.

View the Data: State-Level Firearm-Safety Laws at the Turn of the 21st Century

“Given the constant flux and many permutations of these laws from one state to another, measuring their impact on different types of gun violence remains a difficult and time-consuming task, but a critical one.”

506 Million Guns: Why Mass Shootings Persist Despite Falling Crime Rates

“The data shows a clear structural shift: traditional street crime is falling, but the lethality of acute personal crises is skyrocketing. Access has changed everything…. The expiration of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban in 2004 fundamentally changed the market. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) notes that modern semi-automatic rifles… went from being a niche market segment 20 years ago to the most popular, mass-produced rifles in America today, with over 28 million in circulation.”

Using a Gun to Defend Yourself? The Right to Kill Is Growing.

“Over the years, as more states broadened the acceptable use of deadly force, opponents have blamed it for rising homicide rates and reckless conduct.”

ATF Trumpets “New Era of Reform” With Focus on Gun Industry “Partnership”

“It’s worth noting that in this ‘partnership,’ the public ranks, well, last – running a distant third behind the firearms industry and gun owners.”

Via Violence Policy Center

Carrying Firearms and Suicide Risk Among Adolescents

“These findings suggest that firearm carrying is associated with risk of suicide attempts among adolescents independent of state firearm laws; racial disparities warrant culturally responsive prevention.”

Chicago teens riff on ‘Love Island,’ ‘aura’ trend to pitch campaigns pushing peers to put down guns

“But it was a campaign called T.R.A.P. that emerged victorious on Thursday. It urged teens not to fall for the trap of believing that they’d be safer with a gun, citing research that shows firearm owners are more likely to get shot.”

Team T.R.A.P. presents its social media campaign during a Project Unloaded event Thursday at the Havas offices in the Loop. (Photo: Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times)

Ending Youth Gun Violence Requires More Than Grief

“… imagine if we treated proven investments in community violence intervention as essential as investments in emergency rooms or law enforcement? When something goes wrong, we don’t throw progress away. We relentlessly and diligently improve systems until they are worthy of the public’s trust.”

U.S. Supreme Court official portrait, via USA Today

As we’ve recently highlighted the increasing influence of regional litigation on the fight for gun violence prevention, we offer this USA Today article as a quick overview of the problems recent Supreme Court decisions have had being implemented and addressing 21st century realities.

Check out the full article here.

Armed with Reason & GVPedia Merch!

As there is a pause at the federal level for gun violence prevention, the most productive action has moved to the local level. Every other week, we bring you the Regional Wrap to get you caught up on gun violence prevention news that might be happening right in your town.

CALIFORNIA:

Former Rep. Gabby Giffords inspires LA audience at violence intervention conference

“The two-day conference focused on breaking the cycle of gun violence is organized by the Giffords Center for Violence Intervention. Now in its fourth year, the event featured trainings, breakout sessions, workshops, panel discussions, healing exercises, and networking events.”

Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords speaks during the Los Angeles Community Violence Intervention Conference in Los Angeles on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Long Beach to give away hundreds more gun safes in effort to further reduce gun violence

“The free safes, which weigh about 10 pounds and can fit two handguns, will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 4. No registration is required.”

COLORADO:

VIDEO: Denver anti-gun violence groups, police push for better conflict management in the wake of deadly shooting

“… they say this incident is a reminder of how critical it is to have violence interrupters who can help de-escalate conflict before it becomes violent.”

CONNECTICUT:

6 cities receive Connecticut Department of Public Health funding for gun violence prevention

“These six grantees will then subcontract with 33 community organizations with a goal of bringing a public health approach to gun violence. This means developing programs within the communities it serves to identify root causes, build trust with residents, and intervene before violence occurs.”

FLORIDA:

VIDEO: Orlando gun violence prevention program suspends operations as entire staff is terminated

“‘We appreciate the opportunity to serve the City of Orlando and remain committed to restoring this program in a manner that reflects the highest standards of integrity, accountability, and impact,’ Fullwood said in his message to community partners.”

‘Stop the Gun Violence’ youth football camp honors Ladarius Clardy in Pensacola

“The ‘Stop the Gun Violence: Football Camp’ is a free youth football and mentorship camp at Escambia High School hosted by father and son LaDaron and Ladarian Clardy, held in honor of Ladarius Clardy. More than 200 players attended the camp.”

ILLINOIS:

VIDEO: Chicago students hold peace walk in an effort to combat gun violence

“They held a peace walk in the Bronzeville neighborhood to empower youth, bring community members together and encourage meaningful conversations about violence prevention.”

KENTUCKY:

VIDEO: Safe summer block party helps community gather with families affected by gun violence

MAINE:

New Roadmap to Reduce Gun Violence in Maine

“Maine voters have already shown support for strengthening the state’s firearm policies…. This resource for Maine lawmakers and advocates takes the guesswork out of creating lifesaving policy. Our policy recommendations are backed by rigorous research and shown to protect public health.”

MARYLAND:

Johns Hopkins partners with Baltimore libraries for safe gun storage distribution

“Select Enoch Pratt Free Library locations will soon distribute safe gun storage devices as part of a new pilot program partnership with Johns Hopkins University. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume, and EPFL President and CEO Chad Helton announced the partnership at a press conference on Tuesday.”

MICHIGAN:

VIDEO: FORCE Detroit launches ‘Caravan of Love’ to bring violence prevention resources to neighborhoods

“The tour is scheduled to take place on one Friday each month in the city’s 7th District, leading up to Election Day in November.”

NEW YORK:

VIDEO: NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani talks gun violence after 12-year-old killed outside bodega

Schenectady among 17 NY cities with drop in gun violence, Hochul says

“The governor says 17 police departments, including Schenectady’s, participating in the state’s anti-gun violence program known as Gun Involved Violence Initiative or (GIVE) program reported zero gun-related murders during the first half of 2026.”

VIDEO: ‘The violence needs to go’: Community groups react to funding aimed at reducing gun violence

“Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the funding this week, saying the money will support law enforcement, violence prevention and community outreach efforts in Erie and Niagara counties through the state’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative, Project RISE and the SNUG Street Outreach program.”

NORTH CAROLINA:

Deadly shooting in Asheville shines spotlight on the city’s gun violence numbers

“According to the Asheville Police Department, officers have investigated 54 firearm-related aggravated assaults during the first seven months of 2026.”

PENNSYLVANIA:

‘You’re not wanted’: Philly teens who feel unwelcome downtown call for more ‘third spaces’ during summer

“That attitude may be heightened this summer due to a wave of teen takeovers, or pop-up events that spread on social media and involve large groups of young people. Law enforcement has responded to shootings and other crimes during these types of meetups in Chicago; Raleigh, North Carolina, and Newport Beach, California.”

TEXAS:

Five Devastating Shootings in Seven Days: Deadly Gun Violence Across Texas Underscores Urgent Need for Stronger Gun Laws

“‘These five shootings in just seven days is not just a statistic, it’s a moral failure and a direct consequence of Texas’ weak gun laws,’ said Leslie Morrison, a volunteer with the Texas chapter of Moms Demand Action.”

VIRGINIA:

VIDEO: UVA Health hosts third annual Gun Violence Prevention Summit

“Sylvia Bennett-Stone, national director of Voices of Black Mothers United, said she is seeing younger children become increasingly involved in gun violence.”

WISCONSIN:

No bodycam footage in fatal Madison police shooting, because the department doesn’t require cameras

“… the deadly encounter has reignited a contentious debate about body cameras, one that has long vexed local officials and pitted some of the city’s progressive groups against each other.”

As noted in our last GVPanorama post, workable gun violence prevention legislation has been seemingly impossible to come by, given the country’s tussle over what the Second Amendment means, and the gun lobby’s influence on the current administration.

While local political and community efforts have created some progress, GVP advocates have also had to become litigation experts, as lawsuits have proven to be a successful tactic in fighting the gun industry.

So busy is the lawsuit docket that our colleagues at Everytown Law and GIFFORDS Law Center have helpfully created a new tracker to continually follow ongoing GVP-related lawsuits. The Gun Industry Accountability Lawsuit Tracker has been “designed as a resource for litigators, policymakers, researchers, journalists, academics, gun violence prevention organizations, survivors, and the general public;” and contains details of over 100 industry accountability cases going back to 2015.

Check out The Gun Industry Accountability Lawsuit Tracker here.

Also, check out our quarterly post, The Legal List, that gathers the latest GVP-related court rulings.

Photo of U.S. Supreme Court building by Leandro Paes Leme; via Pexels

On Fridays, we highlight articles and videos from the gun violence prevention realm that might’ve been missed during your busy week.

Crime Trends in U.S. Cities - Mid-Year 2026 Update - Council on Criminal Justice

“This report updates CCJ’s previous analyses, examining yearly and monthly rates of 13 violent, property, and drug offenses reported to police from 2018 through June 2026.”

Data: Council on Criminal Justice. (Not all cities in the study report every offense.) Chart: Noah Bressner/Axios

Guns in Public: What Research Tells Us About Permitless Carry Laws

“Since 2013, 29 states have passed permitless carry laws, which allow gun owners to carry a concealed handgun in public without first obtaining a license or undergoing a background check. Permitless carry is now the most common form of concealed carry regulation in the United States.”

What the Supreme Court’s test for gun rules could mean for AR-15s this year

“This year, the Supreme Court struck down Hawaii’s attempt to limit where guns can be carried in public. It also ruled, in a unanimous decision, that a law blocking regular drug users from having a gun was too broad. In both cases, a majority on the Supreme Court said neither restriction could be supported by laws dating back to the 1700s and 1800s.”

New Firearm Consumer Data

Consumer Insights & Gun Industry Demand: Edition #3 - Guns Down America

“Our July 2026 quarterly demand report provides a view of drivers in the uptick of gun demand, and behaviors and beliefs of consumers who are in- and out-of-market for a gun purchase.”

Fewer students are carrying guns to school — with one notable exception

“The researchers said the findings come as school shootings have increased in the United States over the past two decades. They noted that bringing a firearm to school increases the risk of firearm-related injuries, particularly in places where large numbers of students gather.”

Detroit wants to elevate youth voices in leadership – that means giving them real power

“Large gatherings of young people in public spaces coordinated through social media, known as ‘teen takeovers,’ have drawn concern from local law enforcement in Detroit, Pittsburgh, Raleigh and other cities across the country this summer. Some argue that takeovers happen because teens do not have spaces to gather in less disruptive ways.”

Apalachee School Shooter Pleads Guilty; Victims Confront Him in Court; Shooter’s Father Convicted

Teen pleads guilty to murder in a 2024 shooting that left 4 dead at Georgia’s Apalachee High School

“A jury in March convicted his father, Colin Gray, on charges including second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. He is scheduled to be sentenced next week. Prosecutors said he gave his son the assault-style rifle used to open fire at the school.”

Looking a school shooter in the eyes: How teenage victims confronted Colt Gray in court

“Victims of the 2024 shooting at Georgia’s Apalachee High School and their family members were there last week to make sure Gray’s voice wasn’t the only one heard.”

Natalie Griffith:

Taylor Jones:

Hayden Bowen:

VIDEO:Father sentenced to 15 years in prison in Georgia high school shooting carried out by teenage son

“Colin Gray, 55, admitted to providing the assault rifle used by his then-14-year-old son in the September 2024 shooting at Apalachee High School, which killed two students and two teachers.”

Stormy Morse lost two partners to gun suicide. Then the NRA came to collect.

“Surveys of civilian gun owners showed that they mostly kept weapons for hunting; firearms were tools of leisure and sustenance. To grow, the NRA needed to position the weapon more as a symbol of cultural defiance. Its messaging increasingly played up notions that the government was tyrannical, seeking to disarm law-abiding Americans and willing to kill those who refused to comply.”

Stormy and her son, Myles, spent years battling the N.R.A. (Photo: Logan White for The New Yorker)

America’s gun violence epidemic, through the eyes of a Chicago trauma surgeon

“In a new book, Dr. Selwyn Rogers Jr., a Harvard-trained trauma surgeon, offers stories, research and a compassionate analysis of gun violence in America.”

Abbey Clements (L), at the International Society for Technology in Education meet-up

Our colleague Abbey Clements — co-founder and Executive Director at Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence — recently spent time traveling to, speaking at, or checking in to a number of coordinated teacher conferences across the country that were tasked with, among the mirad of other educational issues, addressing gun violence as a workplace safety issue. Here is her report.

By: Abbey Clements

Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence ambassadors have been busy leading sessions, tabling, and hosting meet-ups at education conferences across the country this summer — from Florida, Texas, and Connecticut to virtual gatherings with the Attachment and Trauma Network, International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), National Teachers Hall of Fame, National Network of State Teachers of the Year, the School Safety Summit for School Administrators in Leon County, and the Connecticut Teacher of the Year Council.

Through these efforts, more than 15,000 new educators and leaders have been introduced to our work, with over 150 attending our deep-dive sessions led by teachers, clinicians, school shooting survivors, and education leaders.

It is absolutely essential that we meet educators where they are — both physically and in the everyday challenges they face — because gun violence impacts school communities deeply; and teachers, staff, and district leaders must be centered in conversations and actions for change.

Building on this momentum at the national level, I attended the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Convention last week in Washington, D.C. to advance a pivotal resolution framing gun violence as a workplace safety issue.

As an AFT retiree and 32-year educator, I was honored to speak on behalf of the resolution and share why this work matters so deeply alongside union leaders, educators, healthcare workers, and school staff from across the country.

Schools should be educating parents about secure firearm storage. Just as we have changed public health outcomes around smoking, seatbelts, and car seats, we can shift the culture from easy access to responsible security. That’s what this resolution aims to accomplish.

National Teachers Hall of Fame meet-up

I believe with all my heart that it won’t be politicians who save us, it won’t be another law. It will be teachers and schools doing what they do best — educating.

The resolution advocates for codifying school-led prevention strategies, including collective bargaining and secure firearm storage education. Following a comprehensive union process and unanimous support, the resolution was adopted on July 19 to a standing ovation from nearly 3,000 voting delegates in attendance.

This milestone represents the core mission of Teachers Unify: serving as the bridge between the education and gun violence prevention sectors while empowering educators and allies to lead solutions. We are profoundly grateful for AFT’s ongoing commitment to ending this public health crisis, the leading cause of death for kids and teens in America.

Read the resolution here.

Not only did the resolution pass, but we are receiving overwhelming support for this mission across the country. Looking ahead, our next step is organizing educators and school staff to do what they do best: educate. Secure storage saves lives, and school communities are uniquely positioned to lead the way in making it standard practice.

Abbey Clements is the Executive Director, co-founder, and a board member of Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence. She is a survivor teacher of the Sandy Hook School tragedy in 2012, and was an elementary educator for over 30 years.

Photos courtesy of Abbey Clements