Trump Administration's Closure of Gun Violence Prevention Office Led to Lives Lost, Says Witness

Impact of Shutting Down the Office of Gun Violence Prevention

• 🎯 The Office of Gun Violence Prevention made demonstrable improvements in reducing gun violence before the Trump Administration eliminated it.
• ⚠️ Without the office, there is no longer a dedicated team focused on getting resources to life-saving strategies, such as removing firearms from domestic abusers.
• 📉 The closure means processes for implementing laws and executive actions will be slowed, inevitably leading to lives lost.

State and Local Governments Stepping Up

• 📈 Since the federal office's closure, there has been a significant increase in state and local gun violence prevention offices, from one statewide office to 14, and from 20 city-level offices to 140.
• 🤝 Cities and states are adopting an all-of-government approach, investing in mental health, behavioral health, community violence intervention, and law enforcement to reduce violence.

Importance of the ATF

• 🚨 The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is crucial for state and local law enforcement, prosecuting over 680 gun traffickers and ensuring 4,600 domestic abusers were prohibited from purchasing firearms.
• ⚖️ The ATF plays a vital role in tracking guns moving across states, holding traffickers, gun dealers, and manufacturers accountable.

Addressing Gun Violence in Rural Communities

• 🌾 Rural communities have embraced community-based violence intervention (CBI) programs, particularly addressing suicides which heavily impact older white males.
• 🤝 Partnerships with the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Agriculture aim to educate older Americans about lethal means and safe storage and empower families with tools like extreme risk protection orders.

Supporting Law Enforcement and Community Safety

• 💬 Police chiefs emphasize the importance of true community partners and investments in community violence intervention and victim services.
• 🏫 A comprehensive ecosystem involving health departments, doctors, community organizations, and schools is needed to prevent violence before it happens.
• 📜 Strengthening this ecosystem can be achieved by passing the Office of Gun Violence Act and protecting investments through the appropriations process.