The Regional Wrap
A wrap-up of local GVP news and stories from across the U.S.
As we’ve seen since the ground-shaking tragedy of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting in 2012, a Federal, top-down fix for America’s gun violence problem has moved like molasses. And given the new administration’s promise to roll back the few advances we’ve made, it can paint a pretty grim picture. But zoom in a little, and there is good news all over the map.
The most productive action is happening at the local level. Electing GVP-focused officials; the growth of community violence intervention programs; survivor support; protest and activism; regional research; the passage of local laws; state funding; safe storage and suicide prevention campaigns; and consciousness raising via the arts — these are just a few of the efforts that prove the vast majority of Americans do support sensible gun control. And they’re not waiting around for Capitol Hill to get the message.
So every other week we’ll bring you The Regional Wrap to get you caught up on GVP news that might be happening right in your town.
Even As Shootings Plummet, Philly Sees an Alarming Uptick in Children and Teens Charged With Gun Violence (PA)
“In 2016, only three juveniles were charged with homicide in Philly; by 2024, that figure had ballooned to 26, a nearly ninefold increase that marked four straight years of double-digit teen arrests for homicide.”
‘We’re scrambling.’ Delaware gun violence prevention group losing federal funding
“… organizers said they are faced with the harsh reality of not having enough money to continue serving the community in this capacity because of federal funding cuts to social service programs.”
OhioHealth joins national youth gun violence prevention campaign
“The newly formed ‘Agree to Agree’ campaign will share tangible actions that individuals and communities can take to reduce firearm injuries among children and teens.”
VIDEO: City of Toledo and BGSU unite to combat gun violence
“As part of a $2 million federal grant from the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, both parties will research and analyze how gun violence is impacting Toledo and how its violence intervention programs can improve. It’s a three-year project.”
VIDEO: Gun violence awareness foundation holds ‘Story Rise’ event in Cincinnati (OH)
“The Story Rise event was hosted by the Whitney Strong organization, which was co-founded by Whitney Austin. She survived being shot 12 times in a mass shooting at Fifth Third Bank Headquarters in Cincinnati in 2018.”
MAPS: Which Dayton (OH) neighborhoods have most gun violence
“A Dayton Daily News investigation used Dayton Police Department data to determine what neighborhoods in the city struggle the most with gun violence.”
Red flag law is saving lives (MI)
“In the first year since the law took effect, Michigan judges granted 287 of the 391 requests for temporary removal of firearms.”
VIDEO: How to Prevent Gun Violence in 2025 - Chicago Women Take Action (CWTA)
“Join CWTA for a discussion on research about the effects of juvenile detention, the status of the Chicago police consent decree, and information about current efforts to improve community safety in Chicago and across Illinois.”
VIDEO: Illinois House unanimously passes Davidsmeyer school gun violence prevention bill
“Rep. CD Davidsmeyer (R-Jacksonville) said his plan calls on teachers to notify their principal once they learn of any gun threats. The principal would then have to talk with the student's parents or guardians.”
Activist David Hogg Speaks at Sixth Annual Gun Violence Prevention Summit
“The summit focused on curbing gun violence and featured additional presentations by local violence reduction advocates from Chicago CRED, the Firehouse Community Art Center of Chicago and Loyola students.”
ONE Lexington report shows decline in gun violence (KY)
VIDEO: Honoring victims: NC advocates push for gun reform at Memorial Garden ceremony
“Fon Dockery came to the garden to speak out about gun reform. In 2023, his daughter, Jenesis, was shot and killed by her babysitter's 11-year-old son, who had stolen a gun from his grandfather…. WRAL News profiled the Dockery family's story and ongoing advocacy in a WRAL documentary, UnSafe: North Carolina kids dying from gun violence.”
FSU Shooting:
PHOTO GALLERY: Active shooter at FSU: Scenes on campus
Students, staff and others are escorted out of buildings after shots were fired on the campus of Florida State University on Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Photo by Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat)
VIDEO: ‘Only have one life’: FSU Strozier survivor Ronny Ahmed shares thoughts after recent shooting
“Days after a gunman killed two and injured six on Florida State University's Tallahassee campus, Ahmed said he is skeptical there will be any cure to America's gun violence epidemic.”
LWVAC (FL) Gun Violence Prevention and Safety committee secures grant
“Labeling gun violence a public health crisis, county leaders created a $50,000 grant fund in late 2024 and invited non-government grassroots organizations to submit proposals aimed at curbing the issue.”
Little Rock mother’s nonprofit made to honor son helps families of victims & others impacted by gun violence
“Through the Davin Chance Foundation, Latracy Bizzell is turning her heartbreak into hope, helping others heal, and making sure that Davin’s legacy lives on through the threefold mission.”
Photo via KLRT Little Rock
Green Bay (WI) opens new ‘home base’ for violence prevention office
“Green Bay’s Office of Violence Prevention was formed in 2023 after the city was awarded a grant from the Medical College of Wisconsin. On Monday, the office held the grand opening of its new location on the east side of Green Bay.”
St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter celebrates drop in gun violence, pledges to fight Trump administration
“‘Our police officers will not become federal immigration agents,’ Carter said, to sustained applause.”
What’s driving down gun violence in St. Paul (MN)? Solving nonfatal shootings and outreach are helping, officials say
“You don’t drive the murder number down by pushing at the murder number…. You drive the murder number down by pushing at all the other areas where you can forecast, whether it’s domestic violence or whether it’s youth violence or group violence or gun possessions.”
VIDEO: Southern Colorado school district implements an AI-powered Gun Detection System to improve school safety
VIDEO: Marion County (OR) report shows gun violence has more than tripled since 2014
“The report was commissioned by the county after the Salem Police Department conducted a similar gun violence analysis. The report analyzed data from 2014-2023 across the county.”
As Texas Republicans push to loosen gun laws, shooting survivors push back
“While state senators in the eastern wing of the Capitol on Monday were debating a bill that would repeal regulations on short-barreled firearms like the one that was used in the 2018 Santa Fe High School shooting, lawmakers, gun regulation advocates and gun violence survivors held a news conference across the Rotunda vowing to fight for ‘gun sense.’”
‘It’s cathartic’: Guns to Garden Tools ceremony honors lives taken by guns
“Every year, the Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry hosts a ‘Guns to Garden Tools’ ceremony to honor the lives taken by gun violence…. At buy-back events throughout the year, people give away their guns. Blacksmiths smelt the metal parts, which they repurpose into garden tools.”
Eric Davidson is Senior Editor at Armed With Reason. His first book, We Never Learn, has recently been reissued in an expanded edition.
