You may have seen recent reporting targeting Baltimore around crime and gun violence. It is important to put the conversation in context.
Based on the latest 2023–2024 data:
- Baltimore’s gun homicide rate ranked 5th highest in the nation, behind cities like Birmingham, St. Louis, and Memphis.
- Maryland as a whole is ranked 40th nationally for gun violence, meaning 39 states have higher rates.
- Of the 20 states with the worst gun violence, 11 have failing gun safety laws, 6 have weak laws, and 3 are making progress. Maryland is considered a national leader in gun safety laws.
Even more encouraging: Baltimore’s gun violence has dropped significantly over the past two years, and preliminary data suggest that 2025 is continuing this trend. These declines are no accident—they reflect years of work by community leaders, advocates, and law enforcement to implement a public health approach to gun violence prevention. This approach focuses on preventing violence before it happens, rather than relying solely on the criminal justice system. While gun violence in Baltimore remains unacceptably high, we have always understood that this is a complex challenge with no easy solutions, and the hard work to heal Charm City is finally beginning to show real results.
It is frustrating to see the city politicized just as these efforts are starting to pay off. But we know what works. We know what Baltimore needs to protect lives and strengthen communities. And we are committed to continuing this work.
Thank you for standing with us to keep Baltimore and all of Maryland safe.