When Maryland launched the new Firearm Violence Data Dashboard in July, it was not just another government project; it was a milestone in a vision you have helped us fight for.
In 2024, Marylanders to Prevent Gun Violence led the charge to pass legislation creating the Maryland Center for Firearm Violence Prevention & Intervention, the first of its kind in the state. We knew that treating gun violence as a public health crisis was the key to lasting change.
Now, that vision is becoming reality. The Center is putting prevention at the forefront, giving communities, policymakers, and public safety leaders the data and tools they need to stop shootings before they happen.
But progress is fragile. Federal funding for prevention is being cut, and Maryland must stay the course. As the Center’s executive director, Jen Pauliukonis noted in this The Trace article,
“Because of that uncertainty at the federal level, this is a really key time right now to be able to have this resource for Maryland.”
MPGV is working every day to protect these gains and expand the Center’s impact — because lives depend on it.
Cracking Down on Ghost Guns & Gun Industry Abuses
In 2022, Maryland passed one of the nation’s strongest ghost gun bans, making clear that unserialized, untraceable firearms are, in fact, illegal guns. Two years later, we helped pass groundbreaking gun industry accountability legislation, giving Maryland cities and residents the power to hold reckless gun manufacturers and dealers responsible in court.
This week, those victories are in action. Baltimore City is taking firearm retailer Hanover Armory to trial for flooding our streets with ghost gun kits, untraceable weapons that fueled violent crime. The City already secured a historic settlement against Polymer80, one of the nation’s largest ghost gun kit makers, because of these hard-fought laws.
Thanks to our advocacy, Maryland has the tools to fight back against irresponsible actors in the gun industry and protect our communities.
Let’s Keep Going.