Governor Josh Shapiro Signs Executive Order Re-Establishing Pennsylvania Office of Gun Violence Prevention
9.11.2024
HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Pennsylvania chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, released the following statement applauding Governor Josh Shapiro for signing an executive order re-establishing the Pennsylvania Office of Gun Violence Prevention (OGVP) within the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis will continue to have oversight of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention under his leadership of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. This Executive Order builds on the progress made in the 2024-25 bipartisan budget, signed into law by Governor Shapiro, to allocate $56.5 million towards gun violence prevention.
“I’ve spoken to too many Pennsylvanians who’ve lost loved ones to gun violence – that’s why today, my Administration took real action to re-establish and resource Pennsylvania’s Office of Gun Violence Prevention,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “Under Lieutenant Governor Davis’ leadership at PCCD, we will bring together public safety and public health experts, gun violence survivors and advocates, and leaders from state and local agencies to address and prevent gun violence across the Commonwealth. We’re going to continue to work together to ensure that every Pennsylvanian can be safe and feel safe in their communities – and have the real freedom that comes when you can walk down the street in your community without worrying about gun violence.”
“Governor Shapiro and Lieutenant Governor Davis have a long history in the fight against gun violence across the Commonwealth, and with this executive order, they are reaffirming their commitment to our safety,” said Ashley Womble, a volunteer with the Pennsylvania chapter of Moms Demand Action. “As daily instances of gun violence devastate our communities, we must keep investing in the safety of our communities. I’m grateful that we have leaders who are willing to fight for gun violence prevention not just with their words, but with their actions and I look forward to seeing the progress we can make together.”
“We deserve leaders who are going to take action on gun violence and put our safety first. By funding the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, Governor Shapiro and Lieutenant Governor Davis are doing just that,” said Katie Brumbaugh, a volunteer leader with the Villanova University Students Demand Action chapter. “My generation is committed to working together to end gun violence, and we’re grateful to have partners in the Shapiro-Davis administration. This is how we actually save lives.”
Responsibilities of the Pennsylvania Office of Gun Violence Prevention Will Include:
- Convening an advisory group of national, state, and community violence prevention experts, survivors of gun violence, health and behavioral care practitioners, members of law enforcement, and other state agencies;
- Partnering with the Pennsylvania Departments of Health (DOH) and Human Services (DHS), Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), and other Commonwealth entities to create and maintain a comprehensive online Gun Violence Data Dashboard and resource hub to track gun violence deaths, nonfatal gun-related injuries, and overall trends in crime and violence and serve as a “one-stop-shop” for data and research on gun violence in Pennsylvania;
- Collaborating with DOH’s Division of Violence Prevention, DHS, and other key stakeholders to increase awareness of firearm safety practices like safer storage;
- Developing a gun violence prevention plan for the Commonwealth; including a multi-faceted approach to address youth gun involvement and gun violence and addressing the intersections of gun violence with domestic violence;
- Applying for non-state funding to support research, analysis, and implementation of effective gun violence prevention strategies; and
- Working with PCCD’s Office of Victims’ Services to improve services and support for gun violence victims, building on the agency’s Resources for Victims of Gun Violence Initiative.
In an average year, 1,759 people die by guns in Pennsylvania and another 4,020 are wounded. Gun violence costs Pennsylvania $21.7 billion each year, of which $470.7 million is paid by taxpayers. More information about gun violence in Pennsylvania is available here.