Our goal is to reduce gun violence by enacting strong gun laws, increasing investment in local solutions, and growing the movement dedicated to this mission.
Gun control advocates take part in a candlelight vigil to honor of the victims of the mass shootings in El Paso, Texas; Dayton, Ohio; and Chicago, Illinois outside the National Rifle Association headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia, August 2019. (Getty/Michael A. McCoy/The Washington Post)
What We're Doing
Implement strong gun policies
The United States has fallen far behind its peer nations when it comes to keeping communities safe from gun violence. We work to develop federal and state legislative and executive action strategies to reduce gun violence and save lives.
Increase oversight of the gun industry
A combination of weak laws and lack of resources has left the gun industry in the United States essentially unregulated. We work to shine a light on this problem and develop effective solutions to ensure that this industry is required to help solve the epidemic of gun violence.
Support for public health and community-based solutions
Laws alone are not enough. Reducing gun violence requires a dedicated investment in public health approaches and community-based violence intervention programs.
Build an effective national coalition
We partner with national, state, and local gun violence prevention allies and organizations to harness our collective power to make meaningful change.
4 Ways the Federal Government Can Improve College Campus Safety in States With Lax Gun Laws
As more states pass campus carry laws, Congress and the Biden administration should intervene to protect college students and employees from gun violence.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gun Industry Immunity
The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act prevents the gun industry from being held accountable for harm caused and disincentivizes the industry from ensuring consumer safety.
Frequently Asked Questions About Domestic Violence and Firearms
Serious gaps in federal law allow loopholes for some domestic violence abusers to access firearms, intensifying harm in moments that are already dangerous for survivors.
Homemade firearms that can be procured without a background check and do not have serial numbers, known as ghost guns, pose unique risks to community safety.
5 Discussions That Shaped the Justice Reform Movement in 2020
While more must be done to shrink the footprint of the U.S. criminal justice system, the national dialogue around reform during summer 2020 has inspired transformative ideas and tangible policies that can be built on moving forward.
In this fact sheet series, the Center for American Progress will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about key policy issues related to gun violence prevention.
Frequently Asked Questions About the ‘Charleston Loophole’
A dangerous gap in federal law allows gun dealers to proceed with a sale before a background check has been completed—enabling people who are otherwise prohibited from gun possession to continue to buy guns.
