What Does the Surgeon General’s Declaration on Gun Violence Mean for Cities?

By:

Sarah Weller Pegna, MPH

August 1, 2024 - (4 min read)

On June 25^th the Surgeon General issued an advisory declaring firearm violence a public health crisis. This crisis impacts individuals, families and communities in cities, towns and villages across the country. In 2022 alone, there were over 48,000 deaths from firearms in the United States, representing nearly 132 people dying each day. Another 100,000 survivors were wounded, many with lengthy, expensive recoveries and often long-term mental and physical injuries.

Nearly 54% of adults report that they, or their family members have experienced a gun-related violence.
Source: KFF

Cities can lead the way as innovators in addressing this public health crisis. The Surgeon General’s Advisory outlines an evidence-informed public health approach that provides a useful scaffold for cities in addressing gun violence.

Data and Communication Strategies

With clear data, city leaders and residents can make decisions on the strategies that will have the largest impact and target this impact to the communities most in need. Cities are working to improve data on gun violence, examine the short- and long-term outcomes of firearm violence, and evaluate the implementation of prevention strategies. To contribute to this effort, NLC is partnering with The Urban Institute to create alternative measures of public safety in the Municipalities Reimagining Community Safety Initiative.

At the local level, cities, towns, and villages can partner with universities to aggregate and visualize public safety data, and to identify and evaluate local prevention strategies.

The Possibility Lab at the University of Berkley, in collaboration with Oakland, CA, is using community engagement to better understand what is driving perceptions of safety (PDF).
The Crime Lab at Chicago University, in collaboration with Chicago, IL, created the Violence Reduction Dashboard to identify the assets in communities with high rates of gun violence. to identify the assets in communities with high rates of gun violence.
Crime and Justice Policy Lab at the University of Pennsylvania evaluated the Group Violence Reduction Strategy (PDF) in Baltimore, MD.

Community Risk Reduction and Education Prevention Strategies

As cities seek to reduce risk, they can implement community violence prevention and intervention strategies in partnership with local organizations. Cities can reference NLC’s Reimagining Public Safety: A Toolkit for Cities and Towns and Reimagining Community Safety Impact Updates for a recent analysis of the impact of violence prevention strategies, including community responder programs, group violence intervention, hospital-based violence intervention, and community violence intervention programs.

Firearm Risk Reduction Strategies

Risk reduction strategies focus on mitigating and reducing the risk of gun violence. Cities seeking to reduce firearm risk can implement policy actions to reduce the risk of gun violence, such as purchasing requirements, removal laws, safe and secure storage and regulation of public carry. Cities can reduce risk with programs that enhance community awareness and safety, such as buy-back programs and safe storage campaigns.

Mental Health Action and Support

An important component of holistically addressing gun violence is ensuring affordable, high-quality access to necessary mental health and substance abuse treatment. For communities that are disproportionately burdened by gun violence, cities can support residents in coping with violence through ongoing mental health support. The City of Baltimore, Maryland won the 2023 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Prize for their work with Healing City Baltimore to develop and implement trauma-informed legislation, bringing a trauma-informed lens to all city policies. The approach was developed after a school shooting prompted students to ask the City Council to act. City agencies are also trained in trauma-informed care as part of the program. Learn more in this podcast with Councilmember Zeke Cohen.

What Cities Can Do Today

1. Bring together partners: The first step to addressing gun violence is to bring together critical partners from within and outside city government. Begin with a conversation around the Surgeon General’s four approaches and see where there may be traction in your community.

2. Talk to your community: Engage in open and authentic conversations with those most impacted by gun violence; ask them to help you identify possible solutions and next steps.

3. Learn more from NLC: Get inspired by what other cities and organizations across the country are doing to end gun violence.