Research Explained
Gun Violence Is Down in Our Cities. Why Not Also in Our Schools?
New Data, Same Conclusion: Smart Gun Laws Save Lives
Smart gun laws save lives. That’s the fundamental thesis driving our work at Everytown for Gun Safety, and we pursued it with great success in 2023. Last year, state lawmakers passed a record-breaking 130 gun safety policies, while also blocking 95 percent of the gun lobby’s legislative agenda. But provisional numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that gun violence hasn’t returned to pre-pandemic levels. This raises a pointed question: Does our work actually work? The answer is yes. Today, Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund released its 2024 state Gun Law Rankings, which once again show a clear correlation between states with strong gun laws and lower rates of gun violence. Here are three key takeaways: