Governor Meyer's Office Offers a Blueprint for the Nation to Prevent Gun Deaths

Gun violence tears at the heart of our communities, leaving families shattered and futures stolen. In Delaware, Governor Matt Meyer has taken a decisive step to confront this epidemic head-on. On his 100th day in office, he signed an executive order creating the Office of Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety, a powerful commitment to saving lives. This isn’t just policy; it’s a moral imperative to protect our neighbors, our children, and our shared tomorrow.

The numbers paint a grim picture. In 2023, the United States recorded 46,278 gun deaths, including 17,927 homicides and a record 27,300 suicides. Urban centers like Chicago and Philadelphia bear a disproportionate burden, with over 20 percent of shootings concentrated in just 5 percent of the population. Delaware, though smaller, is not immune. Firearm violence scars its communities, particularly in marginalized neighborhoods where systemic inequities amplify the toll.

Governor Meyer’s initiative arrives at a critical moment. While some argue for doubling down on individual gun rights, the evidence points elsewhere. Community-driven prevention, rooted in public health principles, offers a proven path to reducing violence. Delaware’s new office is a beacon of hope, showing what’s possible when leaders prioritize lives over ideology.

The Office of Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety, housed under Delaware’s Department of Safety and Homeland Security, is no bureaucratic gesture. It’s a dynamic hub coordinating statewide efforts to curb firearm deaths. By aligning resources with groups like the Coalition for a Safer Delaware and End Community Violence Now, the office amplifies trauma-informed outreach and data-driven strategies. Its inaugural report is striking: a 10 percent drop in firearm violence in targeted communities within just one quarter.

This approach draws on decades of research treating gun violence as a preventable epidemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention outline a clear model: monitor the problem, identify risk factors, test interventions, and scale what works. Programs like hospital-based violence intervention, which engage victims post-injury to prevent retaliation, have cut recurrence rates in cities like New York and Los Angeles. Delaware’s office builds on these successes, tailoring solutions to local needs.

Contrast this with the alternative. Some policymakers insist on enforcing existing laws without addressing root causes, as if prosecution alone could heal fractured communities. The Heritage Foundation and its allies argue against universal background checks, claiming they burden law-abiding citizens. Yet states with robust background checks, like California, see 15 to 20 percent reductions in youth firearm injuries. The data is clear: prevention saves lives where punishment falls short.

Delaware’s strategy hinges on empowering communities, not policing them. The office partners with local advocates to deliver street outreach, youth employment, and environmental design projects. These aren’t abstract concepts. In Baltimore, transforming vacant lots into green spaces correlated with a 20 to 30 percent drop in shootings. Philadelphia’s summer jobs program for 5,000 teens in 2024 led to a 15 percent decline in juvenile gun incidents. Delaware is now replicating these models, investing in people rather than prisons.

This community-first approach challenges the narrative of unrestricted gun ownership as the answer to violence. Advocates for so-called constitutional carry laws, now in 24 states, frame guns as tools of self-defense. But the reality is stark: more guns in circulation fuel higher homicide rates, particularly in urban areas. Delaware’s office counters this by addressing the social determinants of violence, from poverty to trauma, creating safer spaces without relying on armed confrontation.

Delaware’s office is more than a state experiment; it’s a blueprint for the nation. As federal debates stall over competing proposals, like the Democrats’ Background Check Expansion Act versus the GOP’s Firearm Ownership Protection Act, states are stepping up. Twenty states with universal background checks and 19 with red flag laws report a 25 percent drop in firearm suicides. Delaware’s comprehensive approach, blending policy, community action, and data, sets a standard for others to follow.

The opposition’s focus on expanding carry rights and shielding gun manufacturers from liability ignores the human cost. Their push for interstate concealed carry reciprocity risks undermining state safety laws, creating a race to the bottom. Delaware’s office, by contrast, invests in prevention and accountability, proving that progress is possible even amid gridlock.

Governor Meyer’s executive order is a bold first step, but the work is far from done. Gun violence demands sustained commitment, from funding community programs to passing stronger safety laws. Delaware’s office shows what’s possible when leaders listen to communities and act on evidence. It’s a reminder that change begins with courage and collaboration.

Every life lost to gun violence is a call to action. Delaware’s Office of Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety is answering that call, building a future where safety is a right, not a privilege. The nation is watching, and it’s time to follow suit. Together, we can end this crisis and reclaim our communities for all.