Achieving meaningful gun control and substantially reducing gun violence often feels like Sisyphus in Greek mythology—where Homer’s character eternally pushes a rock uphill only to have it roll back down on him again.
Frequently lost amid gun control inaction and setbacks are gun control wins mounting up in the states, incredible perseverance of gun control organizations to gain momentum for meaningful federal legislative change, and evolving corporate policies designed to discourage gun violence.
As the number of states passing gun control laws goes up, documented cases of gun violence in these states are going down—showing a path toward a less violent future.
This early 2024 tally recounted in a Jan. 9 USA Today article sets the stage: “According to the report, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Hawaii, New Jersey and New York have the lowest gun death rates in the country, while Mississippi, Louisiana, New Mexico, Alabama and Montana have the highest…‘When we look at the rates of gun violence in these states, what we see is a strong correlation between states with gun laws and lower rates of gun violence and the opposite for the states with the weak law,’ said Nick Suplina, senior vice president for law and policy at Everytown for Gun Safety…The report comes after new gun control measures went into effect Jan. 1 in states including California, Illinois, Colorado, Washington and Minnesota. New laws in other states like Michigan and Oregon go into effect later this year.”
Colorado, Washington, Maryland pass multiple measures
As the year progresses, new gun control regulations and policies are popping up throughout the country. In states like Colorado, multiple measures are being adopted in one legislative session. Notes a Momsdemandaction.org report in May: “During the 2024 legislative session, Colorado lawmakers passed six gun safety bills, including in the last hours of the session passing a critical gun safety bill instituting a state dealer permitting system…‘Too many families across Colorado continue to deal with the toll of gun violence, and [in] this session, Colorado lawmakers made it clear they are focused on protecting our communities, including passing bills to fight gun crimes, promote secure gun storage, and create a safer gun culture for the state,’ said Kelly Murphy, a volunteer with the Colorado chapter of Moms Demand Action.”
MRSC.org reports progress on multiple fronts in Washington, including: “The 2024 legislative session brought a handful of new firearms laws to Washington State…Open Carry of Firearms Now Prohibited in Libraries, Transit Facilities, and More… firearms in the possession of a state or local government entity or law enforcement agency that are obtained through the entity or agency’s firearm buy-back program [must] be destroyed…SHB 1903 requires an owner or other person lawfully in possession of a firearm to report any loss or theft to local law enforcement within 24 hours of discovery of the loss or theft, punishable by a $1,000 civil infraction for failure to report. The law enforcement agency must then enter the information about the lost or stolen firearm into the national crime center database…Those Incompetent to Stand Trial May Not Possess Firearms…The firearms must immediately be surrendered to the local law enforcement.”
Maryland made excellent strides in gun violence prevention as well. Marylanders for the Prevention of Gun Violence reports the state enacted a law permitting the state’s Attorney General and county attorneys, as well as Baltimore City, to initiate legal action against “industry members whose unlawful or unreasonable conduct has resulted in a public nuisance.” This law will hold the firearm industry accountable. Maryland also strengthened their Extreme Risk Protection Order law and passed a law to “allocate more resources in an efficient manner to where they are most needed.” Additionally, Maryland took protective action to address gun violence by establishing a state-level office of gun violence prevention.
California, Rhode Island pass new tax, safe storage law respectively
New taxes on guns and ammunition—to make users pay more for the privilege and help defray gun violence costs—are becoming more common. A May Guardian.com article points out: “Starting in July 2024, California will be the first state to charge an excise tax on guns and ammunition. The new tax – an 11% levy on each sale – will come on top of federal excise taxes of 10% or 11% for firearms and California’s 6% sales tax.”
Rhode Island recently passed a safe firearm storage regulation. According to necn.com, “All firearms, when not in use by the owner or authorized user, [must] be stored in a locked container or equipped with a tamper-resistant mechanical lock or other safety device properly engaged in order to render the firearm inoperable.”
Delaware moves forward while opponents push back
With a current B+ grade on the Giffords gun control chart, Delaware is working to improve its standing even as ever-present gun advocates push back. Notes delawareonline.com: “Gov. John Carney signed a ‘permit to purchase’ handgun bill into law Thursday afternoon, which advocates of the legislation say will reduce gun violence across Delaware…The law, which already faces a lawsuit less than four hours after it was signed, will require people to receive a permit and complete gun safety training before purchasing a handgun in Delaware.”
Gun control advances federally
Despite continuing Congressional support of gun rights, the Executive branch is making strides to ensure background criminal and mental health checks of every potential buyer. Notes the New York Times: “The Biden administration has approved the broadest expansion of federal background checks in decades in an attempt to regulate a fast-growing shadow market of weapons sold online, at gun shows and through private sellers that has contributed to gun violence…Under a rule released on Thursday, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will require anyone ‘engaged in the business’ of selling guns at a profit to register as a federally licensed firearms dealer. That means those sellers must run background criminal and mental health checks on potential buyers.”
Gun control support groups build Congressional support
Challenges to the dysfunctional status quo in Congress are being mounted on a variety of fronts. One of the most noteworthy is gun control groups’ progress in getting legislators to support repeal of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA). Notes Lonnie Phillips, co-founder of Survivors Empowered, who with co-founder Sandy Phillips and Newtown Action Alliance is building support: “We have secured 108 House co-sponsors for H.R. 4184 to repeal PLCAA. The bill would repeal prohibition against bringing qualified civil liability actions against gun makers, distributors, seller, or trade associations in state or federal court.”
New YouTube firearm policy augments other corporate support
NBC recently reported a positive change in YouTube’s firearm video policy, noting: “YouTube is updating its policy on firearm videos in an effort to keep underage users from accessing potentially dangerous content, including videos showing homemade guns…it will prohibit videos instructing users how to remove the safety devices from firearms. It will also restrict videos showing automatic or homemade firearms for users under 18.”
Corporate commitment to support gun safety is gaining ground. Notes Giffords.org: “Saving lives from gun violence isn’t only the responsibility of politicians or private citizens—more and more, companies are showing the courage to fight for a safer America…New research from Giffords and Global Strategy Group demonstrates the importance of corporations taking clear, decisive action on the social and public health issues that matter most to their customers.”
Mexico gets in on the act
Even foreign countries are trying to suppress US-based gun violence. Notes armscontrol.org in an article last March: “The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit has revived Mexico’s $10 billion lawsuit against U.S. gun manufacturers, which previously was dismissed by a lower court…The suit accuses six companies, including Smith & Wesson and Sturm, Ruger & Co., of negligent practices that facilitate the trafficking of more than 500,000 guns annually to Mexican drug cartels, exacerbating gun violence in that country.
A May USA Today article reported by Giffords.org reinforces the validity of the lawsuit: “Leaked Data Reveals How the American Gun Industry Profits from Cartel Violence in Mexico: “USA Today released a major story today revealing the US gun shops and smugglers responsible for nearly 80,000 firearms illegally trafficked into Mexico. According to the article: ‘Despite efforts to stem the flow, these American firearms are smuggled south as part of the cycle of Latin-American narcotics headed north. The violence in Central America fueled, in part, by guns also has contributed to the migration crisis at the US border.’”
Progress…plus a long way to go
An ABC News report notes: “Almost 5,000 people have died in U.S. gun violence so far in 2024…The shootings have reignited debate about gun violence in America.”
That’s bad enough. Even worse, the report aired on Feb. 15—5,000 gun violence deaths in the first 45 days of 2024! Clearly, we have a long way to go. But each positive step helps build momentum for a sensible gun control future where gun violence pales in comparison to current statistics.
###