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After Testimony from Moms Demand Action Volunteers, Minnesota Lawmakers Advance Bill to Support Community Violence Intervention

March 24, 2022

The Minnesota chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, released the following statement after the Minnesota House Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Finance and Policy Committee advanced House File 4200, legislation that provides a detailed and comprehensive statewide plan for encouraging innovation in Minnesota’s public safety systems, including establishing a Local Community Innovation Grants program, which would support data-informed and community-centered local violence intervention efforts. Minnesota Moms Demand Action volunteers testified in support of the legislation during today’s hearing. The bill now moves to the House Ways & Means Committee. 

“We need comprehensive solutions to the gun violence crisis our state is facing, and community violence intervention work is an evidence-based, community-informed strategy that helps reduce gun violence,” said Eileen Collard, a volunteer with the Minnesota chapter of Moms Demand Action. “By giving violence prevention organizations the long term, sustained support they need, we can work to address gun violence in communities that are most impacted – and save lives. Lawmakers should continue to advance this critical bill.”

Community-based violence intervention programs apply an effective, localized approach to gun violence prevention, providing evidence and community-informed, comprehensive support to individuals who are at greatest risk of gunshot victimization. These programs are shown to reduce gunshot wounds and deaths in the neighborhoods most impacted by gun violence. By funding this public health approach to gun violence, targeting our hardest-hit neighborhoods across the state, and empowering municipalities who are disproportionately affected by gun violence, lawmakers can help make our communities safer. 

In an average year, 462 people die and 680 people are wounded by guns in Minnesota. Gun violence costs Minnesota $2.9 billion each year, of which $83.3 million is paid by taxpayers. Firearms are the leading cause of death among children and teens in Minnesota. Learn more about gun violence in Minnesota here

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