Local Gun Sense Lawmaker of the Year Awarded to Mayor Justin Bibb for His Leadership on Gun Violence Prevention
NEW YORK— Today, Everytown for Gun Safety named Cleveland, Ohio Mayor Justin Bibb the 2024 Local Gun Sense Lawmaker of the Year for his leadership on gun violence prevention.
“Mayors are on the frontlines of America’s gun violence crisis, which is why it’s so powerful when city leaders like Mayor Bibb put gun safety at the top of their agenda,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “Mayor Bibb’s leadership is helping to save lives in Cleveland, and forging a path that other mayors can follow in the years to come.”
“Mayor Bibb is demonstrating how mayors can take meaningful action to prioritize the safety of their communities,” said Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action. “Cleveland has a true gun sense champion in Mayor Bibb, and we are so thankful for his leadership in Ohio and beyond.”
“We are proud to have a leader of our city who is tackling the gun violence epidemic plaguing our country head on in Cleveland. Mayor Bibb continues to show his prioritization and commitment to public safety,” said Kelsie Fields, lead with the Ohio chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Mayor Bibb’s RISE Initiative is investing in community leaders to intervene in violence head on in communities most affected. We are proud he is being named Everytown’s Local Lawmaker of the Year and we can’t think of anyone more deserving. Thank you Mayor Bibb for listening to us survivors and prioritizing our kids’ lives.”
Since 2022, Mayor Bibb has been a member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, Everytown’s national coalition of leaders advocating for life-saving gun safety reforms from local programs and tactics to state and federal legislation, and was recently announced as one of three new co-chairs.
While in office, Mayor Bibb has prioritized high-quality city services and transformative changes to improve safety and accessibility for all residents. In the two years since his election, Mayor Bibb’s administration has achieved significant progress in public safety through the Raising Investment in Safety for Everyone Initiative. This initiative includes a $15 million American Rescue Plan investment aimed at revitalizing Cleveland’s Southeast Side and bolstering community safety.
Gun Sense Lawmaker of the Year is an annual award given around Gun Sense University to lawmakers who are setting an example on how to lead on gun safety. Gun Sense University, hosted just last week by Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund, together with its grassroots volunteer networks Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, is an annual training and membership conference, bringing together volunteers and leaders of the gun violence prevention movement from all 50 states and Washington, D.C.