Who We Are
End Community Violence Now is a public-private partnership to address community gun violence.
We serve as a community-based Office of Violence Prevention for Delaware
Community violence is a complex and persistent issue that requires a coordinated, sustained response. At the heart of this response is the need for a backbone organization that can provide both technical assistance and grant-making support to local organizations working on the ground.
Our Mission
Grow a unified, statewide community gun violence reduction ecosystem that breaks the cycle of violence and fosters safer communities in Delaware.
Our Vision
Every person in Delaware will be safe from community gun violence.
What is Community Gun Violence?
Community Violence is the intentional use of physical force to cause injury, harm, or death to an acquaintance or stranger. Within Community Violence lies Community Gun Violence, which is a form of interpersonal gun violence between non-intimately related individuals.
This type of gun violence is often driven by a small percentage of a city’s population, and is not random; it is intentional, usually resulting from conflicts between individuals and is often retaliatory in nature.
The Effects of Community Gun Violence on Delaware
While Delaware ranks 13th lowest for gun deaths in the nation, the state still faces a significant crisis, with one person killed every three days by a firearm (2023). Gun homicides disproportionately affect certain communities. Males are five times more likely than females to die by gun homicide, and Black people are 15 times more likely to die by gun homicide compared to their white counterparts. Among the most vulnerable, young Black males aged 15-34, who make up just 6% of Delaware’s population, accounted for 46% of all gun homicide deaths in 2022.
In 2022, Delaware recorded 48 gun homicides, part of the 124 total gun deaths in the state. In 2024, there were 228 non-fatal firearm injuries. These non-fatal incidents, while not resulting in death, often leave victims with life-altering injuries, psychological trauma, and significant medical costs, impacting both individuals and communities.
The need for urgent intervention is clear. To reduce both fatal and non-fatal gun violence, coordinated, sustained investment in evidence-based programs is essential. These programs must focus on prevention, intervention, and community support, particularly in high-risk areas. By addressing the disparities in gun violence and investing in proven solutions, Delaware can begin to reduce the devastating impact of gun homicides and work toward a safer future for all.
Source: Villarreal, S., Kim, R., Wagner, E., Somayaji, N., Davis, A., & Crifasi, C. K. (2024). Gun Violence in the United States 2022: Examining the Burden Among Children and Teens.
Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
https://publichealth.jhu.edu/center-for-gun-violence-solutions/data/state-gun-violence-data/delaware
Our Theory of Change
We seek to advance community gun violence reduction through 6 key areas strategy, coordination, fundraising , grant making, advocacy, and education.
