End Community Violence Now Urges Gov. Meyer, De. General Assembly to Call for a Special Session to Address the Threat of Gun Violence on Young Delawareans

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 27, 2026

Contact:
Barry Johnson
Email: [email protected]
Cell: 609-414-8890

End Community Violence Now Urges Gov. Meyer, De. General Assembly to Call for a Special Session to Address the Threat of Gun Violence on Young Delawareans

Reporting has found that the number of minors who have been shot has nearly doubled when compared to this time last year

DOVER — Today, End Community Violence Now (ECVN) has urged Governor Matt Meyer and the Delaware General Assembly to call for a Special Session to address the threat of gun violence impacting young people across Delaware. Despite passing Delaware’s FY27 Budget and codifying the state Office of Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety into law, Delaware’s elected leaders have failed to fully fund the office to ensure that it has the resources needed to fulfill its mission. 

This comes after reporting from the Delaware News Journal which found that nearly the number of young people who have been shot has nearly doubled when compared to this time last year. For context, nearly one in five minors have been shot this year compared to one in eight this time last year. The Delaware News Journal has also noted that while homicides victims have remained unchanged year over year, shootings have increased slightly since last year. This upward trend in violence speaks to the need to invest tangible resources into the state Office of Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety.

“Every day we wait to act, another young life is put at risk. Behind every statistic is a child, a family, and a community carrying the pain of violence that could have been prevented,” said ECVN Executive Director Lauren Footman. “Delaware’s young people deserve more than promises — they deserve action, investment, and leaders who are willing to do everything possible to protect them. The Office of Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety cannot fulfill its mission without the resources it needs. We are calling on Governor Meyer and the General Assembly to come together now, because the cost of inaction is measured in lives lost and families devastated.”

Data from Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund found that gun violence has a disproportionate impact on children and teens of color with Black children and teens being nearly 19 times more likely to die by gun homicide and 13 times more likely to be hospitalized for a firearm assault than their white peers. Furthermore, the impact of gun violence extends far beyond its immediate victims. Young people experience harm when they witness gun violence, when someone they know is a victim, and even when they hear gunshots. Children exposed to gun violence spend less time playing and being physically active, have lower grades and are less likely to graduate, and are more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol; suffer from depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder; resort to aggressive and violent behavior; and engage in criminal activity.

Footman and ECVN hope that state leaders use the Special Session to hear directly from Delawareans impacted by gun violence and to reimagine ways to not only invest in the state Office of Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety, but to also invest in community-based organizations working on the ground to implement gun violence prevention and intervention strategies that save lives. This includes utilizing the Marijuana Reinvestment and Rural Health Transformation Funds to support the Office for the next fiscal year (FY28). 

“Delaware has already acknowledged that gun violence requires a coordinated, public health response by establishing the Office of Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety. Now, state leaders must follow through with the investments needed to make that commitment impactful,” said Tarria Stanley, Deputy Director of Legislative Advocacy at Community Justice. “A special session is an opportunity to move beyond intentions and take meaningful action that equips communities with the resources they need to save lives. We urge Governor Meyer and the General Assembly to fully fund the Office and invest in the community-based violence intervention strategies that are proven to save lives and create safer neighborhoods.”

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End Community Violence Now (ECVN) is the state of Delaware’s community-based Office of Violence Prevention. This public-private partnership seeks to break the cycle of violence through coordinated and sustained investments in evidence-based programs. This includes community engagement and education campaigns, policy advocacy, stakeholder strategy, as well as offering technical assistance and grant-making support to local organizations on the ground doing the difficult, but necessary work. ECVN envisions a future where all Delawareans are safe from the rising threat of gun violence.