Press Releases

For Release: Wednesday, December 6, 2017 VPC’s Concealed Carry Killers Project Reveals Permit Holders Have Committed at Least 31 Mass Shootings, Taken at Least 21 Law Enforcement Lives Washington, DC — The U.S. House of Representatives today passed H.R. 38, a bill that establishes a system of federally mandated concealed carry reciprocity that would force every state to recognize concealed carry permits issued by any other state. This proposal would undermine each state’s ability to…

For release: Tuesday, November 28, 2017 U.S. House Judiciary Committee to Consider Bill to Mandate Federal Concealed Carry Reciprocity Washington, DC —Two Florida law enforcement officers are among the latest murder victims reportedly killed by a concealed carry permit holder according to the most recent update to the Violence Policy Center’s (VPC) ongoing Concealed Carry Killers (concealedcarrykillers.org) project, an online resource that provides examples of non-self defense killings involving private citizens with permits to carry…

For release: Wednesday, November 8, 2017 Washington, DC–Following Senator Dianne Feinstein’s (D-CA) introduction today of a landmark bill to ban assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines, Violence Policy Center Legislative Director Kristen Rand issued the following statement: “Military-bred semiautomatic assault weapons and ultra-high capacity ammunition magazines now define the U.S. civilian gun market: a lethality-focused arms bazaar where virtually anyone with a credit card and a grudge can easily acquire the firepower necessary to carry…

For Release: Monday, November 6, 2017 In response to the assault weapon attack at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, that left 26 churchgoers dead and more than 20 wounded in the deadliest mass shooting in modern Texas history, Violence Policy Center Executive Director Josh Sugarmann issued the following statement: “Our nation mourns the loss of life in Sutherland Springs and the impact of gun violence on yet another community and its residents. And…

Para divulgación: jueves, 21 de Septiembre de 2017 Un estudio anual divulgado en la antesala del Mes de Concientización respecto a la Violencia Doméstica clasifica a los entidades federativas según la tasa de mujeres asesinadas por hombres. Washington, DC — En 2015, más de 1,600 mujeres fueron asesinadas por hombres y en la mayoría de los casos se usó un arma de fuego, de acuerdo con un nuevo estudio titulado Cuando los hombres asesinan a…

For Release: Wednesday, October 11, 2017 In response to legislation introduced by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Representative David Cicilline (D-RI) to ban “bump fire” and similar devices that allow semiautomatic assault weapons (like the ones found with the Las Vegas shooter) to mimic full-auto fire, Violence Policy Center (VPC) Legislative Director Kristen Rand issued the following statement: “We commend Senator Feinstein and Representative Cicilline for taking a leadership role in advocating for controls on…

For Release: Monday, October 2, 2017 In response to the mass shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada, that left more than 50 victims dead and more than 400 injured, Violence Policy Center Executive Director Josh Sugarmann issued the following statement: “Little more than a year after our nation’s most deadly mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, the horrific attack in Las Vegas is now the latest shooting to stake that bloody claim. But…

For release: Thursday, September 21, 2017 Study Released in Advance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October Washington, DC — Nine out of 10 black women murdered by men are killed by someone they know, most often with a gun, according to the new Violence Policy Center (VPC) study When Men Murder Women: An Analysis of 2015 Homicide Data. The annual VPC report is released in advance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October. The…

For release: Thursday, September 21, 2017 Annual Study Released in Advance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October Ranks States by Rate of Women Killed by Men Washington, DC — More than 1,600 women were murdered by men in 2015 and the most common weapon used was a gun, according to the new Violence Policy Center (VPC) study When Men Murder Women: An Analysis of 2015 Homicide Data. This annual report is released in advance…

For Release: Wednesday, September 6, 2017 Washington, DC —Innocent victims continue to die at the hands of private citizens with permits to carry concealed handguns according to ongoing research from the Violence Policy Center (VPC). Concealed handgun permit holders are responsible for more than 1,100 deaths not involving self defense since 2007, VPC research shows. Details on these fatal incidents can be found on Concealed Carry Killers (concealedcarrykillers.org), an online resource that provides examples of…

Para divulgación: miércoles, 12 de Julio de 2017 Los estadounidenses que viven en comunidades donde prevalece la violencia con armas de fuego tienen más probabilidades de experimentar efectos negativos en materia de salud y comportamiento El experimentar violencia comunitaria incrementa el riesgo de trauma y es especialmente perjudicial para niños y adolescentes Washington, DC — “Los individuos que viven en comunidades donde prevalece la violencia comunitaria están en un riesgo creciente de experimentar una amplia…

For release: Wednesday, July 12, 2017 Experiencing community violence increases risk of trauma, and is especially harmful for children and adolescents Washington, DC — “Individuals living in communities where violence is prevalent are at increased risk for a broad range of negative health and behavior outcomes,” according to The Relationship Between Community Violence and Trauma: How Violence Affects Learning, Health, and Behavior, a new report from the Violence Policy Center (VPC) and the Violence Prevention…

For release: Tuesday, June 27, 2017 Washington, DC — A push by the firearms industry and gun lobby to make it far easier for private citizens to buy and possess firearm silencers will only place the police and public at increased risk warns a new and expanded edition of the Violence Policy Center’s (VPC) study Silencers: A Threat to Public Safety. In detailing this marketing push, the study also documents examples of lethal attacks and…

For release: Friday, June 23, 2017 Washington, DC —Innocent victims continue to die at the hands of private citizens with permits to carry concealed handguns according to ongoing research from the Violence Policy Center (VPC). Concealed handgun permit holders are responsible for at least 1,082 deaths not involving self defense since 2007, including 31 mass shootings that killed 147 people, VPC research shows. Details on these fatal incidents can be found on Concealed Carry Killers…

For release: Thursday, June 15, 2017 Washington, DC– The Violence Policy Center (VPC) today released two new backgrounders in response to yesterday’s shooting in Alexandria, Virginia at the Congressional baseball practice:  a new report on the SKS assault rifle (the type of weapon reportedly used in the attack) as well as a second report detailing the reality of self-defense gun use and concealed carry. Both backgrounders are available on the VPC’s website at www.vpc.org. SKS…

For release: Wednesday, June 14, 2017 Washington, D.C.─ Following an attack this morning on Republican Members of Congress at a baseball practice that according to news reports left five wounded, Violence Policy Center Executive Director Josh Sugarmann issued the following statement: “Today’s ambush of Members of Congress is the latest grim proof that no one is safe from the gun violence that afflicts our nation.  From Members of Congress to schoolchildren, we are all held…

For Release: Wednesday, June 14, 2017 VPC Research Details Threat Posed to Public Safety by Firearm Silencers, Proposed End of “Sporting Purposes” Test for Foreign-Made Firearms Washington, DC — A legislative push by the firearms industry and National Rifle Association (NRA) to make it far easier for private citizens to buy and possess firearm silencers and to eliminate import regulations for foreign-made guns threatens public safety the Violence Policy Center (VPC) warned today. The negative…

For release: May 31, 2017 Washington, DC — New research from the Violence Policy Center (VPC) confirms that contrary to what the firearms industry and gun lobby claim, private citizens rarely use guns to kill criminals or stop crimes. The new study, Firearm Justifiable Homicides and Non-Fatal Self-Defense Gun Use, analyzes the most recent federal data available, which shows that private citizens use guns to harm themselves or others far more often than to kill…

For Release: Wednesday, May 17, 2017 Guns Are the Only Consumer Products Not Regulated by the Federal Government for Health and Safety Washington, DC — The Violence Policy Center (VPC) today launched the Campaign for Gun Industry Accountability, a new ongoing public education campaign detailing the gun industry’s lack of federal health and safety regulation, how the industry has exploited this unique exemption, and the impact this has on gun death and injury. The Campaign’s…

For Release: Thursday, May 4, 2017 In response to the announcement this week that gun industry leader Pete Brownell, CEO of gun, ammunition, and firearm accessories vendor Brownells, has been elected president of the National Rifle Association, Violence Policy Center Executive Director Josh Sugarmann released the following statement: “By elevating one of its million-dollar gun industry donors to its presidency, the NRA is publicly acknowledging its growing financial, marketing, and organizational links to the gun…