Press Releases

For Release: Wednesday, May 29, 2013 Latest state figures show motor vehicle deaths on the decline while gun deaths mount WASHINGTON, DC — Gun deaths outpaced motor vehicle deaths in 12 states and the District of…

Large Portions of NRA Convention Sponsored by Firearms Industry, Gun Show Includes Major Vendors of Smokeless and Black Powder, the Type of Explosives Suspected in Boston Marathon Bombing Since 1970s NRA Has Worked Successfully to…

For Release: Tuesday, April 23, 2013 Washington, DC–Since the 1970s, the National Rifle Association (NRA) has worked to block federal regulation–including background checks on transfers–of black and smokeless powder. The NRA’s decades-long campaign against regulating these…

For Release: Monday, April 15, 2013 Washington, DC—“Guns are rarely used to kill criminals or stop crimes” according to the new Violence Policy Center (VPC) report Firearm Justifiable Homicides and Non-Fatal Self-Defense Gun Use (vpc.org/studies/justifiable.pdf). The report analyzes…

For Release: Thursday, April 4, 2013 Washington, DC–In response to the passage of sweeping new gun violence prevention measures by the Connecticut legislature, the Violence Policy Center (VPC) issued the following statement by VPC Executive Director…

For Release: Thursday, March 28, 2013 Washington, DC–At least 508 people, including 14 law enforcement officers, have been killed since May 2007 in incidents not ruled self-defense involving private citizens legally allowed to carry concealed handguns…

For Release: Thursday, March 14, 2013 In response to the Senate Judiciary Committee today passing legislation to ban assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines, the Violence Policy Center (VPC) issued the following statement by VPC Executive…

For Release: Thursday, March 7, 2013 In response to the Senate Judiciary Committee today passing legislation to make gun trafficking a federal crime, the Violence Policy Center (VPC) issued the following statement by VPC Legislative Director…

For Release: Wednesday, March 6, 2013 Annual Study Compares Rates of Homicide Victimization for Californians Ages 10 to 24 by County, Race, Ethnicity, Weapon Used, Circumstance, and Location  Study Also Identifies Local Youth Violence Prevention Programs…

For Release: Thursday, February 7, 2013 Washington, DC–Following release today of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force’s set of policy principles, Violence Policy Center Executive Director Josh Sugarmann issued the following statement: “The Violence Policy…

For Release: Thursday, February 7, 2013 Alaska, Louisiana, Montana, Alabama, and Wyoming Have Highest Gun Death Rates  Washington, DC–States with higher gun ownership rates and weak gun laws have the highest rates of gun death according…

For Release: Tuesday, February 5, 2013 Washington, DC–The Violence Policy Center (VPC) strongly endorses the “Gun Trafficking Prevention Act of 2013,” a bi-partisan initiative introduced today by Representatives Patrick Meehan (R-Pennsylvania), Carolyn Maloney (D-New York), Scott…

For Release: Wednesday, January 30, 2013 State’s Black Homicide Victimization Rate of 33.86 Per 100,000 is More Than Seven Times National Overall Homicide Rate of 4.42 per 100,000 Nationwide, 83 Percent of Black Homicide Victims are…

For Release: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 AK-47 and AR-15 Assault Pistols that Combine the Power of an Assault Rifle with the Concealability of a Handgun Lead the Way  WASHINGTON, DC–Not since the late 1980s and early…

For Release: Thursday, January 24, 2013 Washington, DC–Following Senator Dianne Feinstein’s introduction today of a landmark bill to ban assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines, Violence Policy Center Executive Director Josh Sugarmann issued the following statement:…

For Release: Wednesday, January 16, 2013 Washington, DC–In response to the Obama administration’s proposals to reduce gun violence in the United States, Violence Policy Center Executive Director Josh Sugarmann issued the following statement: “The combination of…

For Release: Tuesday, January 15, 2013 Washington, DC–In response to passage of New York ’s tough new gun law, Violence Policy Center Executive Director Josh Sugarmann issued the following statement: “With swift passage of a strengthened…

For Release: Wednesday, January 9, 2013 Washington, DC–Following participation in today’s meeting with Vice President Biden of gun violence prevention organizations and advocates, Violence Policy Center Legislative Director Kristen Rand stated: “The Administration’s long-term commitment to…

For Release: Tuesday, January 8, 2013 NSSF-Sponsored SHOT Show begins in Las Vegas on January 15, 2013, Scheduled to Include Manufacturer of Gun Used in Newtown Shooting, Among Numerous Other Assault Weapon Manufacturers  Barring Mainstream Press…

For Release: Friday, December 21, 2012 Josh Sugarmann, executive director of the Violence Policy Center, and native of Newtown, Connecticut, issued the following statement today in response to the NRA’s call for more armed guards as…