If you or someone you know is a victim of gun violence, you may be able to access crime victim compensation funds and services by contacting local or statewide organizations. While compensation is given directly to individual survivors to cover expenses like medical costs, lost wages, and relocation, assistance funds are often granted to organizations that serve survivors of crime. 

Assistance grants only require that organizations serve individuals who are victims of crime—making them easier to access than compensation programs—and their funds are severely under-utilized. Federal law gives states enormous discretion to decide how to award assistance grants from the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding program. If you cannot access these funds, or one does not exist in your community, you can encourage local leaders to create a fund to help survivors of gun violence.

If you or someone you know is a victim of gun violence, you may be able to access crime victim compensation funds and services by contacting local or statewide organizations. While compensation is given directly to individual survivors to cover expenses like medical costs, lost wages, and relocation, assistance funds are often granted to organizations that serve survivors of crime. 

Assistance grants only require that organizations serve individuals who are victims of crime—making them easier to access than compensation programs—and their funds are severely under-utilized. Federal law gives states enormous discretion to decide how to award assistance grants from the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding program. If you cannot access these funds, or one does not exist in your community, you can encourage local leaders to create a fund to help survivors of gun violence.

If you or someone you know is a victim of gun violence, you may be able to access crime victim compensation funds and services by contacting local or statewide organizations. While compensation is given directly to individual survivors to cover expenses like medical costs, lost wages, and relocation, assistance funds are often granted to organizations that serve survivors of crime. 

Assistance grants only require that organizations serve individuals who are victims of crime—making them easier to access than compensation programs—and their funds are severely under-utilized. Federal law gives states enormous discretion to decide how to award assistance grants from the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding program. If you cannot access these funds, or one does not exist in your community, you can encourage local leaders to create a fund to help survivors of gun violence.

If you or someone you know is a victim of gun violence, you may be able to access crime victim compensation funds and services by contacting local or statewide organizations. While compensation is given directly to individual survivors to cover expenses like medical costs, lost wages, and relocation, assistance funds are often granted to organizations that serve survivors of crime. 

Assistance grants only require that organizations serve individuals who are victims of crime—making them easier to access than compensation programs—and their funds are severely under-utilized. Federal law gives states enormous discretion to decide how to award assistance grants from the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding program. If you cannot access these funds, or one does not exist in your community, you can encourage local leaders to create a fund to help survivors of gun violence.

If you or someone you know is a victim of gun violence, you may be able to access crime victim compensation funds and services by contacting local or statewide organizations. While compensation is given directly to individual survivors to cover expenses like medical costs, lost wages, and relocation, assistance funds are often granted to organizations that serve survivors of crime. 

Assistance grants only require that organizations serve individuals who are victims of crime—making them easier to access than compensation programs—and their funds are severely under-utilized. Federal law gives states enormous discretion to decide how to award assistance grants from the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding program. If you cannot access these funds, or one does not exist in your community, you can encourage local leaders to create a fund to help survivors of gun violence.

If someone you know is in danger of harming themselves or others and has access to firearms, it is critical to develop a plan to increase safety and reduce risk. This may include safely and securely storing a firearm, removing it temporarily from a home, or pursuing a civil restraining order or other legal restrictions. 

To take immediate action, in addition to law enforcement, you can reach out to advocates and other professionals including counselors, doctors, and lawyers trained on safety planning to understand and assess your options. 

If someone you know is in danger of harming themselves or others and has access to firearms, it is critical to develop a plan to increase safety and reduce risk. This may include safely and securely storing a firearm, removing it temporarily from a home, or pursuing a civil restraining order or other legal restrictions. 

To take immediate action, in addition to law enforcement, you can reach out to advocates and other professionals including counselors, doctors, and lawyers trained on safety planning to understand and assess your options. 

If someone you know is in danger of harming themselves or others and has access to firearms, it is critical to develop a plan to increase safety and reduce risk. This may include safely and securely storing a firearm, removing it temporarily from a home, or pursuing a civil restraining order or other legal restrictions. 

To take immediate action, in addition to law enforcement, you can reach out to advocates and other professionals including counselors, doctors, and lawyers trained on safety planning to understand and assess your options. 

Safe storage laws require guns to be locked and unloaded when not in use by their owner, addressing the dangerous consequences of unauthorized access to firearms by minors, thieves, and people prohibited from possessing guns. Unlocked guns increase the likelihood of suicide, unintentional shootings, mass shootings, and more, and they are a prime target for theft. 

If you’re worried about a poorly stored gun, you can contact law enforcement or appropriate law enforcement alternatives. You can also work within your community to increase the availability of safe storage information and voluntary relinquishment/transfer options, as well as to pass safe storage laws.

Safe storage laws require guns to be locked and unloaded when not in use by their owner, addressing the dangerous consequences of unauthorized access to firearms by minors, thieves, and people prohibited from possessing guns. Unlocked guns increase the likelihood of suicide, unintentional shootings, mass shootings, and more, and they are a prime target for theft. 

If you’re worried about a poorly stored gun, you can contact law enforcement or appropriate law enforcement alternatives. You can also work within your community to increase the availability of safe storage information and voluntary relinquishment/transfer options, as well as to pass safe storage laws.

Safe storage laws require guns to be locked and unloaded when not in use by their owner, addressing the dangerous consequences of unauthorized access to firearms by minors, thieves, and people prohibited from possessing guns. Unlocked guns increase the likelihood of suicide, unintentional shootings, mass shootings, and more, and they are a prime target for theft. 

If you’re worried about a poorly stored gun, you can contact law enforcement or appropriate law enforcement alternatives. You can also work within your community to increase the availability of safe storage information and voluntary relinquishment/transfer options, as well as to pass safe storage laws.

In order to effectively increase public safety and reduce the risk of gun violence, you can encourage your community—including employers and various institutions—to review how risks are assessed. Organizationally, assessing risk may involve taking threats and allegations of violence or threatening behavior seriously, fairly investigating these threats, and ensuring an atmosphere that promotes safety and in which nonviolent behavior is encouraged. 

You can also develop or propose developing a protocol and plan for emergency situations involving guns. When it comes to gun violence, coordinated community efforts and action plans to identify risks and collective ways to increase safety are critical to improving public safety.

In order to effectively increase public safety and reduce the risk of gun violence, you can encourage your community—including employers and various institutions—to review how risks are assessed. Organizationally, assessing risk may involve taking threats and allegations of violence or threatening behavior seriously, fairly investigating these threats, and ensuring an atmosphere that promotes safety and in which nonviolent behavior is encouraged. 

You can also develop or propose developing a protocol and plan for emergency situations involving guns. When it comes to gun violence, coordinated community efforts and action plans to identify risks and collective ways to increase safety are critical to improving public safety.

In order to effectively increase public safety and reduce the risk of gun violence, you can encourage your community—including employers and various institutions—to review how risks are assessed. Organizationally, assessing risk may involve taking threats and allegations of violence or threatening behavior seriously, fairly investigating these threats, and ensuring an atmosphere that promotes safety and in which nonviolent behavior is encouraged. 

You can also develop or propose developing a protocol and plan for emergency situations involving guns. When it comes to gun violence, coordinated community efforts and action plans to identify risks and collective ways to increase safety are critical to improving public safety.

Passing gun safety laws isn’t enough—these laws must be effectively and equitably implemented and enforced in order to save lives. If you’re facing a violent situation involving firearms, or if your community doesn’t properly implement its gun safety laws, there are steps you can take. 

Organizations, including Giffords Law Center, are available to provide help with organizing and technical assistance to those responsible for implementing gun safety laws, like policymakers, as well as those interested in making their communities safer, like violence prevention advocates.

Passing gun safety laws isn’t enough—these laws must be effectively and equitably implemented and enforced in order to save lives. If you’re facing a violent situation involving firearms, or if your community doesn’t properly implement its gun safety laws, there are steps you can take. 

Organizations, including Giffords Law Center, are available to provide help with organizing and technical assistance to those responsible for implementing gun safety laws, like policymakers, as well as those interested in making their communities safer, like violence prevention advocates.

Passing gun safety laws isn’t enough—these laws must be effectively and equitably implemented and enforced in order to save lives. If you’re facing a violent situation involving firearms, or if your community doesn’t properly implement its gun safety laws, there are steps you can take. 

Organizations, including Giffords Law Center, are available to provide help with organizing and technical assistance to those responsible for implementing gun safety laws, like policymakers, as well as those interested in making their communities safer, like violence prevention advocates.

Passing gun safety laws isn’t enough—these laws must be effectively and equitably implemented and enforced in order to save lives. If you’re facing a violent situation involving firearms, or if your community doesn’t properly implement its gun safety laws, there are steps you can take. 

Organizations, including Giffords Law Center, are available to provide help with organizing and technical assistance to those responsible for implementing gun safety laws, like policymakers, as well as those interested in making their communities safer, like violence prevention advocates.

Passing gun safety laws isn’t enough—these laws must be effectively and equitably implemented and enforced in order to save lives. If you’re facing a violent situation involving firearms, or if your community doesn’t properly implement its gun safety laws, there are steps you can take. 

Organizations, including Giffords Law Center, are available to provide help with organizing and technical assistance to those responsible for implementing gun safety laws, like policymakers, as well as those interested in making their communities safer, like violence prevention advocates.

Passing gun safety laws isn’t enough—these laws must be effectively and equitably implemented and enforced in order to save lives. If you’re facing a violent situation involving firearms, or if your community doesn’t properly implement its gun safety laws, there are steps you can take. 

Organizations, including Giffords Law Center, are available to provide help with organizing and technical assistance to those responsible for implementing gun safety laws, like policymakers, as well as those interested in making their communities safer, like violence prevention advocates.

Firearm relinquishment laws prevent people who already own guns from keeping them after they’ve been legally prohibited from doing so—including people convicted of violent crimes or subject to domestic violence and other civil restraining orders. But many states don’t take steps to disarm people who have become ineligible to possess guns or even explicitly call for them to hand over their firearms.

Local and regional efforts to effectively, fairly, and consistently implement procedures to disarm those prohibited from having firearms are critical. In order to reduce risk, you can support your community in developing accessible policies and procedures that people who become prohibited can follow and those who are responsible for obtaining firearms from them can implement.

Firearm relinquishment laws prevent people who already own guns from keeping them after they’ve been legally prohibited from doing so—including people convicted of violent crimes or subject to domestic violence and other civil restraining orders. But many states don’t take steps to disarm people who have become ineligible to possess guns or even explicitly call for them to hand over their firearms.

Local and regional efforts to effectively, fairly, and consistently implement procedures to disarm those prohibited from having firearms are critical. In order to reduce risk, you can support your community in developing accessible policies and procedures that people who become prohibited can follow and those who are responsible for obtaining firearms from them can implement.

Firearm relinquishment laws prevent people who already own guns from keeping them after they’ve been legally prohibited from doing so—including people convicted of violent crimes or subject to domestic violence and other civil restraining orders. But many states don’t take steps to disarm people who have become ineligible to possess guns or even explicitly call for them to hand over their firearms.

Local and regional efforts to effectively, fairly, and consistently implement procedures to disarm those prohibited from having firearms are critical. In order to reduce risk, you can support your community in developing accessible policies and procedures that people who become prohibited can follow and those who are responsible for obtaining firearms from them can implement.

Firearm relinquishment laws prevent people who already own guns from keeping them after they’ve been legally prohibited from doing so—including people convicted of violent crimes or subject to domestic violence and other civil restraining orders. But many states don’t take steps to disarm people who have become ineligible to possess guns or even explicitly call for them to hand over their firearms.

Local and regional efforts to effectively, fairly, and consistently implement procedures to disarm those prohibited from having firearms are critical. In order to reduce risk, you can support your community in developing accessible policies and procedures that people who become prohibited can follow and those who are responsible for obtaining firearms from them can implement.

Firearm relinquishment laws prevent people who already own guns from keeping them after they’ve been legally prohibited from doing so—including people convicted of violent crimes or subject to domestic violence and other civil restraining orders. But many states don’t take steps to disarm people who have become ineligible to possess guns or even explicitly call for them to hand over their firearms.

Local and regional efforts to effectively, fairly, and consistently implement procedures to disarm those prohibited from having firearms are critical. In order to reduce risk, you can support your community in developing accessible policies and procedures that people who become prohibited can follow and those who are responsible for obtaining firearms from them can implement.

When there are dangerous situations involving a gun, in addition to law enforcement, there are a variety of community-based resources that may be able to help. These are local, trusted individuals and organizations trained to prevent and reduce gun violence, and they include—but are not limited to—social and direct service providers, mental health services, and violence intervention organizations. 

Cities and states across the country are proving that we can achieve rapid, sustained reductions in shootings by investing in evidence-based, community-driven strategies. Cost, access, and lack of funding are often barriers to these services—but expanding access and reducing stigma is critical to improving the health, safety, and well-being of all communities.

When there are dangerous situations involving a gun, in addition to law enforcement, there are a variety of community-based resources that may be able to help. These are local, trusted individuals and organizations trained to prevent and reduce gun violence, and they include—but are not limited to—social and direct service providers, mental health services, and violence intervention organizations. 

Cities and states across the country are proving that we can achieve rapid, sustained reductions in shootings by investing in evidence-based, community-driven strategies. Cost, access, and lack of funding are often barriers to these services—but expanding access and reducing stigma is critical to improving the health, safety, and well-being of all communities.

When there are dangerous situations involving a gun, in addition to law enforcement, there are a variety of community-based resources that may be able to help. These are local, trusted individuals and organizations trained to prevent and reduce gun violence, and they include—but are not limited to—social and direct service providers, mental health services, and violence intervention organizations. 

Cities and states across the country are proving that we can achieve rapid, sustained reductions in shootings by investing in evidence-based, community-driven strategies. Cost, access, and lack of funding are often barriers to these services—but expanding access and reducing stigma is critical to improving the health, safety, and well-being of all communities.

When there are dangerous situations involving a gun, in addition to law enforcement, there are a variety of community-based resources that may be able to help. These are local, trusted individuals and organizations trained to prevent and reduce gun violence, and they include—but are not limited to—social and direct service providers, mental health services, and violence intervention organizations. 

Cities and states across the country are proving that we can achieve rapid, sustained reductions in shootings by investing in evidence-based, community-driven strategies. Cost, access, and lack of funding are often barriers to these services—but expanding access and reducing stigma is critical to improving the health, safety, and well-being of all communities.

If you’re facing a potentially violent situation involving guns, you may be able to access the legal system by going directly to court, contacting an attorney or community organization, or reaching out to law enforcement (or an appropriate law enforcement alternative). State and federal law prohibits certain people from having access to firearms based on risk of violence, criminal records, and other criteria.

You may be able to seek specific civil restraining orders to, for example, prevent domestic violence and protect you or others, and these orders can include prohibitions on possessing a gun. A state may also have a restraining order law that exclusively prohibits access to firearms and ammunition (also known as an extreme risk protection order or “red flag” law).

If you’re facing a potentially violent situation involving guns, you may be able to access the legal system by going directly to court, contacting an attorney or community organization, or reaching out to law enforcement (or an appropriate law enforcement alternative). State and federal law prohibits certain people from having access to firearms based on risk of violence, criminal records, and other criteria.

You may be able to seek specific civil restraining orders to, for example, prevent domestic violence and protect you or others, and these orders can include prohibitions on possessing a gun. A state may also have a restraining order law that exclusively prohibits access to firearms and ammunition (also known as an extreme risk protection order or “red flag” law).

If you’re facing a potentially violent situation involving guns, you may be able to access the legal system by going directly to court, contacting an attorney or community organization, or reaching out to law enforcement (or an appropriate law enforcement alternative). State and federal law prohibits certain people from having access to firearms based on risk of violence, criminal records, and other criteria.

You may be able to seek specific civil restraining orders to, for example, prevent domestic violence and protect you or others, and these orders can include prohibitions on possessing a gun. A state may also have a restraining order law that exclusively prohibits access to firearms and ammunition (also known as an extreme risk protection order or “red flag” law).

If you’re facing a potentially violent situation involving guns, you may be able to access the legal system by going directly to court, contacting an attorney or community organization, or reaching out to law enforcement (or an appropriate law enforcement alternative). State and federal law prohibits certain people from having access to firearms based on risk of violence, criminal records, and other criteria.

You may be able to seek specific civil restraining orders to, for example, prevent domestic violence and protect you or others, and these orders can include prohibitions on possessing a gun. A state may also have a restraining order law that exclusively prohibits access to firearms and ammunition (also known as an extreme risk protection order or “red flag” law).

If you’re facing a potentially violent situation involving guns, you may be able to access the legal system by going directly to court, contacting an attorney or community organization, or reaching out to law enforcement (or an appropriate law enforcement alternative). State and federal law prohibits certain people from having access to firearms based on risk of violence, criminal records, and other criteria.

You may be able to seek specific civil restraining orders to, for example, prevent domestic violence and protect you or others, and these orders can include prohibitions on possessing a gun. A state may also have a restraining order law that exclusively prohibits access to firearms and ammunition (also known as an extreme risk protection order or “red flag” law).

If you’re facing a potentially violent situation involving guns, you may be able to access the legal system by going directly to court, contacting an attorney or community organization, or reaching out to law enforcement (or an appropriate law enforcement alternative). State and federal law prohibits certain people from having access to firearms based on risk of violence, criminal records, and other criteria.

You may be able to seek specific civil restraining orders to, for example, prevent domestic violence and protect you or others, and these orders can include prohibitions on possessing a gun. A state may also have a restraining order law that exclusively prohibits access to firearms and ammunition (also known as an extreme risk protection order or “red flag” law).

Professionals responsible for preventing and responding to gun violence, like law enforcement officers and other first responders, may hold unconscious biases regarding race, gender, sexuality, and other identities. These biases can manifest into acts of discrimination or prejudice against those needing assistance. 

There are many local and national organizations that provide trauma-informed training focused on reducing bias, de-escalating conflicts, and improving crisis intervention responses. This training can help increase trust and confidence in public institutions to protect victims and survivors in the wake of gun violence. By supporting efforts to require, provide, and offer these training opportunities and resources, we can help ensure that people seeking aid will be treated fairly and that efforts to increase safety will be more effective.

Professionals responsible for preventing and responding to gun violence, like law enforcement officers and other first responders, may hold unconscious biases regarding race, gender, sexuality, and other identities. These biases can manifest into acts of discrimination or prejudice against those needing assistance. 

There are many local and national organizations that provide trauma-informed training focused on reducing bias, de-escalating conflicts, and improving crisis intervention responses. This training can help increase trust and confidence in public institutions to protect victims and survivors in the wake of gun violence. By supporting efforts to require, provide, and offer these training opportunities and resources, we can help ensure that people seeking aid will be treated fairly and that efforts to increase safety will be more effective.

Professionals responsible for preventing and responding to gun violence, like law enforcement officers and other first responders, may hold unconscious biases regarding race, gender, sexuality, and other identities. These biases can manifest into acts of discrimination or prejudice against those needing assistance. 

There are many local and national organizations that provide trauma-informed training focused on reducing bias, de-escalating conflicts, and improving crisis intervention responses. This training can help increase trust and confidence in public institutions to protect victims and survivors in the wake of gun violence. By supporting efforts to require, provide, and offer these training opportunities and resources, we can help ensure that people seeking aid will be treated fairly and that efforts to increase safety will be more effective.

There are times when law enforcement may not be the most trusted or appropriate solution for reducing the risk of gun violence. In those situations, individuals can seek out crisis response or intervention services as an alternative to, or in addition to, police assistance in situations involving firearms.

Depending on the circumstances, alternatives to law enforcement may include contacting mental health professionals, crisis intervention teams, and conflict mediators. Individuals trained in de-escalation can also help defuse violent situations with or without the aid of law enforcement.

There are times when law enforcement may not be the most trusted or appropriate solution for reducing the risk of gun violence. In those situations, individuals can seek out crisis response or intervention services as an alternative to, or in addition to, police assistance in situations involving firearms.

Depending on the circumstances, alternatives to law enforcement may include contacting mental health professionals, crisis intervention teams, and conflict mediators. Individuals trained in de-escalation can also help defuse violent situations with or without the aid of law enforcement.

There are times when law enforcement may not be the most trusted or appropriate solution for reducing the risk of gun violence. In those situations, individuals can seek out crisis response or intervention services as an alternative to, or in addition to, police assistance in situations involving firearms.

Depending on the circumstances, alternatives to law enforcement may include contacting mental health professionals, crisis intervention teams, and conflict mediators. Individuals trained in de-escalation can also help defuse violent situations with or without the aid of law enforcement.

There are times when law enforcement may not be the most trusted or appropriate solution for reducing the risk of gun violence. In those situations, individuals can seek out crisis response or intervention services as an alternative to, or in addition to, police assistance in situations involving firearms.

Depending on the circumstances, alternatives to law enforcement may include contacting mental health professionals, crisis intervention teams, and conflict mediators. Individuals trained in de-escalation can also help defuse violent situations with or without the aid of law enforcement.

Advocates across the country are working to change policies and hold law enforcement accountable when it comes to gun violence. Supporting local measures that increase accountability for discrimination, misconduct, and acts of brutality by those in the legal system is important to increasing the security of our communities.

These local policies can include legal repercussions, like independent investigations, for law enforcement misconduct and police departments that violate people’s rights. Data transparency, including information about how cases are handled and cleared, is also a central component of law enforcement accountability. By supporting the advocates pushing for accountability measures, you can help make your community a safer place to live.

Advocates across the country are working to change policies and hold law enforcement accountable when it comes to gun violence. Supporting local measures that increase accountability for discrimination, misconduct, and acts of brutality by those in the legal system is important to increasing the security of our communities.

These local policies can include legal repercussions, like independent investigations, for law enforcement misconduct and police departments that violate people’s rights. Data transparency, including information about how cases are handled and cleared, is also a central component of law enforcement accountability. By supporting the advocates pushing for accountability measures, you can help make your community a safer place to live.