Giffords Applauds Connecticut Legislature For Continuing Funding For Project Longevity Program That Has Effectively Reduced Gun Violence
WASHINGTON, DC — Giffords, the gun violence prevention organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, combat veteran and retired NASA astronaut Captain Mark Kelly, and its partner organization the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence applauded the Connecticut Legislature for reauthorizing funding for a local gun violence intervention program that has proven to reduce gun violence.
The 2018 budget includes $880,000 for Project Longevity, which has gained national attention for its effective strategies to reduce gun violence, and has become a national model of state-level support for evidence-based violence reduction strategies. The program, which was first launched in 2012, has helped reduce rates of gun violence by over 50 percent in urban areas of Connecticut.
“Programs like Project Longevity are what help make Connecticut a national leader in public safety,” said Robyn Thomas, Executive Director, Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. “This program is proven to reduce gun violence and make Connecticut’s communities safer safer. Governor Malloy should immediately reauthorize funding for this vital violence intervention program.”
“Project Longevity is a shining example of a public safety program that is not only achieving tangible results, but also saving Connecticut taxpayers millions of dollars in healthcare, law enforcement, and other costs,” said Robin Lloyd, Director of Government Affairs, Giffords. “Giffords was proud to call on the Connecticut Legislature to support this lifesaving program and we are pleased to see that they have made a critical investment in protecting Connecticut’s communities from violence.”
This summer, Giffords and the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence released a letter calling on Connecticut legislature to reauthorize funding for a local gun violence intervention program that has proven to reduce gun violence. Read the full letter here.
About The Success Of Project Longevity
Since it was first launched in 2012, Project Longevity has had an impressive impact on violent crime in Connecticut.
- In the three Project Longevity cities, gun-related homicides have fallen more than 50% – from a combined 69 in 2011 to 32 in 2016.
- In these cities, group-related shootings fell by more than 60% between 2011 and 2016.
- In October 2015, a group of researchers from Yale University published a formal evaluation of the impact of the first 18 months of Project Longevity in New Haven, which showed a 21% decrease in total shootings per month, and an impressive 53% decrease in gang or group-related shootings per month that researchers found to be “directly attributable to” Project Longevity.
Speak with an Expert: For additional information on Project Longevity, or to be connected to a gun violence prevention expert, contact media@giffords.org
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