Gun Violence Prevention

Combating gun violence remains a central pillar of my legislative agenda. Across the country–and in Prince George’s County–gun violence continues to claim far too many lives. In 2024 alone, approximately 46,728 people died from gun violence. And our county has experienced some of the highest rates of firearm-related homicides in the state of Maryland. Over 100 people in Prince George’s County lost their lives to gun violence in 2024, with many more injured or traumatized. The burden of this crisis falls disproportionately on young people and communities of color. We cannot afford to treat this as business as usual–this is an emergency, and it demands action at every level.

President Trump wasted no time in showing how little he cares about gun violence and criminal justice. Within hours of his inauguration, the website for the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention (OGVP) went dark, and the office was shuttered. The OGVP was established under former President Biden and implemented executive actions and legislation that kept weapons of war out of our neighborhoods. This work included administering the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the first major federal gun safety bill passed in nearly 30 years. Losing this office makes our communities less safe and takes us in the wrong direction on gun safety reform.

To make matters more dire, the Republican budget proposal defunds the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), which keeps ghost guns, traffickers, and organized crime off our streets. This budget slashes ATF’s current funding by 29% and cuts nearly 1,500 ATF employees, the very civil servants charged with conducting criminal investigations, undercover operations, and tactical missions that protect us from violent crime.

Gun violence is not inevitable. It is a policy failure and one we have the tools to correct. My office is working on multiple fronts to address this crisis and save lives. This work includes championing:

• Extreme Risk Protection Orders (Red Flag Laws) that empower family members and law enforcement to intervene before tragedies occur.
• Universal Background Checks and closing loopholes that allow individuals to bypass background screenings at gun shows and in private sales.
• Community Violence Intervention (CVI) funding to invest in local, evidence-based violence prevention strategies.
• Funding for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to crack down on gun trafficking and ghost guns and bolster enforcement against repeat offenders and organized criminal networks.

In Congress, I have supported legislation that advances community safety, supports victims, and addresses the root causes of gun violence.

Relevant Legislation

I am proud to have either sponsored or co-sponsored the following legislation, and I will work tirelessly towards passing this legislation in the 119th Congress.

H.R. 2368, the Raise the Age Act, raises the minimum age to purchase assault-style weapons from 18 to 21.

H.R. 3115, the Assault Weapons Ban Act of 2025, keeps weapons of war out of our communities.

H.R. 3868, the Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2025, ensures guns do not fall into the hands of unlicensed individuals.

H.R. 1674, the Keep Americans Safe Act, regulates large capacity ammunition feeding devices.

H.R. 1564, Ethan’s Law, creates a framework for the safe storage of firearms on residential properties.

Community Engagement and Public Education

We cannot legislate our way out of this crisis alone—we must also build public will for change. That is why I:

• Host an Annual Gun Violence Prevention Summit, bringing together survivors, advocates, public health experts, and law enforcement.
• Convene community roundtables and youth listening sessions to hear directly from victims and survivors.
• Partner with local organizations on public awareness campaigns focused on safe gun storage, mental health, and de-escalation strategies.
• Secured $2 million for gun violence prevention efforts in Maryland’s Fourth District.
• Joined the Community Justice Action Fund to break down the Trump Administration’s dismantling of community violence intervention efforts like ending the Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI), shuttering the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, and scaling back federal gun tracing programs.

This fight is personal–for every child lost, every grieving family, and every community living in fear. I remain committed to advancing common-sense reforms that save lives and deliver justice for victims and survivors.