DOVER, DE — Governor Matt Meyer has signed an executive order to create the Office of Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety in Delaware. The new office, which will fall under the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, aims to reduce gun-related injuries and deaths across the state. Governor Meyer’s office outlined several strategies the office will use, including coordinating existing state and local programs, promoting data sharing among agencies, and collaborating with community organizations. The office will also advocate for gun policy reform and support violence intervention programs based on research. In its first year, the office will assess current initiatives, identify gaps, and develop a comprehensive prevention strategy. Meyer’s office highlighted alarming gun violence statistics in Delaware, noting that 124 people were killed by gun violence in 2022. Guns are now the leading cause of death for children and teens in the state. Furthermore, Black men aged 15-34, who represent just 6% of Delaware’s population, account for nearly half of gun-related deaths in the state. With federal progress on gun violence stalling, experts are urging states like Delaware to take action to address this growing crisis. Meyer’s executive order aims to provide a clear and focused response to the gun violence epidemic.
