County Releases Report with Strategies to Reduce Gun Violence

The County of San Diego has released a report that highlights data related to gun violence in San Diego County and outlines recommendations to reduce this violence. The Gun Violence Reduction Community Needs Assessment Final Report, authored by Health Assessment and Research for Communities (HARC), includes findings from more than 18 months of work with community and government leaders.

As stated in the report, between 2017-21, over 70% of firearm-related deaths in San Diego County were suicide and over 28% were homicide. The report details populations most impacted by firearm-related deaths, injuries, and crimes, including age, race, and geographic location.

Recommendations in the report include prevention and intervention strategies that are tailored to specific populations at highest risk for violence, such as developing and sharing suicide prevention materials, domestic and intimate partner violence materials, and working to change norms about gun violence through outreach programs. It also highlights the need to partner with agencies that offer free gun locks.

Enhancing community prevention services is also mentioned in the report, including expanding youth-focused programs, like mentorship and after school programs. Partnership building between trauma hospitals and community-based organizations that connect gun violence patients and their families to recovery services is also highlighted as a recommendation.

Community engagement and collaboration is central to many of the recommendations. Continued coordination with a Gun Violence Reduction Community Advisory Group and organizing networking events for community organizations working to reduce gun violence is recommended.

The County developed a work plan, using HARC’s recommendations, to advance gun violence reduction activities in the county. The report and work plan will be presented to the County Board of Supervisors on February 6, 2024.

A link to the report can be found on the project Homepage.

**The report and work plan were previously presented to the County Board of Supervisors on July 18, 2023. The item failed due to a tie vote, and the Board did not continue the item. Pursuant to Rule 2(g) of the Board of Supervisors Rules of Procedure, the item was placed on the agenda for the next regular meeting on August 29, 2023. The Chief Administrative Officer withdrew the item from the August 29, 2023 agenda and continued the item at a future date. The future date the item will be presented is February 6, 2024.