Governor Josh Shapiro, Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis Announce $100 Million In Funding to Reduce Gun Violence; Pennsylvania Chapters of Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action Respond

HARRISBURG, PA – Today, the Pennsylvania chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety, released the following statement applauding Governor Josh Shapiro and Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis for announcing $100 million in funding to support gun violence prevention in the Commonwealth. The announcement was made during Governor Shapiro’s budget address for the Commonwealth earlier today, where he also called for the Senate to join the House in passing gun violence prevention legislation. 

“Today is a victory for the gun violence prevention movement and our efforts to support the communities most affected,” said Gina Pelusi, the legislative lead with the Pennsylvania chapter of Moms Demand Action and an Everytown Survivor Network Fellow. “The crisis of gun violence affects communities across the Commonwealth everyday, and preventing it requires a whole-of-government approach. We’re grateful to have partners in Governor Shapiro and Lieutenant Governor Davis who recognize this and are taking important steps to further support our communities with today’s announcement.” 

The details of today’s $100 million funding announcement for gun violence prevention include: 

• $37.5 million increase for the Violence Intervention And Prevention program in the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), which will support a wide range of models focused on reducing community violence and community violence intervention programs,
• $5 million increase for the Nonprofit Security Grant Fund at PCCD, which provides resources for places of worship, community centers, and other entities to equip themselves with security measures, 
• $1 million for a Firearm Injury Prevention Program within the Department of Health (DOH) to enhance data collection and analysis around gun violence, engage in community education initiatives, support evidence- based interventions, and collaborate with county coroners and law enforcement,
• $11.5 million to create a statewide Building Opportunity through Out of School Time (BOOST) program, which will aim to reduce community violence by providing more after-school learning opportunities for young people, 
• $11 million within PCCD to create more welcoming environments by building parks and improving shared spaces in communities, 
• $1 million to support the Office of Gun Violence within PCCD, and 
• $1.5 million to increase staffing at the Pennsylvania State Police to grow the trooper force and its civilian employees in essential units to combat gun violence. 

In an average year, 1,713 people die by guns in Pennsylvania and another 1,992 are wounded. Gun violence costs Pennsylvania $21.7 billion each year, of which $470.7 million is paid by taxpayers. More information about gun violence Pennsylvania is available here.