Minneapolis City Council Approves Funding Boost for Local Gun Violence Prevention Programs

The Minneapolis City Council is devoting more than $1 million in new funding to gun violence prevention, distributing the funds among several community-based programs in the city.

According to news reports, the city council on Friday approved a budget that funds a number of violence intervention and prevention strategies, including Project LIFE and the new Office of Violence Prevention.

Profiled by the Star-Tribune in November, Project LIFE aims to save lives using the group violence intervention model, one of four approaches to gun violence prevention featured in a 2017 report by Cities United and the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has also been an outspoken supporter of legislation to close loopholes in Minnesota gun laws. Earlier this year, he spoke at a Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America rally at the state capitol in support of background checks on all gun sales and Red Flag legislation.

Gun safety advocates are pushing lawmakers to prioritize gun safety when the legislature returns in January. Gov.-elect Tim Walz has said he believes there is bipartisan support for Red Flag and background check legislation in Minnesota and that “this is our time to be proactive” on the issue of gun safety.

For more information on local approaches to reducing gun violence and the gun safety movement in Minnesota, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
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