GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION IN 2026

Read Full Newsletter Here: Gun Violence Prevention 2026

We are continuing our End of Year Fundraising Campaign by highlighting Gun Violence Prevention. Over the next few weeks, we will continue to highlight our issues and learn more about each issue's speaker for the Legislative Kickoff on January 31st.  We are currently asking UUs to oppose the "Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025" (H.R. 38 / S. 65), could override our statewide "concealed carry" gun laws. If you haven't written your FEDERAL lawmakers and ask them to oppose this legislation, please scroll down and do so now! We are extremely grateful to Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice, who have shared this action nationally. 

GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION IN 2026

My name is Deborah Lattimer, I am the new Lead Advocate for Gun Violence Prevention. I have been involved in this Advocacy work for over a decade. There was not any one incident that propelled me into caring about this issue... Rather, it was a succession of events and experiences throughout my life. When I was a child, my father was in a depressive crisis and came close to killing himself with a gun. During my social work internship with the court system, there was a young boy who unintentionally shot and killed his brother with his father's unsecured gun. In 2002, after a lengthy residency in Latin America, I moved to Maryland just as the Beltway snipers terrorized our area for 23 days. Driving into Baltimore, I would hear the incessant cacophony of helicopters and ambulances responding to victims who'd been shot. As a parent, I watched the horrors of Sandy Hook, which seared fear into our souls.

There is a lot we will tolerate for ourselves. The threshold is much lower when it comes to our children. And the NRA's response, which was to call for even more people to have guns, was unacceptable.

Unfortunately, Gun violence is an epidemic in our country.

None of us are immune.

Background: What do we know about gun violence?

Gun Violence is a uniquely American public health crisis. Globally, the U.S. ranks in the 93rd percentile for overall firearm mortality. Nearly all states have a higher firearm mortality rate than most other countries. Gun violence harms every community, regardless of size or political leanings. In fact, an analysis by the Center for American Progress using CDC data found that the highest rates of gun homicides were in rural counties. Gun suicides reached a record high in 2023–a 12% increase since 2019. Guns have been the leading cause of death among children and teens ages 1-17 for four consecutive years, and the overall gun death rate for this age group nearly doubled over the past decade. Former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, M.D. officially declared firearm violence a public health crisis on June 25, 2024.

In an average year, 805 people die by guns and another 1,745 are wounded in Maryland. Gun violence costs Maryland $10.5 billion each year, of which $383.9 million is paid by taxpayers. From 2014 to 2023, our state's rate of gun deaths increased 36%, compared to a 33% increase nationwide. Maryland's strong gun laws, still ranked 8th in the country by the Giffords Law Center, have been somewhat undermined by guns trafficked in from states with weaker laws.

However, according to the MD. Dept. of Health's report (2024), the firearm death rate has fallen 24% since peaking in 2021, and the homicide rate has fallen 36% since that year. There has been a 12.5% increase in firearm suicide since 2022. 

Sensible gun laws and community investment can–and do–reduce gun violence. States with strong gun safety laws have fewer deaths. Per Giffords, of the 10 states with the highest gun death rates, 9 received Fs on their annual gun law scorecard. A new analysis by The Trace's Gun Violence Data Hub of 150 U.S. cities (including Baltimore) shows that, starting in 2023, these cities have had one of the greatest drops in gun violence ever. Researchers primarily attributed this to investments made in the communities through federal funds, such as the American Rescue Plan Act and the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which helped fund community-based violence prevention initiatives, red flag laws, and mental health courts. Likewise, mass killings in 2025 hit the lowest level since 2006--at least one expert attributes that drop to the flexibility allowed by the Safer Communities Act for funding community and state initiatives.

2026 Legislation: What More Can We Do? 

The bills we're focused on this coming legislative session would address gun industry accountability, provide a dependable funding source for gun violence prevention initiatives, as well as clarify firearm relinquishment procedures pertaining to domestic violence.

These 3 bills are similar to ones we supported in 2025, which failed to pass:

 "Do It Yourself" (DIY) Machine Gun Bill - This bill would prohibit the sale of all pistols that can be turned into a machine gun with a small piece of plastic called a Glock switch or auto sear. Glock has recently announced that they are discontinuing their model that can be converted into a rapid fire weapon, but we are asking legislators to also prohibit the sale of similar pistols in MD. 

Priority Partners: Maryland Moms Demand Action/Everytown For Gun Safety.

Learn More: Baltimore Banner article: Maryland Has a Machine Gun Problem

Everytown Law, MD Glock Complaint February 2025: Complaint and Demand for a Jury Trial

Comprehensive Community Safety Funding Act (aka Safety Funding Act) -  This bill would establish a dedicated, long-term funding source for community violence intervention, trauma care, and prevention initiatives, without adding new pressure to the state's General Fund. It would create a modest excise tax on the firearm industry–ensuring that those who profit from the sale of firearms also help offset the measurable public costs of gun violence. The UULM-MD recently signed a letter in support of this bill. 

Priority Partners: Marylanders to Prevent Gun Violence.

Bill Sponsors: Senator Joanne Benson and Delegate Bernice Mireku-North 

Family & Law Enforcement Protection Act (aka Law Enforcement Protection Act) - This bill would make sure firearms are kept out of the hands of domestic abusers starting at the time survivors seek protection from the court.  Firearms are used in over half of all intimate partner homicides. States that restrict gun access among individuals subject to domestic violence restraining orders have seen a 13% reduction in firearm intimate partner homicides.Priority Partners: Marylanders to Prevent Gun Violence.

Bill Sponsors: Senator Shelly Hettleman and Delegate Sandy Bartlett