Our Work

We promote evidence-based public health approaches to reduce gun violence. Our non-partisan work includes:

Mass Shooting Protocol & Playbook

In 2020-2021, we researched cities that responded to mass shootings. We interviewed mayors, staffers, law enforcement officials and others with a focus on the role of city leaders. Their experiences informed the Mass Shooting Protocol and Playbook.

Policy Research

The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act provides funding city officials can use to implement programs to reduce community gun violence. We prepared a Mayor's Guide to the BSCA to help city officials tap funding resources for this and other gun violence prevention programs.

We propose to develop resources city leaders can use BSCA funding to reduce community gun violence in their communities. First, we propose to conduct research involving city leaders, local health departments, and community gun violence experts to learn how city leaders can better implement evidence-based community violence prevention programs to make neighborhoods safer. Second, we propose to develop a resource city leaders can use to design and implement these programs.

In 2022, we proposed a partnership between Northeastern University Law School (NUSL) students and the National Coalition to Prevent Domestic Violence to research how judges and domestic violence prevention advocates can increase the rate of domestic violence protective orders that require guns to be relinquished. In 2020, in partnership with the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, NUSL students researched existing gun laws to identify racial bias in their passage, application, and enforcement. In 2019, in partnership with Stop Handgun Violence, NUSL students researched extreme risk protection order (ERPO) laws in 18 jurisdictions to identify the most effective implementation approaches (see report).

Education & Advocacy

We brief local leaders about their role in responding to a mass shooting. Recent presentations include:

  • National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) Conference
  • Center for Homeland Defense and Security Conference
  • State Legislative Leaders Foundation Conference
  • Association of California Cities - Orange County (ACC-OC) Conference
  • International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Conference
  • Florida League of Cities Conference
  • U.S. Conference of Mayors Conference
  • Mayors Against Illegal Guns University
  • National Active Assailant Association Conference

In January 2021, in partnership with Northeastern's Bouve School of Health Services, we organized Public Health Approaches to Protecting Youth from Gun Violence During COVID and Beyond, a three-part, online conference for health care professionals.

We regularly publish op-eds promoting public health approaches to reduce gun violence. Please see our Publications page for more information.