Gun Violence Reduction Project

On October 19, 2021, the Board of Supervisors directed the Public Safety Group to develop options for community-based gun violence reduction and disruption programs.

For more information on this Board action:  October 19, 2021: Taking Ghost Guns Off Our Streets and Disrupting the Cycle of Violence Afflicting Our Communities

In response to the Board’s direction, the Public Safety Group convened a Gun Violence Reduction Working Group in early 2022 to develop recommendations for Board consideration. The Working Group, comprised of representatives from community-based organizations that actively work in gun violence prevention, intervention, and aftercare (i.e., post-incident trauma recovery), as well as various County of San Diego departments, centered around using a public health approach to address gun violence in our communities. The Working Group also coalesced around considering all types of gun violence as part of this project to better understand the connections between the types, which includes community gun violence as well as suicide and domestic and family violence.

To define the scope and complexity of the gun violence problem in San Diego County, the recommendation from the Working Group was to conduct a contractor-led, regional gun violence community needs assessment to gather data and feedback from the community to (1) better understand the scope of gun violence in the region and communities most impacted; (2) identify existing resources, operational strengths, and best practices; (3) identify gaps, challenges, and community concerns; (4) facilitate alliance building and support shared learning and collaboration amongst those supporting gun violence prevention, intervention, and aftercare in the community; and (5) produce key findings that can be used to develop strategies for continuing gun violence reduction efforts.

On April 5, 2022, the Board of Supervisors approved the recommendations from the Working Group and authorized a competitive solicitation for a contractor to conduct a regional gun violence reduction community needs assessment.

For more information on this Board action: April 5, 2022: Gun Violence Reduction Program Update and Request to Issue a Competitive Solicitation for Community Needs Assessment

For more information on the regional gun violence community needs assessment: Gun Violence Reduction Project Plan.

An important component of the community needs assessment will be ongoing communication and collaboration with a Gun Violence Reduction Advisory Group to be formed in September 2022. The Advisory Group is expected to meet five times between September 2022 – April 2023 (virtual, in-person or hybrid). At these meetings, members will provide input and feedback related to the development and implementation of the community needs assessment, including community engagement strategy, survey development, planning and outreach for community listening sessions and forums, and recommendations for data and information that are compiled.

The application window for the Gun Violence Reduction Advisory Group has closed. 

For additional information or questions regarding the Gun Violence Reduction Program or Advisory Group, please email psg-outreach@sdcounty.ca.gov.

Program Timeline

• October 19, 2021, Board of Supervisors directs the Public Safety Group to develop options for a community-based gun violence reduction program.
• January 25, 2022, Board of Supervisors approves an ordinance related to non-serialized firearms, non-serialized unfinished firearm frames and receivers and safe storage of firearms
• April 5, 2022, Board of Supervisors approves the Gun Violence Reduction Working Group’s recommendation to authorize a competitive solicitation for a contractor to conduct a regional gun violence reduction community needs assessment
• July 27 – August 11, 2022, Competitive solicitation for contractor to conduct a regional gun violence reduction community needs assessment posted on BuyNet.
• August 31 – September 15, 2022, Gun Violence Reduction Advisory Group Application Window