Rep. Glenn Ivey, Community Members Discuss Gun Violence Solutions

July 1, 2026

Maryland Representative Glenn Ivey convened with community leaders, healthcare professionals, and advocacy organizations in late June to explore community-driven approaches to reducing gun violence in Prince George's County. While the county has seen significant improvements—including a 40% drop in homicides and reduced youth firearm deaths between 2024 and 2025—participants emphasized that further action is needed. Discussions centered on addressing funding gaps for violence prevention programs and establishing a dedicated county office for gun violence prevention with sustainable budget support.

Who is affected

Prince George's County residents
Youth under age 25 (21 died from firearms in 2025)
Victims of gun violence and their families (17 injuries and 16 homicides January-May)
Community organizations including University of Maryland Medical System CAP-VIP Program, University of Maryland Capital Region Hospital Trauma Services, Community Justice Action Fund, Hope in Action, Everytown for Gun Safety, Guns Down Friday, Jacob's Ladder Youth Foundation, and Maryland Crime Victim's Resource Center
Jawanna Hardy (founder of Guns Down Friday)
Donica Thompson (Injury Prevention and Outreach coordinator)

What action is being taken

Representative Glenn Ivey is listening to and meeting with community stakeholders
Various gun violence and health organizations are working to address safety concerns
Jawanna Hardy's organization Guns Down Friday is working to reduce gun violence numbers
Donica Thompson is providing injury prevention and outreach coordination for Trauma Services

Why it matters

This matters because gun violence continues to impact the entire Prince George's County community despite recent improvements in homicide rates. Sustainable, community-based solutions with consistent funding are essential to further reduce firearm deaths and injuries, particularly among youth. Establishing a dedicated county office for gun violence prevention would provide coordinated stakeholder engagement and stable resources built into government budgets, rather than relying on inconsistent federal grants and funding streams.

What's next

Representative Ivey will begin conversations with Prince George's County Executive Aisha Braveboy and Maryland Governor Wes Moore about establishing a local office dedicated to gun violence prevention
Work toward building a county office with sustainable funding through state and county budgets

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer