Photo Release: Rep. Sarah McBride Hosts Gun Safety Roundtable with Former Rep. Gabby Giffords & Delaware Public Safety Leaders

Image

WILMINGTON, DE — Today, Congresswoman Sarah McBride (D-DE) hosted a gun violence prevention roundtable in Wilmington with former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and a coalition of Delaware’s top gun violence prevention advocates, community members, and law enforcement leaders. Photos from the event are available here.

Held in partnership with the national gun violence prevention organization GIFFORDS, the event focused on how Delaware can serve as a national model for combating gun trafficking and protecting families amidst sweeping federal rollbacks to lifesaving gun safety enforcement.

“Since taking office, the Trump-Vance administration has gutted the very agencies tasked with stopping illegal gun sales and trafficking,” said Rep. Sarah McBride. “But while federal progress is stalled, Delaware is stepping up. Today’s conversation made clear that we can lead the nation by strengthening dealer licensing, improving traceability of crime guns, and supporting violence prevention. I’m grateful to Gabby Giffords and all our local leaders for continuing this critical work with courage and clarity.”

“Delawareans have a strong champion for gun safety in Congresswoman McBride. She is focused on the issues that matter, like pushing us closer to a world where people no longer have to fear the threat of gun violence and crime,” said former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. “Delaware needs urgent action to keep communities safe, and that’s exactly why we’re here today.”

Attorney General Kathy Jennings highlighted the connection between interstate gun trafficking and community violence, calling for stronger oversight and accountability for firearms dealers. “We cannot stop gun violence without stopping the illegal flow of guns,” said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. “Our next step must be cracking down on rogue dealers and giving law enforcement the tools they need to trace and intercept crime guns before it’s too late.”

“In Delaware, we have made so much progress, which is leading to historic declines in gun violence,” said Traci Murphy, Executive Director of the Coalition for a Safer Delaware. “But we must demand accountability from every sector. This crisis lives at the intersection of public health and public safety, and it is our shared responsibility to confront root causes and enact solutions that protect all communities.”

The conversation emphasized a number of community and policy-based solutions to curb gun violence, including:

• Expanding public-private partnerships for effective policy, gun safety, and public education about the challenges we face;
• Implementing programs which address the root causes of gun violence across Delaware;
• Addressing gaps in programming and effective intervention which are facing slashes by the Trump administration, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and reinstating the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention;
• Sustained funding and investment in community-based violence prevention and suicide prevention; and
• Aligning rhetoric and future work to put lived experience and community perspectives front and center.

Participants also stressed the importance of preserving Delaware’s role as a policy incubator and continuing to build coalitions across public safety, public health, and community engagement. Roundtable participants included:

• Attorney General Kathy Jennings
• Secretary Joshua Bushweller, Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security
• Deputy Secretary Vaughn Bond, Director of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety
• Chief Wilfredo Campos, Wilmington Police Department
• Angela Seguin, Executive Director, Domestic Violence Coordinating Council
• Traci Murphy, Executive Director, Delaware Coalition Against Gun Violence
• Allison Stampone, Moms Demand Action
• Karen DiNardo & Jenn Ford, Mental Health Association of Delaware
• Dr. David Karas, Police Policy & Communications Director, City of Wilmington
• Jennifer Antonik, Executive Director, DJ’s Alliance (Suicide Prevention Advocacy)
• Lauren Footman, End Community Violence Now
• Dr. David Chen, Medical Director, Empowering Victims of Lived Violence, ChristianaCare
• Jasmine Minhas, Policy Analyst at the Office of the Governor

In the 119th Congress, Rep. McBride has championed commonsense gun safety legislation to protect communities and save lives. She is a proud cosponsor of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention Act to reestablish the federal office focused on data and coordination, the Preventing Illegal Weapons Trafficking Act to crack down on automatic gun conversion devices, and the Federal Firearm Licensing Act to close dangerous loopholes in background checks and firearm sales. Rep. McBride also supports reinstating the Assault Weapons Ban, expanding Brady Background Checks, and increasing investments in community-based violence prevention programs.

Photos from the roundtable are available here.

###