While there is a great deal of worry about the status of gun violence prevention efforts on a national level, 2024 was a year of good news in Massachusetts. We passed a comprehensive gun safety bill over the summer, which led to MA getting an A grade on the Giffords Gun Law Scorecard for the very first time. Giffords also awarded us the title of safest state in the country, touting our strong state gun laws and robust investment in community violence intervention programs.
On a local level, Boston ended 2024 with the fewest number of homicides in nearly seven decades, cementing its status as one of the safest large cities in the United States. This milestone is absolutely a cause to celebrate. It demonstrates that a multipronged approach to gun violence saves lives. Boston is a city with a vigorous network of community-based programs and a strong municipal commitment to gun violence prevention, including dedicated staff.
But while these municipal policies undoubtedly made a tremendous impact, they aren’t the only critical factor in this downward trend. No city exists within a vacuum, and Boston’s success last year must be placed within the context of effective statewide policy and budget priorities that specifically target gun violence - policies such as the comprehensive gun safety legislation that Governor Healey signed into law this past July. The Coalition’s tireless advocacy played a central role in getting this legislation across the finish line. And now that there’s an organized effort to repeal this law on the 2026 ballot, the Coalition is playing a central role in protecting it.
And our work does not stop there. Boston does not represent the entire narrative of the Commonwealth. Cities like Springfield, Brockton, Worcester, and Lynn continue to struggle with pervasive gun violence and have fewer resources to respond to it. As we celebrate the progress made in Boston, we also must hold the need for more work, more resources, and more support for the community-based programs doing transformational work throughout Massachusetts.
And of course, low numbers are cold comfort if your family was missing a loved one this holiday season because of gun violence.
As we always say at the Coalition, every shooting is both a crisis and a call to action. As the news of Boston and the data from Giffords show, we CAN make progress on gun violence. And we MUST not let up on our efforts. Because we will not rest until every person in every zip code can exercise their right to live without fear of being shot.
Our work ahead includes protecting this lifesaving gun safety legislation, combating misinformation about this law and gun violence in general, increasing our educational and organizing efforts across the state, and ensuring that all communities have the resources they need to fight gun violence. We are excited to launch new initiatives, including expanded advocacy work and a new volunteer engagement program. And we are excited to do all of that work with you, our Coalition community.
Together, we will prevent gun violence. Together, we will save more lives.
In coalition,
Ruth Zakarin
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