Office for the Prevention of Gun Violence

Nevada needs an Office for the Prevention of Gun Violence because gun violence is not just a criminal justice issue, it is a public health and community safety issue. Nevada’s gun death rate is about 17.2 deaths per 100,000 residents, higher than the national average of 12.8, and an average of about 599 people die by guns in Nevada every year. Bringing back SB156 (2025 session) would help Nevada take prevention seriously by creating a state-level office focused on awareness, data, coordination, and community-based solutions. Right now, too many families only hear about gun violence after a tragedy. This office would help educate the public, support prevention efforts, and bring schools, youth, community organizations, law enforcement, and public health leaders together before violence happens. That’s why democrats and republicans students alongside Youth Voice of Nevada supported this bill because young people are directly affected by this issue. Students should not have to grow up seeing gun violence as normal. Nevada needs a permanent office that can keep this issue visible, push prevention, and make sure student voices are part of the solution.