The Maryland Department of Health is recognizing June as Gun Violence Awareness Month and marked June 5 as National Gun Violence Awareness Day following a proclamation by Wes Moore.
The Department’s Center for Firearm Violence Prevention and Intervention hosted a statewide summit bringing together community leaders, public health experts, and practitioners to discuss strategies for reducing gun violence and improving community safety. Marylanders are also encouraged to wear orange throughout the month to honor victims and survivors of gun violence.
State health officials highlighted recent declines in firearm-related deaths across Maryland. Since 2021, overall gun deaths have decreased by 31%, while firearm homicides have fallen by 51%. However, firearm suicides have increased by 24% since 2022 and accounted for nearly 53% of all firearm-related deaths in 2025. Officials said discussions at the summit focused on community-informed prevention strategies, including safe firearm storage initiatives and extreme risk protection laws.
The Center for Firearm Violence Prevention and Intervention, established in 2024, also marked one year of its Firearm Violence Data Dashboard, which provides monthly firearm violence data by county and ZIP code. Since its creation, the Center has invested more than $1.7 million in prevention programs through grants to nonprofits and local health departments and continues to work with government agencies and community organizations to reduce firearm violence across the state.
