Federal funding expands Johns Hopkins' firearm safety efforts

U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume secured $245,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice to purchase biometric safes, lockboxes, and cable locks for distribution through Johns Hopkins hospitals and Baltimore community partners.

U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume secured $245,000 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Justice to support the purchase and distribution of firearm storage devices across Baltimore. The funds will buy biometric safes, lockboxes, and cable locks to be distributed through community-based organizations and hospital programs at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins Children's Center, and Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. The effort is linked to research from the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, which the article reports shows owners are more likely to adopt safe storage when given a choice of devices and that safe storage is associated with reductions in suicide, homicide, theft, and unintentional injuries. Mfume visited Johns Hopkins Hospital on March 30 and was joined by university and health system leaders, researchers, and representatives from trauma and violence intervention programs. Key points: - $245,000 in U.S. Department of Justice funding was secured by U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume for the initiative. - Purchases will include biometric safes, lockboxes, and cable locks for distribution across Baltimore City. - Distribution partners include community-based organizations and adult and pediatric trauma centers at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins Children's Center, and Johns Hopkins Bayview. - The Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions is cited for research supporting a range-of-options approach to storage and for findings linking safe storage to reductions in several types of harm. - Mfume's March 30 visit included Johns Hopkins leaders and staff from trauma and violence intervention programs. Summary: The funding will support hospital- and community-based distribution of firearm storage devices, offering different storage options to meet varied needs. Johns Hopkins leaders describe the initiative as part of broader violence intervention and prevention work. Distribution through local partners and hospital programs is planned as the next step.