McClellan Hosts Youth Firearm Roundtable Discussion with Local Stakeholders from Richmond and Henrico

Richmond, VA – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) convened a roundtable discussion focused on firearm violence and its impacts on young Virginians.

McClellan was joined by gun violence advocacy organizations, attorneys, law enforcement, young adults, and other stakeholders from Henrico County and the City of Richmond.

“The gun violence epidemic is a uniquely American issue, and it is imperative that we take action. Firearms are now the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States. As the mother to two young children, I am reminded of this every day, and it fuels my commitment to find effective solutions to prevent firearm violence and ensure the health and well-being of our children,” said Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04). "I am grateful for all the passionate individuals and organizations who joined us today to confront this complex and pressing issue. Their insights and commitment will help us make meaningful progress in our efforts to address firearm violence. I will continue fighting in Congress to pass common sense solutions to protect our communities and save lives.” 

“We all have seen the devastating effects of gun violence in our community, which has only gotten worse since the pandemic. In addition to keeping guns out of the hands of those who seek to only do harm, we must continue and expand our investment in life saving Community Violence Intervention and Prevention programs. CVI programs have demonstrated success at interrupting entrenched cycles of violence, victimization, and retaliation, using a public health approach,” said Giffords State Advisor, Don Mark.

“The Virginia Community Violence Coalition’s work is breaking the cycle of violence in our communities and building the foundation for a safer commonwealth. Brady is committed to promoting community-based solutions that prioritize racial equity and supply-side approaches. We know that by empowering individuals to initiate the changes they want to see, we can create a safer and healthier future for all. We are proud to partner with the City of Richmond and the VA CV Coalition in their work to reshape Virginia’s communities for generations to come.” said Rachelle Hunley, Director, Combating Crime Guns Initiative, Brady United.

“Let’s start being more interactive with our youth on their terms. Words are powerful but actions are more powerful, and I am ready to see my community grow,” said Shiloh T., Youth Leader RISE for Youth.

“Gun violence is out of control in the city of Richmond. It’s sad that we are seeing people die over petty nonsense, it’s an epidemic that we are seeing all over the country, even on our college campuses. It’s just too easy for people to acquire guns, legally and illegally,” said Kevion C., Youth Leader RISE for Youth.

“I feel like gun violence is mostly caused by revenge and past trauma. It’s time to help communities heal,” said Ayanna S., Youth Leader RISE for Youth.

“Youth and adults need opportunities for positive conflict resolution and the resources to deal with trauma. It is imperative that we make every community a healthy place for youth, adults, and families to thrive,” said Valerie Slater, ED RISE for Youth.

"Youth gun violence continues to traumatize and retraumatize our communities. We must take a multi-pronged approach to solve this issue focused on increasing socioeconomic opportunity, ensuring access to youth mental health services, and limiting the availability of illegal firearms. We thank Congresswoman McClellan for her work to make our communities safer for our children," said C. Alexander Guzmán, Childsavers Public Policy Officer.

“There must be a multi-layered approach to mitigate the rise in youth gun violence.  Everyone plays a role in addressing this crisis,” said Eric English, Henrico County Chief of Police.

"As the director of a trauma center, I witness the harrowing consequences of youth gun violence on a daily basis. It's a heart-wrenching reality that no community should endure. We extend our deepest appreciation to Congresswoman McClellan for her steadfast commitment to shedding light on this critical issue," said Dr. Michel Aboutanos, M.D., medical director of the Level 1 Trauma Center at VCU Medical Center. "We are also profoundly grateful for our community partners who stand alongside us in this fight. Together, we can forge a path towards safer neighborhoods and brighter futures for our youth."

“I want to thank Congresswoman McClellan for prioritizing the problem of youth gun violence. In 2022, my office prosecuted over 400 weapons cases for young people aged 14 to 21. We need commonsense gun laws that keep guns out of the hands of children, so that they cannot use them to hurt themselves and others,” said Colette Wallace McEachin, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Richmond.

The full list of participants includes: Don Mark, Giffords State Advisor; Jeanine Harper, Greater Richmond SCAN Executive Director; Kelli Burnett, Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney leading the Community Justice Reform Unit; C. Alexander Guzmán, Childsavers Public Policy Officer; Valerie Slater and youths, RISE for Youth; Chief Eric English, Henrico County Chief of Police; Rachelle Hunley, Brady United; Dr. Michel Aboutanos, VCU’s Injury Prevention Program (IVPP) Director and VCU’s Center for Trauma and Critical Care Education Director; Carol Olson, VCU’s IVPP Assistant Director; Angela Jones, Richmond Public Schools’ Director of Culture, Climate and Student Services; John Beazley, Richmond Public Schools’ Director of Care and Safety; Sam Mickey, YWCA Violence Prevention Specialist; Angel Perkins, Communities in Schools Program Director; and Jonti Simmons, Communities in Schools Director of Elementary School Programs.

See photos from today’s roundtable here.

Background: Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan is an outspoken advocate for commonsense solutions to address firearm violence and save lives. In the Virginia General Assembly, she cosponsored laws toimplement universal background checks andreinstate Virginia’s “one-gun-a-month rule.” She also championed aSenate bill to establish a Center for Firearm Violence Intervention and Prevention and established theFirearm Violence Intervention and Prevention Grant Fund and Program through the state budget. In Congress, she is a member of theGun Violence Prevention Task Force and a cosponsor ofH.R. 1699, the Office of Gun Violence Prevention Act;a resolution to designate June as “National Gun Violence Awareness Month” and June 2nd as “National Gun Violence Awareness Month;” anda resolution to declare gun violence a public health epidemic.

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