For more than 50 years—since the assassination of President John F. Kennedy—the ABA has been a leader on the issue of gun violence. That leadership is more important than ever now. The Centers for Disease Control estimates gun deaths at about 40,000 per year, or over 100 gun deaths per day.
This committee’s role is to advance the ABA’s mission as a champion for the rule of law. Often, that takes the form of traditional legal work, such as legal analysis, amicus curiae briefs, and legislative advocacy. Recent topics we've worked on include domestic violence, guns in schools and courthouses, suicide prevention, and states' authority to address gun violence via regulation and adjudication. Our work also includes convening experts, policymakers, and practitioners to debate, advocate, and educate. Along the way, we have held events around the country for both lawyers and the public. The goal is to create inclusive, highly informative, impactful forums on the issue of gun violence.
We look forward to yet another productive year, with an emphasis on expanding our collaborations with other ABA entities and with outside partners. We welcome you to join us. If you are interested in learning more or contributing to the Committee, please contact our staff liaison, Sharon Terrill, at sharon.terrill@americanbar.org.
