Gun Safety
Gun violence is a significant public health issue in the United States, prematurely taking the lives of tens of thousands and injuring many more. In 2021, over 48,000 people were killed by firearms, and firearms have now become the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 19.
The root causes of gun violence are complex and multifactorial and require a comprehensive approach, with public health at the forefront. By applying a public health strategy, we can reframe how gun violence is addressed in our community and offer impactful interventions that save lives.
About Us and Who We Are
In 1999, the Durham County Board of Health formed the Durham County Gun Safety Team in direct response to the growing impact of gun violence on the community, particularly with youth. This action was taken to address gun violence as a serious public health issue.
Over the past 25 years, the team has become a collaborative, community-driven effort, bringing together public health professionals, law enforcement, policymakers, educators, and concerned citizens. Working from a multidisciplinary approach, the team focuses on preventing all forms of gun violence — homicides, suicides, unintentional shootings, and legal interventions— with a particular emphasis on safeguarding youth. Through a combination of expertise and community involvement, the team has fostered a broad, unified response to gun violence in Durham County. In 2023, the team was renamed as the Firearm Injury Prevention Partnership.
Meet the Team
AMIkids North Carolina Family Services provides Functional Family Therapy (FFT) for youth and their families who are involved with Juvenile Justice. FFT Services are provided in home, for an average of three to six months to address issues that may be causing delinquent behavior.
Referrals come directly from Juvenile Court Counselors.
Alliance Behavioral Health provides a 24-hour call line for people needing an immediate response to issues of mental health, developmental disability, or substance abuse. Callers get either information or a referral to an appropriate service provider.
Duke Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program (HVIP) that provides intensive case management to those directly affected by community violence treated at Duke University Hospital.
Duke University Hospital's Trauma Center prioritizes injury prevention through education, outreach, and resource sharing. Injury prevention staff focus on the top three injury areas seen in the Duke emergency department: falls, motor vehicle crashes, and gunshot wounds.
Durham Community Safety & Wellness Task Force recommends programs to enhance public safety and wellness that rely on community-based prevention, intervention, and re-entry services as alternatives to policing and the criminal legal system.
Durham VA Health Care suicide prevention coordinators work with behavioral health providers and community organizations to assist veterans who are managing emotional or mental health crises. Durham VA Health Care supplies community-based organizations with free gun locks.
Insight Human Services is a primary substance misuse prevention provider that serves Durham County. Insight works closely with community members and community partners to increase protective factors to prevent substance misuse.
HEART Holistic Empathetic Assistance Response Teams (HEART) are unarmed mental health professionals who respond to nonviolent behavioral and mental health crisis 911 calls.
North Carolinians Against Gun Violence strives to make North Carolina safe from gun violence through the education of the public about preventing gun violence, the enforcement of current gun laws, and the enactment of needed new laws.
Project BUILD Gang Intervention Program is a multi-disciplinary gang intervention program that coordinates case management and services to youth between the ages of 14 and 21 who are at high risk of gang involvement.
The Religious Coalition for a Nonviolent Durham programs including vigil ministry with homicide survivors, support circles for citizens returning from incarceration, and restorative justice practices.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a Department of Justice (DOJ) program connecting community partners and law enforcement, working together to reduce gun and group/gang-related violent crime.
Be SMART campaign raises awareness that secure gun storage—storing guns locked, unloaded, and separate from ammunition—can save children’s lives.
Durham County Safe Kids was established in 1989 as a way to reach parents in Durham County to provide vital information related to the safety of their children. Their vision is to prevent childhood injuries through education.
Other City and County partners include:
These partners have been instrumental in the distribution of gun locks. Their collaboration ensures that the initiative is well-coordinated across various levels of law enforcement and the justice system, providing valuable resources, expertise, and community engagement.
Programs and Initiatives
Safe Storage
A key aspect of the Firearm Injury Prevention Partnership’s efforts is promoting the safe storage of firearms. Safe storage is crucial in preventing unintentional shootings, particularly among children and adolescents. It also plays a vital role in reducing the risk of firearms being used in suicides or incidents of intimate partner violence.
By advocating for these safety measures, the team seeks to encourage responsible gun ownership and reduce gun-related harm within the community. These efforts are an essential part of a broader strategy to protect public health and safety across Durham County.
Proper Storage of Firearms Includes:
- Firearms should be unloaded.
- Firearms should be locked using a cable lock, trigger lock, or stored in a gun safe.
- Ammunition should be stored separately.
While it is important to talk with your child about firearm safety — teaching them never to touch a firearm and to tell an adult if they encounter one — it is always the responsibility of adults to ensure firearms are properly stored and that children in the home do not have access.
If the gun in your home is not safely secured, call (919)-560-7765 for a free gun lock or lockbox. We are able to provide a free gun lock or lockbox while supplies last.
Creating a Gun Safety Team
In 2023, with support from a grant provided by the North Carolina Injury and Violence Prevention Branch (NCDHHS), FIPP launched a series of workshops aimed at empowering counties across the state to establish their own local gun safety teams.
The training, delivered through five interactive online sessions, offers a comprehensive, step-by-step approach to building these teams, using the successful Durham County model as a guide. The workshops cover everything from team formation, stakeholder engagement, and community outreach, to developing sustainable strategies for gun safety initiatives.
To date, 15 counties have completed the training and have begun the process of implementing their own gun safety teams. These teams are working to enhance community engagement, reduce firearm-related injuries, and promote safer environments for families and individuals.
The initiative continues to grow, with more counties expected to join in the coming months, further strengthening North Carolina’s collective effort to address gun violence and safety in local communities.
If you are interested in attending the next session, please call (919) 560-7765.
Help promote the message of gun safety in Durham
Invite the Firearm Injury Prevention Partnership to provide information at your neighborhood events, faith-based organization, school, worksite or other events or places.
Let family and friends know the importance of securing firearms and asking about the presence of firearms where their children visit and play.
Some of the Firearm Injury Prevention Partnership’s outreach efforts include exhibiting and providing educational programs at the following sites:
- Businesses
- Schools - Fairs, Activities & PTA's
- Civic Organizations
- Health Fairs
- Health Care Clinics
- Religious & Faith-Based Communities
- Childcare Centers
- Community Events
If you would like the Firearm Injury Prevention Partnership to table at your event, please call (919) 560-7765.
