10 Solutions Tackling Gun Violence in the U.S.
- visionquilt
- Jun 10
- 6 min read
Across the U.S., communities are rising with creativity, courage, and care to address the root causes of gun violence. This blog highlights ten visionary, youth-centered, and community-driven solutions that go beyond headlines to uplift healing, advocacy, and real change. From art-based education to neighborhood-led prevention strategies, these efforts show what’s possible when we reimagine safety together.
Who they are: Founded in 2015, Vision Quilt is a national nonprofit that empowers communities to prevent gun violence through art, storytelling, and advocacy. Believing that creative expression is a powerful vehicle for healing and change, Vision Quilt involves individuals directly affected by gun violence in artistic collaborations that amplify their voices.
What they do: Vision Quilt facilitates art-making workshops where participants design 18x24-inch quilt panels that reflect personal stories, hopes, or messages about gun violence. These panels are then exhibited in public venues, from schools to museums, to promote community dialogue and inspire action. The organization also offers an interdisciplinary curriculum for schools and provides training for educators and community leaders.
Who they help: BIPOC youth, survivors, educators, and underserved communities disproportionately impacted by gun violence. Vision Quilt has served over 2,500 individuals since its founding.
Developed and implemented a trauma-informed curriculum in East Oakland schools
Created hundreds of quilt panels showcased in exhibitions nationwide
Produced a documentary highlighting its community impact
Built partnerships with schools and local nonprofits
Impact:
Healing and empowerment
Increased civic engagement
Educational transformation
Community resilience
How to get involved: You can volunteer to support workshops, help curate exhibitions, or contribute to community outreach. Donations help expand Vision Quilt’s programming and provide materials for youth participants
Who they are:Wear Orange is a national campaign launched in 2015 to honor Hadiya Pendleton, a 15-year-old girl shot and killed in Chicago in 2013. Her friends chose to wear orange because it’s the color hunters wear to protect themselves and is a call to end gun violence.
What they do:Wear Orange raises awareness about the devastating impact of gun violence through nationwide events, social media campaigns, and public art displays. Individuals, nonprofits, and communities participate by wearing orange, hosting vigils, and organizing exhibitions, as a way to call for systemic change.
Who they help:The campaign uplifts the voices of survivors, families, youth, and communities especially Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color, who are disproportionately affected by gun violence. It also supports the broader public by mobilizing education, advocacy, and community healing.
What they’ve achieved:
Elevated National Gun Violence Awareness Day (the first Friday in June) into a recognized day of action
Mobilized hundreds of thousands of participants annually across all 50 states
Inspired major institutions, from the White House to sports arenas, to light up orange in solidarity
Provided a unifying platform for organizations like Vision Quilt to connect their local efforts to a national movement
How to get involved:
Wear orange the first weekend in June and share why using #WearOrange and #VisionQuilt
Host or attend a Vision Quilt exhibition during June to spotlight youth art and community storytelling
Partner with local schools or organizations to co-host a panel-making workshop
Donate to Vision Quilt to support youth art supplies, trauma-informed programs, and public exhibitions
Visit wearorange.org for national events, and visionquilt.org for local actions and educational tools.
Impact:
Transformed National Gun Violence Awareness Day into a widely recognized day of action and remembrance across the U.S.
Mobilized hundreds of thousands of people annually, building grassroots and national solidarity through coordinated events in all 50 states
Amplified youth and survivor voices, especially from BIPOC communities, through public art, storytelling, and collective visibility
Who they are:Everytown for Gun Safety is the nation’s largest gun violence prevention group, advocating for laws that keep guns out of dangerous hands.
What they do:They push for universal background checks on all gun sales including online and at gun shows, to close loopholes that allow unchecked purchases.
Who they help:These laws protect everyone, especially BIPOC communities and women, who are disproportionately affected by gun violence and domestic abuse.
What they’ve achieved:
How to get involved:
Contact your legislators
Join grassroots groups like Moms Demand Action
Donate or share facts to raise awareness
Impact:
Garnered overwhelming public support, with over 90% of Americans in favor of universal background checks on all gun sales
Advanced federal legislation, including the Background Check Expansion Act, to close loopholes for online and gun show sales
Who they are:A nationwide program supported by Be Smart that brings together parents, educators, and leaders to promote responsible gun ownership and family safety.
Who they help: Protect children, teens, and households by preventing injuries and deaths caused by unsecured firearms.
What they’ve achieved: Helped pass secure storage laws in several states and reached millions, changing the conversation on gun safety.
How to get involved:Educate others, share safety kits, and advocate for local policies.
Impact:
Passed secure storage laws in multiple states, setting legal standards for responsible gun ownership
Reached millions through awareness campaigns, helping prevent unintentional shootings and gun thefts in homes across the country
Who they are: Everytown, in partnership with local governments and advocates.
What they do: Enable courts to temporarily restrict access to firearms for individuals in crisis who may pose a danger to themselves or others.
Who they help: Families and communities by preventing tragedies before they occur.
What they’ve achieved:
Laws passed in over 20 states and D.C.
Proven track record of intervening in crisis situations
How to get involved: Raise awareness and advocate for these laws in your state.
Impact:
Enacted in over 20 states and Washington, D.C., creating legal tools to prevent potential tragedies
Successfully used to intervene in crises, including suicide prevention and averting planned acts of violence
Who they are: Supported by Everytown and Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions.
What they do: Fund community-based programs that provide mentorship, mental health services, and conflict mediation to reduce violence.
Who they help: High-risk individuals in cities with elevated gun violence rates.
What they’ve achieved:
Proven to reduce shootings by up to 30%
Provided vital resources to underserved communities
How to get involved: Donate to or volunteer with local Community Volunteer Initiative (CVI) programs.
Impact:
Deliver mentorship, mental health support, and conflict mediation
Provide vital resources in underserved communities
Support high-risk individuals in cities with elevated gun violence
Offer community-rooted care that interrupts cycles of harm
Who they are: Everytown and other advocacy groups supporting inclusive, hate-free communities.
What they do: Push for laws that prevent people convicted of hate crimes from purchasing or owning guns.
Who they help: Marginalized communities targeted by hate-motivated violence.
What they’ve achieved:
Advanced legislation in multiple states
Raised public awareness around the issue
How to get involved: Support campaigns and share educational resources.
Impact
Advanced hate crime firearm restrictions
Increased public understanding
Protected marginalized communities
Who they are: Everytown and legal partners advocating for accountability.
What they do: Work to repeal the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), which protects gun manufacturers and dealers from lawsuits.
Who they help: Victims and communities seeking justice and reform.
What they’ve achieved:
Filed strategic lawsuits
Pressured the industry to adopt safer practices
How to get involved: Support legislation and share survivor stories.
Impact:
Elevated survivor voices
Laid the groundwork for federal reform
Exposed the legal barriers
Who they are: Everytown and partner advocacy groups.
What they do: Call for bans on assault-style weapons and magazines capable of holding large numbers of rounds.
Who they help: Mass shooting victims and the general public.
What they’ve achieved:
Supported bans in several states
Contributed to national conversations around reform
How to get involved: Push your legislators for comprehensive hardware bans.
Impact:
Supported legislative bans
Reduced casualties
Shifted public discourse
Who they are: Educators, students, and advocates partnering with Everytown.
What they do: Oppose policies that arm teachers, support threat assessment programs, and promote safer school environments without firearms.
Who they help: Students, educators, and school staff.
What they’ve achieved:
Stopped arming teachers in several states
Promoted mental health-focused alternatives
How to get involved: Join school board meetings and support student advocacy.
Impact:
Influenced local and state school safety plans
Advanced mental health-centered alternatives
Conclusion: Each of these solutions represents a unique approach to ending gun violence. From the powerful artwork of Vision Quilt to the legislative advocacy of Everytown, real progress is possible when communities, policymakers, and individuals unite. Whether through responsible gun ownership, education, or bold policy reform, these strategies save lives. Gun violence is a complex issue that demands equally complex, layered responses. These ten solutions show that we have the tools to make meaningful change. Whether you're an artist, a student, a teacher, a parent, or a policymaker, there is a place for you in this movement. By supporting these initiatives, spreading awareness, and holding leaders accountable, we can create a future where safety and peace are the norm, rather than the exception.
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