Virginia Seeks State Center to Address Gun Violence

Proposed legislation would establish a statewide hub to coordinate gun violence prevention efforts across the state.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Virginia is considering establishing a new state-level center focused on addressing gun violence as a public health crisis. The proposed center would serve as a hub to coordinate strategy, prioritize funding for community programs, and support data collection, research, and effective policy implementation across the state. Advocates argue this centralized approach is needed to build on recent progress in reducing gun violence in localities like Newport News, where coordinated efforts have led to historic declines.

Why it matters

Gun violence remains a major public health issue in Virginia, with firearms involved in most homicides and suicides. A statewide center could help align investments with evidence-based solutions, assess current programs, identify gaps, and develop a comprehensive roadmap for coordinated prevention efforts across the state.

The details

The proposed legislation, House Bill 969/Senate Bill 364, would establish the Virginia Gun Violence Prevention Center within the Department of Health. The center would serve as the primary resource for research, best practices, and strategies for firearm violence intervention in communities across the state. It would also be tasked with evaluating funded violence intervention programs, coordinating federal grants, and providing training and technical assistance.

  • In 2024, 1,153 people in Virginia died from gun violence, averaging one death every eight hours.
  • The proposed legislation is being considered by the Virginia General Assembly in 2026.

The players

Lori Haas

Advocacy manager at the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions and the author of the column supporting the creation of a statewide gun violence prevention center.

Virginia Gun Violence Prevention Center

The proposed state-level agency that would coordinate gun violence prevention efforts across Virginia.

Newport News

A Virginia city that has seen a historic reduction in gun violence and homicides through coordinated leadership, data-driven policing, and strengthened community-based prevention efforts.

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What’s next

The Virginia General Assembly is expected to vote on the proposed legislation to establish the Virginia Gun Violence Prevention Center in 2026.

The takeaway

By creating a centralized hub to coordinate gun violence prevention efforts statewide, Virginia has the opportunity to build on recent progress in localities and take a comprehensive public health approach to addressing this critical issue and saving more lives.