SAN BERNARDINO — As part of a statewide effort to address gun violence, California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined gun violence prevention leaders from across the Inland Empire for a roundtable discussion. The roundtable in San Bernardino is the fifth in a series of community events led by Attorney General Bonta across the state to bring together leaders of community-based organizations to discuss best practices in addressing gun violence. The primary objective of the roundtables is to convene violence intervention experts and survivors, uplift effective approaches for addressing gun violence, foster knowledge about accessible resources for the public, and enhance partnerships statewide to prevent shootings and interrupt cycles of trauma and violence.
“As California Attorney General, I am doubling down on California’s gun safety efforts: I am defending our commonsense gun safety laws in court, cracking down on enforcing those laws, and working in collaboration with local community violence intervention and prevention experts to disrupt cycles of gun violence,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “Preventing gun violence must begin in our communities by strengthening relationships and fostering an environment of support and collaboration. I’m proud to stand with our local partners to identify best practices, foster community involvement, and work toward community-driven solutions to eliminate gun violence and protect survivors.”
“IE Rebound is committed to helping reduce gun and gang violence with our community partners,” said Owen Duckworth, CEO of Inland Empire Rebound. “We are ensuring that we offer total wraparound services with the intention of reducing gang and gun violence within our communities.”
"Today is an exciting day as we come together to have a round table discussion with Attorney General Rob Bonta and our Inland Empire Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Leaders,” said Pastor Rick Alanis Jr., CEO of HOPE Culture. “I am honored to participate in this discussion with these community champions. I look forward to continuing to collaborate and work alongside each of them as we strive to make a more safe and prosperous Inland Empire."
Organized by DOJ’s Office of Community Awareness, Response, and Engagement (CARE) and Office of Gun Violence Prevention, today’s event in San Bernardino was the fifth in a series of gun violence prevention roundtable events the Attorney General has convened in communities around the state this year. Many roundtable speakers have launched or expanded community-based gun violence prevention programs in recent years supported by new investments in the California Violence Intervention and Prevention (CalVIP) Grant Program. Speakers highlighted the important impact of those investments in reducing gun violence and interrupting cycles of retaliatory shootings, discussing recommendations for addressing ongoing challenges.
As part of advancing justice for all Californians, Attorney General Bonta took quick action upon entering office to establish the Office of CARE within the California Department of Justice (DOJ) in 2021. CARE works directly with community organizations, state and local elected officials, and members of the public to help ensure diverse perspectives are included in state initiatives. Specifically, CARE focuses on cultivating relationships with historically marginalized communities consistent with DOJ’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
In September 2022, Attorney General Bonta announced the launch of DOJ’s first-in-the-nation Office of Gun Violence Prevention (OGVP), dedicated to developing strategies statewide to address the gun violence epidemic. The office has published three data reports on The Impact of Gun Violence in California, Domestic Violence's intersection with Firearms, and a guide on utilizing California’s nine court protection orders.
Attorney General Bonta continues tackling gun violence strategically by:
- Defending California’s commonsense gun laws.
- Educating the public through data reports issued by OGVP.
- Advocating for stronger accountability within the firearm industry.
- Supporting long-term investments through legislative measures like Assembly Bill 1594.
- Strengthening federal laws against ghost guns.