Buncombe County proclaims June 2025 Gun Violence Prevention and Awareness Month

The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners read and adopted a proclamation on June 3 declaring June 2025 as Gun Violence Prevention and Awareness Month and recognizing local efforts to prevent firearm deaths and injuries.

Chair Amanda Edwards read the proclamation, citing national and local statistics: “according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were nearly 47,000 firearm‑related deaths in the U.S. in 2023,” and noting local data recorded by the Buncombe County Register of Deeds that showed 44 gun‑related deaths in 2024, 35 of which occurred inside Buncombe County. The proclamation called for safe gun storage and credited county departments and community partners for violence‑prevention work.

Why it matters: County leaders and community partners framed the issue as a public‑health concern and highlighted local prevention programs, training and services that aim to reduce suicides, accidents and community violence.

Local partners and remarks: Regina Herring, director of Justice Services for Buncombe County, told the board the county has leveraged federal and recovery funds and other grants: “Since 2020, the county, through its Safety and Justice Challenge grant, its fiscal recovery funds, and the U.S. Department of Justice grama, we've leveraged over $2,000,000 to address community violence prevention efforts.” Hannah Ledgerton, the county’s youth justice division manager, described the county’s “community based public health response to violence,” and Tony Shivers, speaking for the Peace Team, explained the role of community health workers in “providing education and advocacy through community engagement.” Deputy Secretary William Lassiter of the North Carolina Department of Public Safety said his agency’s NC Safe campaign encourages secure storage and noted statewide survey results the department collected on household storage practices.

Action and next steps: The board’s proclamation is symbolic but accompanied by descriptions of ongoing county programs through Justice Services and Health and Human Services. County staff and partners said they would continue outreach, training and distribution of gun‑locking devices through law enforcement and community partners.

Ending: The proclamation was signed by Chair Amanda Edwards and the board moved to public comment. County officials and partner organizations present at the meeting said they will continue community outreach and prevention programming.