California Hits Historic Lows in Gun Violence, Warns of Funding Risks

California has achieved its lowest rates of firearm death, firearm suicide, and firearm homicide on record, according to a new report released by the state’s Department of Justice. Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the findings on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, crediting strict gun laws and community investment programs for the progress while warning that looming federal funding cuts could jeopardize the gains.

The report, titled “A Strategic Plan to Sustain California’s Record Progress Against Gun Violence: Part 1,” documents how the state has made historic progress in addressing gun violence across California. It relies on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s most recent data on gun deaths in the United States for 2024, which shows 2024 was a high-water mark for the state’s gun violence prevention efforts.

According to Bonta, the reductions were driven by very large declines in shootings in the most impacted communities in the state. However, the report also makes clear that this progress is fragile, as the strategies that helped drive record reductions are now grappling with devastating federal funding cuts and declining or expiring state and local investments.

“This report is both celebratory and cautionary. Without sustained investment in gun violence prevention, we risk losing the momentum we have built — at a cost that will ultimately be measured in human lives,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta during a press conference. He was flanked by Oakland Department of Violence Prevention chief Holly Joshi and Krystal LoPilato, policy advocacy director at Everytown for Gun Safety.

The report outlines a five-year strategic plan to reduce gun violence and establishes a data-driven foundation to guide policy, priorities, and budgeting. It identifies four priority funding recommendations to sustain California’s record-setting progress.

As recently as 2010, children under 18 in California were more likely to die from gunshot wounds than children elsewhere in the United States, highlighting the significance of the recent decline.

Key Takeaways

• California recorded its lowest rates of firearm death, suicide, and homicide on record in 2024.
• The progress is attributed to strict gun laws and sustained community investment programs.
• Federal funding cuts and declining state/local investments threaten to reverse recent gains.
• The state has released a five-year strategic plan to maintain and build on current progress.
• Children under 18 in California are no longer more likely to die from gunshot wounds than their peers nationwide, a reversal from 2010 trends.

Frequently Asked Questions

What data supports California’s claim of historic lows in gun violence?

The state’s report relies on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s most recent data on gun deaths in the United States for 2024, which shows 2024 was a high-water mark for California’s gun violence prevention efforts.

What is threatening California’s progress in reducing gun violence?

Looming federal funding cuts and declining or expiring state and local investments are putting the state’s recent gains at risk, according to Attorney General Rob Bonta and the Department of Justice report.

What is the purpose of the strategic plan released by the California Department of Justice?

The plan establishes a data-driven foundation to guide policy, priorities, and budgeting, identifies four priority funding recommendations, and outlines a five-year strategy to sustain California’s record progress against gun violence.