Reducing Gun Violence Among Youth in California

This policy memo analyzes youth gun violence in California, identifying key demographic trends, systemic causes, and the efficacy of current policy interventions. While California boasts some of the strongest gun laws in the country, firearm violence remains a leading cause of death for young people—particularly impacting Black and Hispanic male youth. Drawing on state health and justice data from 2018–2022, interviews with experts, and existing literature, we highlight that most firearm deaths among youth result from homicides, and most nonfatal injuries result from assaults or accidents. Our memo emphasizes the systemic drivers of gun violence, including poverty, community disinvestment, and lack of opportunity, and it outlines both immediate and long-term policy recommendations. These include refining the CalVIP grant program to better serve individuals at highest risk, increasing support for violence prevention organizations, targeting school-based interventions in high-violence areas, and leveraging multi-state coalitions to reduce interstate gun trafficking. Our memo concludes by advocating for both evidence-based interventions and systemic reforms—to address the root causes of violence and protect California’s youth.