WHAT IS THE BYRNE STATE CRISIS INTERVENTION PROGRAM?
Brady is working with state officials to educate and advise them on how they can utilize landmark gun violence prevention funding provided by the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program (SCIP).
The Bryne SCIP is a federal grant opportunity authorized by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, providing more than $200 million of funding available to states for gun violence prevention programs. The program will eventually provide $750 million in federal grants to help states implement gun violence prevention programs, including safe firearm storage and extreme risk protection order (ERPO) laws.
With flexibility in how to spend these funds, Brady encourages states to invest funding into public awareness and education efforts — including evidence-based efforts to promote safe firearm storage, like Brady’s End Family Fire program, and increase the use of extreme risk laws.
HOW TO TAKE ACTION IN YOUR STATE
Public awareness and education are necessary and effective tools to reduce gun violence. As a gun violence prevention advocate in your community, your voice is critical to informing local leaders on the opportunity to use Byrne SCIP funds for evidence-based public education campaigns.
Our objective is for state advisory boards, which determine how Byrne SCIP funding will be used, to allocate 10-15% of these funds toward ERPO and/or safe firearm storage public education campaigns. Brady’s End Family Fire program is a prime example of the effectiveness of public education campaigns — 48% of gun owners who saw End Family Fire campaign ads about safe firearm storage changed how or where they store their firearms to store them in a safer manner.
Please, join Brady in addressing gun violence in your state by using this toolkit. Inside, you will find sample language and guidance on how to engage decision makers in your community. Together, we can ensure our state leaders are leveraging this unique funding opportunity to support evidence based solutions that will save lives.
California
Byrne SCIP funding received: $29,231,07
Administering agency for Byrne SCIP funding: California Board of State and Community Corrections
Administering agency email: [email protected]
Goal: Secure funding for public awareness and education efforts on Gun Violence Restraining Orders (GVROs) and safe firearm storage
TALKING POINTS
Hello members of the Crisis Intervention Advisory Board and thank you for the opportunity to provide public comment on the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program in California. My name is [NAME] and I live in [DISTRICT/CITY/STATE].
I am here today to urge the Crisis Intervention Advisory Board to invest at least 15% of the 2023 Byrne SCIP funding in public education campaigns around Gun Violence Restraining Orders (GVROs) and/or safe firearm storage.
While GVROs and safe firearm storage are effective tools to reduce gun violence, research shows that they are rarely used due to a lack of public awareness.
A comprehensive review by Governor Gavin Newsom’s office found that California’s GVRO law was only used 1,284 times in 2020 – a rate of about four times per 100,000 adult residents. That’s roughly 8x lower than the utilization rate in Governor Ron DeSantis’ state of Florida, where the state’s version of an extreme risk law has been used 34 times per 100,000 adult residents.
Safe firearm storage rates in California also remain dangerously low. In 2020, researchers at the University of California, Davis found that nearly 40% of gun owners in our state stored at least one gun in their home unlocked.
These implementation challenges impact Californians, including the 18% of California veterans who have seriously considered suicide and reside in households with firearms where at least one is stored unlocked and loaded.
One of the best ways to increase use of GVROs and safe firearm storage is through the development of a robust multimedia public education campaign with distribution across the state.
For example, 48% of gun owners who saw Brady’s End Family Fire campaign ads about safe firearm storage changed how or where they store their firearms to store them in a safer manner.
As the Advisory Board develops its plans for this funding, we urge you to invest Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program funding in public education campaigns to increase the usage of GVROs and safe storage to reduce gun violence in our state.
SAMPLE WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT
You can submit a written public comment by emailing [email protected] or using Brady’s form here.
Dear Members of the California Crisis Intervention Advisory Board,
I am writing today to urge the Crisis Intervention Advisory Board to invest 15% of California’s Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program funding in public education campaigns around Gun Violence Restraining Orders (GVROs) and/or safe firearm storage. As a resident of [District/City/State], I believe it is crucial to take action to address the public health crisis of gun violence and the best way to do so is to invest SCIP funding into public education and awareness campaigns.
While GVROs and safe firearm storage are effective tools to reduce gun violence, research shows that they are rarely used due to a lack of public awareness. A comprehensive review by Governor Gavin Newsom’s office found that California’s GVRO law was only used 1,284 times in 2020 — a rate of about four times per 100,000 adult residents.
Safe firearm storage rates in California also remain dangerously low. In 2020, researchers at the University of California, Davis found that nearly 40% of gun owners in our state stored at least one gun in their home unlocked. And 18% of California veterans who have seriously considered suicide reside in households with firearms where at least one is stored unlocked and loaded.
Comprehensive public education campaigns are effective for increasing awareness and utilization of GVROs and safe firearm storage practices, and in reducing gun violence as a result. Previous public education campaigns have proven successful: 48% of gun owners who saw Brady’s End Family Fire campaign ads about safe firearm storage changed how or where they store their firearms to store them in a safer manner.
As the Advisory Board develops its plans for the Byrne SCIP funding, we urge you to invest at least 15% in public education campaigns to reduce gun violence in California. Thank you for your consideration of this request. The impact of this historic federal funding is in the hands of decision makers like you. Please keep me informed of the timeline and any decisions made regarding this funding.
Sincerely,
[Name]
[Address]
SAMPLE EMAIL FOR LEGISLATORS
Dear [Lawmaker],
I am writing to you today to ask for your support in urging the Crisis Intervention Advisory Board to invest Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program (Byrne SCIP) federal funding in public awareness campaigns around Gun Violence Restraining Orders (GVROs) and/or safe firearm storage. As a resident of [District/City/State], I believe it is crucial for our legislators to take action to address the public health crisis of gun violence and the best way to do so is to invest Byrne SCIP funding into public education and awareness campaigns.
[Insert personal story or reason explaining why this cause matters to you]
While GVROs and safe firearm storage are effective tools to reduce gun violence, research shows they are rarely used due to a lack of public awareness. It is our collective responsibility to prevent tragedies and save lives by raising awareness about GVROs and the importance of securely storing firearms.
A comprehensive review by Governor Gavin Newsom’s office found that California’s GVRO law was only used 1,284 times in 2020 – a rate of about four times per 100,000 adult residents. Safe firearm storage rates in California also remain dangerously low. In 2020, researchers at the University of California, Davis found that nearly 40% of gun owners in our state stored at least one gun in their home unlocked. These implementation challenges impact Californians, including the 18% of California veterans who have seriously considered suicide and reside in households with firearms where at least one is stored unlocked and loaded.
Comprehensive public education campaigns are effective for increasing awareness and utilization of GVROs and safe firearm storage practices, and in reducing gun violence as a result. Previous public education campaigns have proven successful: 48% of gun owners who saw Brady’s End Family Fire campaign ads about safe firearm storage changed how or where they store their firearms to store them in a safer manner.
Further, investing in public education awareness campaigns as a proactive strategy to address gun violence can be cost-effective for California in the long-term. By reducing unintentional shootings, we can alleviate pressure on healthcare and law enforcement systems, saving lives and taxpayer dollars.
As the Crisis Intervention Advisory Board develops its plans for the Byrne SCIP funding, we urge you to support an investment of at least 15% in public education campaigns to reduce gun violence in California. It would be impactful for the Advisory Board to hear from leaders like you about the importance of public education as they make their decisions.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Thank you,
[Name]
[Address]
SAMPLE LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Many local and regional news outlets regularly accept letter to the editors and opinion pieces. Use the sample letter to help write a letter to the editor. Letter to the Editor Placement Tips:
Find details on how to submit a letter on an outlet’s website. Example here.
When possible, tie your letter to a recent news article or other letter.
Customize your letter to the editor by including a personal story or experience.
LTEs are normally 150-250 words in length.
Dear Editor,
As a resident of California concerned about gun violence in our communities, I write to urge our leaders to take advantage of a unique funding opportunity we now have. One year ago, President Biden signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities act into law, providing billions of dollars to states to reduce gun violence. One part of the law, the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program (SCIP), provided California with $29,231,074 for the creation and/or implementation of gun violence reduction programs, including but not limited to programs related to Gun Violence Restraining Orders (GVROs) and safe firearm storage.
This funding is an opportunity to make our communities safer, but only if it is invested in effective solutions. I’m writing to urge California’s Crisis Intervention Advisory Board, which will decide how to allocate this funding, to invest in public education and awareness campaigns around GVROs and safe firearm storage.
GVROs and safe firearm storage are effective tools to reduce gun violence, but they won’t save lives if people aren’t aware that they exist. Studies have shown that these tools are rarely used due to a lack of public awareness. That’s why the Crisis Intervention Advisory Board should invest at least 15% of the Byrne SCIP federal funding in public education around gun safety.
We have seen previous public education campaigns have proven successful: 48% of gun owners who saw Brady’s End Family Fire campaign ads about safe firearm storage changed how or where they store their firearms.
It is our collective responsibility to prevent tragedies and save lives by raising awareness about GVROs and the importance of securely storing firearms. The impact of this historic funding is in the hands of California decision makers, and we hope they will invest in the powerful tool of public education.
Sincerely,
[Name]
[Address]
[Contact Information]
Pennsylvania
Byrne SCIP funding received: $8,548,557
Administering agency for Byrne SCIP funding: Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency
Administering agency email:
Goal: Secure funding for public awareness and education efforts on safe firearm storage
TALKING POINTS
Hello members of the Commission on Crime and Delinquency and thank you for the opportunity to provide public comment on the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program in Pennsylvania. My name is [NAME] and I live in [DISTRICT/CITY/STATE].
I am here today to urge the commission to invest at least 10% of the 2023 Byrne SCIP funding in public education campaigns around safe firearm storage.
While safe firearm storage is an effective tool to reduce gun violence, research shows that a large percentage of gun owners in Pennsylvania do not store their firearms securely.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, 40% of gun-owning parents of teenagers in Pennsylvania stored their guns unlocked or loaded.
In a 2020 report, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s Special Council on Gun Violence recommended the state invest in evidence-informed safe storage education campaigns
One of the best ways to increase use of safe firearm storage is through the development of a robust multimedia public education campaign with distribution across the state.
For example, 48% of gun owners who saw Brady’s End Family Fire campaign ads about safe firearm storage changed how or where they store their firearms to store them in a safer manner.
As the commission develops its plans for this funding, we urge you to invest Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program funding in public education campaigns to increase safe firearm storage to reduce gun violence in our state.
SAMPLE WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT
You can submit a written public comment by emailing [email protected] or using Brady’s form here.
Dear Members of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency,
I am writing today to urge the Crisis Intervention Advisory Board to invest 10% of Pennsylvania’s Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program funding in public education campaigns around safe firearm storage. As a resident of [District/City/State], I believe it is crucial to take action to address the public health crisis of gun violence and the best way to do so is to invest SCIP funding into public education and awareness campaigns.
While safe firearm storage is an effective tool to reduce gun violence, research shows that a large percentage of gun owners in Pennsylvania do not store their firearms securely. During the COVID-19 pandemic, 40% of gun-owning parents of teenagers in Pennsylvania stored their guns unlocked or loaded. In a 2020 report, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s Special Council on Gun Violence recommended the state invest in evidence-informed safe storage education campaigns
Comprehensive public education campaigns are effective for increasing awareness and utilization of safe firearm storage practices, and in reducing gun violence as a result. Previous public education campaigns have proven successful: 48% of gun owners who saw Brady’s End Family Fire campaign ads about safe firearm storage changed how or where they store their firearms to store them in a safer manner.
As the Advisory Board develops its plans for the Byrne SCIP funding, we urge you to invest at least 10% in public education campaigns to reduce gun violence in Pennsylvania. Thank you for your consideration of this request. The impact of this historic federal funding is in the hands of decision makers like you. Please keep me informed of the timeline and any decisions made regarding this funding.
Sincerely,
[Name]
[Address]
SAMPLE EMAIL FOR LEGISLATORS
Priority Lawmakers include:
Rep. Tim Briggs ([email protected])
Rep. Sheryl Delozier ([email protected]
Rep. Jordan Herris ([email protected])
Sen. Vincent Hughes ([email protected])
Sen. Scott Martin ([email protected])
Sen. Devlin Robinson ([email protected])
Honorable Austin Davis ([email protected])
Dear [Lawmaker],
I am writing to you today to ask for your support in urging the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to invest Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program (Byrne SCIP) federal funding in public awareness campaigns around safe firearm storage. As a resident of [District/City/State], I believe it is crucial for our legislators to take action to address the public health crisis of gun violence and the best way to do so is to invest Byrne SCIP funding into public education and awareness campaigns.
[Insert personal story or reason explaining why this cause matters to you]
While safe firearm storage is an effective tool to reduce gun violence, research shows that a large percentage of gun owners in Pennsylvania do not store their firearms securely. During the COVID-19 pandemic, 40% of gun-owning parents of teenagers in Pennsylvania stored their guns unlocked or loaded. In a 2020 report, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s Special Council on Gun Violence recommended the state invest in evidence-informed safe storage education campaigns
Comprehensive public education campaigns are effective for increasing awareness and utilization of safe firearm storage practices, and in reducing gun violence as a result. Previous public education campaigns have proven successful: 48% of gun owners who saw Brady’s End Family Fire campaign ads about safe firearm storage changed how or where they store their firearms to store them in a safer manner.
Further, investing in public education awareness campaigns as a proactive strategy to address gun violence can be cost-effective for Pennsylvania in the long-term. By reducing unintentional shootings, we can alleviate pressure on healthcare and law enforcement systems, saving lives and taxpayer dollars.
As the Commission on Crime and Delinquency develops its plans for the Byrne SCIP funding, we urge you to support an investment of at least 10% in public education campaigns to reduce gun violence in Pennsylvania. It would be impactful for the commission to hear from leaders like you about the importance of public education as they make their decisions.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Thank you,
[Name]
[Address]
SAMPLE LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Many local and regional news outlets regularly accept letter to the editors and opinion pieces. Use the sample letter to help write a letter to the editor. Letter to the Editor Placement Tips:
Find details on how to submit a letter on an outlet’s website. Example here.
When possible, tie your letter to a recent news article or other letter.
Customize your letter to the editor by including a personal story or experience.
LTEs are normally 150-250 words in length.
Dear Editor,
As a resident of Pennsylvania concerned about gun violence in our communities, I write to urge our leaders to take advantage of a unique funding opportunity we now have. One year ago, President Biden signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities act into law, providing billions of dollars to states to reduce gun violence. One part of the law, the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program (SCIP), provided Pennsylvania with $8,548,557 for the creation and/or implementation of gun violence reduction programs, including but not limited to programs related to safe firearm storage.
This funding is an opportunity to make our communities safer, but only if it is invested in effective solutions. I’m writing to urge Pennsylvania’s Commission on Crime and Delinquency, which will decide how to allocate this funding, to invest in public education and awareness campaigns around safe firearm storage.
Safe firearm storage is an effective tool to reduce gun violence, but it won’t save lives if people aren’t aware of its importance and the risks of unsecured guns. That’s why the Commission on Crime and Delinquency should invest at least 10% of the Byrne SCIP federal funding in public education around gun safety.
We have seen previous public education campaigns have proven successful: 48% of gun owners who saw Brady’s End Family Fire campaign ads about safe firearm storage changed how or where they store their firearms.
It is our collective responsibility to prevent tragedies and save lives by raising awareness about the importance of securely storing firearms. The impact of this historic funding is in the hands of Pennsylvania decision makers, and we hope they will invest in the powerful tool of public education.
Sincerely,
[Name]
[Address]
[Contact Information]
QUESTIONS?
Contact Brady VP of Organizing Shikha Hamilton at [email protected] or VP of Policy Christian Heyne at [email protected].
LEARN MORE ABOUT BRYNE SCIP FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Watch our webinar, recorded on March 9, 2023, to hear experts summarize the grant opportunity and outline how states can use these funds.