Maryland’s Democratic governor Wes Moore signed a bill establishing the state’s first gun violence prevention center earlier this week.
The project, called the Center for Firearm Violence Prevention and Intervention, will work within the Maryland Department of Health. Its mission is to “unify and better coordinate Maryland’s public health strategy to prevent gun violence,” according to a statement published by the governor’s office Thursday.
“The center will partner with local governments, advocates, and medical professionals engaged in violence intervention programs to build on the critical gun violence intervention programs pioneered in Maryland and help ensure they are adequately funded and informed by the best available data,” the statement explained.
Moore is following in the footsteps of President Biden, who established the Office of Gun Violence Prevention in September 2023. The Old Line State was the first to adopt a statewide agency against gun violence, Moore said.
REPUBLICANS JOIN TO DEFEAT LONG-TERM ‘RESTRICTION’ TARGETING GUN OWNERS: ‘WITHSTANDING SECOND AMENDMENT’
Maryland Governor Wes Moore has established a Biden-inspired statewide gun prevention center. (Getty Images/iStock)
“Maryland became the first state in the nation to officially respond to President Biden’s call,” the governor told reporters.
Moore also signed the Growing Apprenticeships and the Public Safety Workforce (GAPS) Act, which aims to better fund police departments in the state.
“With police departments across the state facing challenges recruiting and retaining officers, the bill proposes short- and long-term actions to help address the problem by changing the current apprenticeship model for public safety officers – with the goal of making apprenticeships a more viable path to law enforcement, and requiring the establishment of a model policy for law enforcement officer health programs to ensure that officers the support they need in their often challenging work,” the statement explained.
PELOSI SLAMS HER FACE AT OXFORD DEBATE AFTER CONDEMNING AMERICANS ATTACKED BY ‘GUNS, GAY, GOD’
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore speaks about ongoing work at the site of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, as well as the final day of the state legislative session, during an interview with The Associated Press at his office Monday, April 8, 2024 in Annapolis, Maryland. (AP Photo/Brian Witte)
The laws come as Baltimore continues to be ravaged by crime. According to the Baltimore Police Department’s website, there have been more than 1,800 aggravated assaults and 1,200 robberies since 2024 began. In addition, there have been 155 shootings and 62 homicides this year.
“When we came into office, we made public safety our number one priority, and we said we’re going to move in a different direction on this issue — because the status quo isn’t working,” a statement from Moore said. “Today, we’re making Maryland safer by signing bills to support victims, build a stronger pipeline to law enforcement jobs, and tackle the gun violence epidemic head-on.”
“We are making progress, but our work is far from done. Together, we will continue an all-of-the-above approach to public safety.”
US President Joe Biden (C) congratulates then gubernatorial candidate Wes Moore (R) as US First Lady Jill Biden applauds at a rally on the eve of the US midterm elections, at Bowie State University in Bowie, Maryland, on November 7, 2022 . (MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Fox News Digital reached out to Moore’s office for further comment, but did not receive an immediate response.
