Hopkins Summit Seeks Gun Violence Solutions

More than 20 experts will convene at Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Health’s Gun Policy Summit Monday to examine research on gun policy and its implications for policymakers, according to the university’s website.

"To address this urgent public health problem, the experts will analyze the latest research and present clear, comprehensive recommendations for gun policies that will reduce gun violence, will have broad public support and will not violate constitutional rights," according to the university website.

Following the summit, Johns Hopkins University Press will release the book Reducing Gun Violence in America: Informing Policy with Evidence and Analysis in late January. 

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a Johns Hopkins University alumnus, will deliver the opening remarks at the summit. Gov. Martin O’Malley, who is reportedly preparing to push for a set of strict new gun laws, will introduce Bloomberg.  

Bloomberg, a co-chair of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, has been an outspoken advocate for stricter restrictions on firearms. 

"In recent weeks, we have heard some people say that the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun," Bloomberg told the Washington Post. "But the truth is that sometimes the good guys get shot and sometimes they even get killed. . . .Washington is letting the bad guys shoot our police officers, our children, our neighbors. That has to stop right now. And there are immediate steps our legislators can take right now."

Starting at 9 a.m. a webcast of the event can be viewed on the university website.