Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy shares gun violence research at congressional briefing

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In February, George Mason University's Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy (CEBCP)within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, hosted its 12th congressional briefing at the U.S. Capitol, focused on "Preventing Gun Violence." The event, led by Criminology, Law and Society Professors Cynthia Lumand Christopher Koper, and held in partnership with the Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation, highlighted research on evidence-based strategies to reduce gun violence, reduce the illegal supply of firearms, strengthen investigations, support victim recovery, and address risks of high-risk individuals and groups.

Featured speakers included several of the nation's leading expertson firearms violence. They presented to an audience of more than 230 registrants including congressional staff, federal agency representatives, researchers, and advocacy organizations.

The congressional briefing at the U.S. Capitol. Photo provided

"The CEBCP continues to invest in generating, translating, and disseminating research on preventing firearms violence, which remains a high priority in many U.S. jurisdictions," said Lum, CEBCP director. "Its faculty are committed to maintaining a steady focus on research and applying scientific knowledge in this and other critical areas of criminal justice."

Koper is a nationally recognized expert on firearms policy and policing and a CEBCP Principal Fellow. He has studied crime and justice issues for more than 30 years and is widely known for his research on the 1994 federal assault weapons ban.

"The briefing addressed several issues important to federal policy and to gun violence prevention efforts supported at the state and local levels," he said. "I hope it helps federal policymakers evaluate the efficacy of these initiatives and find areas of common ground in the ongoing gun policy debate."

Daniel F. Wilhelm, president of The Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation, praised the CEBCP's contributions to the field:

"George Mason's Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy is a national leader in advancing important research on crime and effective responses to it," he said. "It holds the highest scholarly standards while engaging directly with practitioners, policymakers, and citizens working to address crime and violence in communities across the United States. It has been a longstanding and essential partner to The Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation in our mission to develop and deploy knowledge that deepens our understanding of violence and how to control and prevent it."  

Videos from the briefing are now available on theevent's webpage. A special Spring 2025 issue of the CEBCP's Translational Criminologymagazine, currently in production, will include summaries of each research presentation.