Murphy announces $7 million in funding to reduce gun violence

Last Thursday, Gov. Phil Murphy (D-N.J.) and Acting Attorney General of New Jersey Andrew Bruck announced an investment of $7 million that will provide for gunshot detection technology with the goal of reducing gun violence in the state, according to a press release.

The grant comes from federal American Rescue Plan funds and will allow communities within New Jersey to gain access to or improve existing gunshot detection technology through the acquisition of a video management system, an acoustic detection system and a system for automatically reading license plates. 

Murphy’s announcement comes during a national spike in gun violence, according to the release. Combined, these technological developments will facilitate the response of emergency medical services and law enforcement to gun violence by allowing them to provide critical medical care to victims and aid in apprehending perpetrators.

In addition, 25 nonprofit organizations will receive a total of $8.2 million for community-based violence intervention programming. This is the largest investment of its kind in the state’s history, according to the release.

These funds will be allocated toward intervention strategies that do not include violence and instead make use of a community-based model for public safety.

“Combating gun violence is a multi-faceted problem that requires a multi-faceted approach,” Murphy said. “The funding announced today will provide resources to both law enforcement agencies and community partners, equipping them with much-needed resources as we continue to fight the epidemic of gun violence.”