WHEREAS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Center for Health Statistics, 9,025 Virginians died by firearm between 2008 and 2017, and the firearm homicide rate in Virginia increased by 28 percent in that time; and
WHEREAS, in addition to fatal shootings, gun violence includes other firearm-involved crimes and incidents in which a victim may suffer from nonfatal gunshot wounds, may be shot at but not wounded, or may be threatened with a brandished firearm that is not fired; and
WHEREAS, not only does gun violence result in physical harm, it can also lead to long-term adverse effects on the overall health and well-being of individuals, as well as lasting social and economic impacts on communities; and
WHEREAS, in order to reduce gun violence and its enduring consequences, it is important to understand the extent of such social, physical, emotional, and economic effects on communities in the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission be directed to study the social, physical, emotional, and economic effects of gun violence on communities across the Commonwealth.
In conducting its study, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission shall examine the impact of gun violence on (i) the overall physical health of individuals living in affected communities, (ii) the mental and emotional health of individuals living in affected communities, and (iii) the social and economic health of communities impacted by gun violence and shall consider and propose policy recommendations to address gun violence and its effects.
All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission for this study, upon request.
The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission shall complete its meetings for the first year by November 30, 2024, and for the second year by November 30, 2025, and the chairman shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the next Regular Session of the General Assembly for each year. Each executive summary shall state whether the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission intends to submit to the General Assembly and the Governor a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summaries and reports shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.