Executive Order #9

WHEREAS, gun violence is a public safety and public health crisis, driven by social and economic inequities that disproportionately impact Black and Brown communities; and

WHEREAS, every Delawarean deserves to feel safe while partaking in everyday activities; and 

WHEREAS, an average of 132 Americans die from gun violence each day, equating to one death every 11 minutes; and 

WHEREAS, in 2022, 2,526 children between the ages of 1 and 17 died by firearm in the United States—an average of seven deaths per day; and 

WHEREAS, in Delaware, 124 individuals lost their lives to gun violence in 2022—averaging one death every three days; and 

WHEREAS, of the 124 firearm-related deaths in Delaware in 2022, 48 were homicides, 74 were suicides, and two were classified as other gun-related fatalities, resulting in an estimated economic cost of $1.3 billion—or approximately $1,236 per resident; and 

WHEREAS, Delaware’s overall gun death rate increased by 16 percent from 2013 to 2022, and firearms were the second-leading cause of death among children and teens ages 1 to 17 between 2018 and 2022; and 

WHEREAS, the gun suicide rate in Delaware rose by 45 percent in 2022 compared to 2019; and 

WHEREAS, young Black men between the ages of 15 and 34 represent 6 percent of Delaware’s population but account for 46 percent of the state’s gun deaths; and 

WHEREAS, Delaware has a long-standing history of addressing gun violence through the work of community-based organizations, and the Meyer Administration remains committed to strengthening and expanding these efforts; and 

WHEREAS, given reductions in federal funding, it is critical to better coordinate state, county, and municipal resources to support these initiatives; and 

WHEREAS, despite Delaware having the 12th lowest gun death rate in the country, every life lost to gun violence is one too many; and 

WHEREAS, the Secretary of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security deems it necessary to create an office within the Department to address gun safety and gun violence within Delaware. 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, MATTHEW MEYER, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Delaware, do hereby DECLARE and ORDER the following:  

Section C. Cooperation of State Agencies 

All state departments, agencies, interagency councils, and committees with relevance to gun violence prevention and community safety under the authority of the Executive Branch shall provide full cooperation and assistance to the Office. The Office may, upon request, assist departments and agencies with related matters. 

Section D. Implementation

Nothing in this Executive Order shall be construed to contravene any law or regulation. Nothing in this Executive Order shall affect or alter the existing statutory powers of any State agency.