04/16/2026
Columbus was recently spotlighted in a report done by the Center for American Progress for their violence prevention and intervention work to reduce gun violence victimization.
Of the 17 cities mentioned, Columbus landed in the top 5, noting a 63.5% decrease in gun violence from 2021 to 2025. The most notable decline occurred following the establishment of the Office of Violence Prevention.
“We are grateful that the impact and necessity of our work are being highlighted. This decline in gun victimization rates in Columbus reflects the dedication of our OVP team and public safety partners, both public and private, despite existing in a state that lacks common-sense gun laws,” said Rena Shak, Director of the Office of Violence Prevention. “While we observe the historic reductions, we remain focused on our pursuit to create and sustain safe neighborhoods by coordinating and facilitating targeted, data-driven violence reduction strategies.”
Read the full report here:
https://ampr.gs/3NPtfI1
Estimates suggest that 2025 marked another historic year of declining gun violence nationwide since the COVID-era surge. Here is what officials from cities seeing the largest declines in gun violence are saying about how they have improved public safety since 2021.
