Project Guardian Launched to Curb Gun Violence

BOSTON – Attorney General William P. Barr announced the launch of Project Guardian, a new initiative designed to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws across the country.

Project Guardian focuses on investigating, prosecuting, and preventing gun crimes, building on the success of past strategies such as the ‘Triggerlock’ program and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). The initiative emphasizes the use of modern technologies to promote gun crime intelligence.

‘Gun crime remains a pervasive problem in too many communities across America,’ said Attorney General William P. Barr. ‘Today, the Department of Justice is redoubling its commitment to tackling this issue through the launch of Project Guardian.’

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling added, ‘Despite recent trends indicating that violent crime is decreasing nationwide, gun violence continues to harm our communities. Project Guardian is a coordinated effort to use existing law enforcement tools as a force multiplier to reduce gun violence.’

ATF Acting Director Regina Lombardo stated, ‘ATF has a long history of strong partnerships in the law enforcement community. We will leverage these partnerships even further through enhanced community outreach initiatives and coordination with local, state, and tribal law enforcement and prosecutors to cut the pipeline of crime guns.’

Project Guardian’s implementation is based on five principles: Coordinated Prosecution, Enforcing the Background Check System, Enhancing Crime Gun Intelligence, Building Partnerships, and Strengthening Community Outreach.

Project Guardian aims to strengthen federal, state, and local partnerships to reduce gun violence and keep firearms out of the hands of violent individuals. The initiative will enhance ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center capabilities and aid in identifying, investigating, and prosecuting those involved in straw purchases of firearms, lying on federal firearms transaction forms, and those subject to the mental health prohibition of possessing firearms.

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