‘The hundreds of millions of firearms already in American homes are not subject to rules regulating sales, but they will play a role in future homicides, suicides and unintentional shootings’ Credit: (Raymond Clinkscale, Rutgers School of Public Health) Michael Anestis On the three-year anniversary of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, President Biden announced that he wants Congress to pursue several pieces of legislation, including universal background checks. The recent tragedies in Atlanta and Boulder, Colorado, have amplified this call for action. In New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration has made firearm safety a priority, facilitating two firearm-focused legislative packages and creating the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center. Even still, New Jersey cities have seen a surge in shootings over the past year, with Black and brown communities being disproportionally impacted.