Recent massacres like those in Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, New York, leave families in grief, communities traumatized, victim service providers overwhelmed, and a nation reckoning with a sense of vulnerability.
There are protocols and resources in place for responding to these horrific acts, but each community affected by a mass shooting is unique and requires a thoughtful and thorough review of its needs, informed by the cultural, racial, and socioeconomic circumstances of the neighborhood. It is my office—the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC)—that has the solemn task of deploying seasoned experts to work with communities to make these assessments and help them prepare for the long-term impacts of mass gun violence.

I had been on the job as OVC director for less than 12 months when the news of the shooting at Tops Friendly Markets in Buffalo was broadcast. Seemingly motivated by hate and intent on inflicting maximum damage to a primarily black community, a gunman shot and killed 10 people who were shopping for groceries. Being the “new” director, I was anxious to see for myself how OVC’s funding for responding to mass violence events was being used in real time. I learned long ago as a victim advocate that there is no substitute for being on scene. So, I packed my bags for Buffalo.