Gun violence is not a new issue—it is a continuing tragedy that destroys innocent lives, families, and communities; it challenges law enforcement agencies throughout the world each and every day.

For example, in the United States alone, 30,000 people died as a result of gun violence over the past year, and far too many of those who died were police officers trying to protect the citizens and communities they serve.

Yet despite the horror of this ongoing tragedy, we are confronted by complacency—a belief of leaders, legislators, citizens, and even law enforcement and justice officials that these levels of violence have to be “accepted” and that there is no way to stop the bleeding.