Gun culture has always taken strong form in North Carolina, with its rural areas seeping into state representation. The Republicans have been pushing for less strict gun control laws in recent years, leaving activists as a minority. Following the increased attention on gun control brought by student activists around the United States, North Carolina media has put the gun violence issue under public scrutiny. In 2016, the Gifford's Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence gave North Carolina a D- due to its weak gun laws and high rate of gun theft and break-ins.
North Carolina has gun death rate of 12.5 persons for every 100,000 people (as of 2016), higher than the national average. This increase included a 27% raise in homicides from the previous year, while the suicide rate remained the same. NCGV hopes the public will react to these findings in a way that will increase attention and the realization of a need for stricter gun laws across the state and nation, though local politicians seem doubtful.
NCGV was created 25 years ago with the intention of providing education to children and families of gun owners, as well as teenagers interested in activism, to build a network of individuals across the state sharing the same vision of a safer community. Over the years, NCGV has utilized more hands-on tactics to raise awareness against gun violence, urging Senators and state representatives to create effective action plans for gun violence prevention. As the movement picks of momentum, North Carolinians Against Gun Violence increases its membership and spread of information.
While NCGV dubs itself a non-profit, non-partisan group, most of its core beliefs closely follow that of left-winged political ideologies. Representatives of North Carolinians Against Gun Violence choose to make it clear that while they believe in the Second Amendment, restrictions should be put in place to create a safer environment.
North Carolinians Against Gun Violence is made up of supporters from across the state all sharing the same goal: prevent gun violence through the passing of effective policies and laws, with board members elected from the general membership and Board of Directors. NCGV is part of a network of non-profit organizations across the state, Blueprint NC, working together to provide training resources and education to promote a safer community.
While the gun control movement has recently been dubbed a "youth-led" movement, NCGV began as adults working together to brainstorm how to reach kids and families who have the potential to be affected by gun violence in North Carolina. Today, teenagers join after training sessions led by NCGV to ensure the anti gun violence message is spread throughout the state.