Houston to launch first-ever firearm dashboard with goal of reducing injuries

The city of Houston will develop a firearm dashboard in an effort to make the city safer, according to a Sept. 6 announcement from Council Member Abbie Kamin, who has led the charge and helped secure funding for the project.

The dashboard, a first of its kind in the nation, will inform gun violence intervention and prevention efforts, Kamin said.

The overview

The need for the firearm dashboard has been exacerbated by the city's violent crime deaths, Kamin said, which have been increasing since 2018. The Houston Health Department will receive $240,000 of the city's fiscal year 2023-24 funds for the creation of the dashboard.

To see this project through, the city is partnering with Dr. Bindi J. Naik-Mathuria—who will lead coordination efforts with area trauma centers—as well as UT Health Science Center, Baylor College of Medicine, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Harris Health Ben Taub Hospital, Memorial Hermann at Texas Medical Center and HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest Houston Hospital.

The idea, Kamin said, is to help get a better understanding of the "who," "what," "where," "when" and "why" of firearm violence.

Notable quote

“We’re home to the largest medical center in the world. It may be a surprise to some that we do not already have something like this. That’s because this should be common sense," Kamin said. "Now, the city of Houston and our public health partners will finally have a centralized location to collect relevant information, analyze it, and turn it into health-based actions to reduce injuries and save lives.”