Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce Dudley has been named co-chair of the national organization Prosecutors Against Gun Violence (PAGV), along with The Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark.

Founders and co-chairs of (PAGV), Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer and Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr., have announced that they will step aside after seven years of service.

“Gun violence claims lives and destabalizes communities across the country,” said Feuer and Vance. “As we move on from our roles as co-chairs, we leave PAGV in very capable and experienced hands with Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce Dudley and The Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, as the incoming co-chairs. We look forward to this exciting new chapter in the life of PAGV.”

In accepting the role of co-chair Dudley said, “Mike and Cy did a brilliant job creating, maintaining and growing PAGV.  I am honored to have been chosen, along with my esteemed colleague DA Darcel Clark, to begin a new era for PAGV in the afterglow of all of their successes.

“Tragically, my county has been devastated by acts of gun violence. Although most gun owners in our communities are both safety-conscious and law-abiding, others, who often possess guns unlawfully, have negatively impacted the lives of many. While in this volunteer position, I hope to reduce gun violence both locally and in our neighboring counties and states.”

PAGV is an independent coalition of prosecutors representing 60 million Americans in 24 states that is working to end gun violence. The group brings together prosecutors to discuss policies, legislation and strategies to help prevent and confront gun violence in their jurisdictions.

PAGV has held a dozen national forums on a range of topics, from gun crimes committed in the home, to safe storage, to illegal firearms trafficking, to mass shootings. PAGV has issued a nationwide blueprint on removing guns from domestic abusers, and a resource guide on preventing mass shootings and prosecuting mass shooters.

The organization has also filed amicus briefs in several important cases, including those pertaining to ghost guns and gun licensing.