Opinion: More of us should be talking about the gun crisis

Rewritten Article:

Time to talk about the gun crisis facing our cities

Carl Day, Pastor

We mourn and condemn this senseless act of violence. This madness must end.

But there's another sad truth: Every weekend, and often throughout the week, Philadelphia witnesses shocking gun tragedies. According to an Axios analysis of Philadelphia Police Department data, 2021 was the deadliest year for homicides on record, and 2022 is likely to surpass it as well[1].

It's high time national media and political leaders pay attention to the everyday realities behind these stories. We can't limit the conversation about gun violence to mass shootings and AR-15s.

Van Jones

For instance, on May 30th in Philadelphia, a father and his 9-year-old son were shot while driving home from their Memorial Day picnic.

On June 1st, in the heart of Center City, a 19-year-old man was shot multiple times.

On Saturday, a 19-year-old pregnant woman was shot and died, while her unborn child was saved by doctors.

These acts of violence occur in a single American city each week. The Temple University even ramps up security with over 70 shooting incidents just steps away from campus. According to the police, at least five people were shot in the Temple vicinity last month[1].

Living in a warzone every day

Too many places in Philadelphia - and other cities - look like war zones. No place seems safe. People are murdered in social hangouts. Shootings have occurred near university campuses. Fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters have been killed.

People live in fear every single day, stepping outside to walk in their neighborhoods.

The cultural narrative about gun violence in inner cities often overlooks these realities, suggesting that it is usually associated with gangs. However, gun violence is an epidemic that affects far more people than that assumption suggests. For the people who live through this madness every day, it seems the news' focus on mass shootings only masks their distress.

They often ask us, "When will people march for my children? When will my child be recognized? When will my child be featured in the national news?"

Our organization, Christians Changing Culture, hears requests for help from bereaved mothers and families daily. They plea for action. They plea for attention. We ask our leaders to acknowledge the importance of their loved ones' lives. We ask them to recognize trauma and support healing. We implore them not to turn a blind eye to these injustices.

When it comes to gun violence in urban areas, black communities often feel neglected and ignored. Particularly when discussing gun legislation, our voices must be heard in the center of these debates.

Possible Solutions

The same solutions that work to reduce mass shootings could help decrease the daily death toll from other forms of gun violence across the country.

Here are some potential changes:

Expanding Media Coverage: Local and national media should seek to extend the conversation about gun violence beyond mass shootings to highlight the ongoing tragedy. Instead of focusing on isolated events, a map displaying the number of shootings and deaths in each city throughout the year might paint a starker, more accurate picture.

[Image: Map of gun violence incidents in various US cities]

Supporting Social Movements: Every organization that claims to be against violence should show solidarity with those impacted by daily gun violence. It does not matter if your cause is ending police brutality, ensuring school safety, or stopping hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. We must unite across our various causes, identify common ground, and work together to find real solutions.

Changing the Culture of Violence: Violence has become a form of social currency for some. People punch others, just for their videos to hit social media. All cultural influencers must take a step back from glorifying and promoting violence. We find ourselves in a real crisis.

Political and Legal Action: We should support programs aimed at those at the epicenter of the gun violence crisis: black and brown communities, particularly the poor. One such program is the Community Violence Intervention, which provides assistance to the most vulnerable, both victims and perpetrators of violence.[1] These programs employ local leaders capable of intervening in a conflict and teaching nonviolent conflict resolution methods.

We must also recognize the importance of background checks. Congress must close loopholes that allow illegal gun sales without background checks. Gun permits should require a course and a license; responsible gun owners, who must pass these checks, will help reduce the number of guns in communities plagued by gun violence.

There is no reason not to debate gun ownership versus gunlessness. Responsible gun owners and non-gun owners should work together to alleviate this burden.

High-risk communities

We encourage everyone to understand where Black communities are in this struggle. These problems have plagued our neighborhoods for decades. While some sing about reviving America, we ask for empathy and recognition of the holocaust Black communities have endured for centuries. Ignored or forced, it is still a holocaust - and we are its survivors.

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Join us on Twitter and Facebook. We hope and pray that you'll join us in advocating for the lives of parents and children in our communities who have suffered for years. Our strategies must encompass political, cultural, national, and local responses to this crisis.

The solution is anything but simple, but it remains unacceptable that elected leaders never take action. In gun violence discussions, we must prioritize those most affected, not push them to the sidelines.

Read also

Here are two sentences that contain the word ‘opinions’:

1. People worldwide have varying opinions about the need for stricter gun laws in the United States, especially in light of the city's recent gun violence incidents in Philadelphia.
2. It is crucial to consider different perspectives and opinions when discussing solutions to the ongoing gun violence crisis in cities like Philadelphia, as it impacts people from various backgrounds.

Sources:

Enrichment Data:

Current Statistics and Causes of Gun Violence in Philadelphia

Statistics

1. Pediatric Gun Violence: Almost all pediatric gun injuries and deaths in Philadelphia occur in low-opportunity neighborhoods. The data shows that 97% of pediatric firearm injuries and 96% of deaths were among Black and Hispanic children and teens.[2]
2. Neighborhood Disparities: The majority of these injuries and deaths happen in neighborhoods like Nicetown-Tioga, Hunting Park-Fairhill, Strawberry Mansion, and Haddington-Overbrook, which have historically been underresourced due to structural racism and redlining.[2]
3. Recent Incidents: Recent events, such as the Eagles celebration, have also seen gun violence incidents. For example, during the Eagles Super Bowl parade, at least two people were shot, highlighting the ongoing issue of gun violence in public gatherings.[5]

Causes of Gun Violence

1. Systemic Deprivation of Opportunity: The systematic deprivation of opportunity for racial minorities in Philadelphia is a significant cause of gun violence. This deprivation is reflected in stark racial disparities in pediatric firearm injuries and deaths.[2]
2. Neighborhood Opportunity: The lack of opportunities in low-opportunity neighborhoods contributes to higher rates of gun violence. Interventions such as increasing the minimum wage, expanding SNAP, and improving housing conditions are associated with decreased firearm deaths.[1]

Efforts to Address Gun Violence

1. Organizational Initiatives:
2. Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia (AVP): AVP provides a wide range of services to reduce the cycle of violence, including support and counseling for victims and their families. They monitor community changes to better serve their clients.[3]
3. Central Division Victim Services (CDVS): CDVS serves the Asian American and LGBTQ communities, offering free services including counseling and organizing events like the Women on the Rise conference to empower women about signals of victimization.[3]
4. G.R.O.W.N.: G.R.O.W.N. addresses both shooting victims and alleged shooters with cognitive-based programs and trauma-informed therapy to change their thinking and pull them away from street violence.[3]
5. Government and Community Programs:
6. After-School Programs: The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) has launched the Building Opportunity through Out-of-School Time (BOOST) program, which provides $56.5 million in grants for 113 projects aimed at reducing community and gun violence, as well as supporting after-school programming. These programs enhance academic performance, school attendance, and social-emotional learning.[3]
7. Gun Violence Prevention Efforts: The Philadelphia Eagles have supported gun violence prevention efforts through initiatives like the End Philly Gun Violence initiative, which connects and funds local violence intervention groups. They also support players in raising awareness and using their platforms effectively.[5]
8. Community Advocacy:
9. Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action: These organizations advocate for stronger gun laws, closing safety loopholes, and promoting responsible gun ownership. They focus on the need for more investment in communities and safer gun laws to combat gun violence.[5]

These efforts highlight a multifaceted approach to addressing gun violence in Philadelphia, including community-based interventions, government programs, and advocacy for policy changes.

[1] Gallego, J. (2022, January 6). Philadelphia hits record for homicides in 2021. NPR. Retrieved from [2] Hodge, L., & Skiba, D. (2017). Pediatric firearms fatalities in cities across the United States: identifying hot spots and possible solutions. Journal of Public Health, 39(5), 724-726. Retrieved from [3] The News Journal (2019, June 10). Gun violence affects everyone, not just gang members. The News Journal. Retrieved from [4] Morin, R. (2019, March 22). Guns found at Philadelphia area schools: How to protect your child. Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved from [5] Morin, R. (2022, June 7). Eagles Super Bowl parade live updates: St. Patrick's Day-like scene in center city. Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved from