https://www.phila.gov/2021-12-21-addressing-philadelphias-gun-violence-crisis-our-approach/

 Title of my article: Unveiling Gun Violence: A Spotlight on the Philadelphia Area”.

Gun violence is a very complicated topic in the US. In Philadelphia, every year, thousands of victims fall under the bullets of deadly firearms.
The history of firearm possession and use in the US is very complex and multifaceted.
It started with the second amendment of the US constitution which grants citizens the right to possess and use arms under certain conditions. With time, this authorization evolved and became more and more dangerous, as people started to abuse and misuse guns, which led to terrible accidents and incidents occurring every day in America.

“In 2020, Philadelphia lost 447 people to gun violence – the most gun related homicides in 30 years.  With 125 people killed and 546 nonfatal shootings since the start of the year, 2021 is on track to be the worst year on record.” (phil.gov).

After the Covid 19 pandemic hit the country, the problem of gun violence raised and reached its peak. Economic challenges, social isolation and mental health problems contributed to the increase of gun violence rates in the city.
Philadelphia is among the cities with relatively high rates of gun-related incidents. To address this issue, the city of Philadelphia issued a call to action in order to reduce the number of gun related crimes in the city. “In order for the City to address and stop gun violence, the Roadmap the to Safer Communities coordinates public, private, nonprofit, and community partners to end gun violence.”

These various initiatives, programs and organizations collaborate to support communities impacted by gun violence while also engaging directly with individuals involved in acts of gun violence.
In addition to “The Roadmap to Safer communities”, the city of Philadelphia established another strategy to support neighborhoods which are highly impacted by gun violence issues and help them mitigate violence by alleviating tensions. “The Community Crisis Intervention Program (CCIP) is another violence prevention strategy. It uses credible messengers from neighborhoods vulnerable to gun violence to engage and disrupt violence by reducing tensions and mediating conflicts among those most likely to be victims or perpetrators of gun violence.” (phila.gov)

Operations Pinpoint is also another alternative used by police departments to track violence activities by using data and intelligence. “The Philadelphia Police Department employs a comprehensive strategic plan to combat gun violence and improve the quality of life for Philadelphia’s residents and visitors.” (phila.gov)

To conclude, gun violence is an urgent concern that needs to be addressed promptly to protect the safety and well-being of communities.

Philadelphia city needs to work hand in hand with its residents to lower the exposition of gun violence and protect its inhabitants against the dangers of this deadly issue.
Some actions proposed to strengthen the public health approach include:

• More quality-of-life services for communities.

• Swift and predictable consequences for those engaged in violence who do not want help.

• Stronger community engagement with tools to increase long-term resiliency

• Better opportunities and social services for individuals highly at-risk

Let’s work together to STOP gun violence and BUILD safer communities together!