PITTSBURGH – The Pennsylvania chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, released the following statement praising the Pittsburgh City Council for increasing the gun violence prevention budget for the city of Pittsburgh. The additional increase of funding to $500,000 was included as an amendment to the 2019 Operating Budget and sponsored by Councilmembers Rev. Ricky Burgess and R. Danielle Lavelle. The funding will go to programs such as Pittsburgh’s Group Violence Intervention program, which has been credited with reducing gun violence in the city to a 12-year low in 2017. The funding increase is supported by the Pittsburgh Police Department and Allegheny County Health Department.
“We know that this increase in funding will help reduce gun violence in Pittsburgh,” said Jenny Ruth Partica, a volunteer with the Pennsylvania chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “I am so proud of my local elected officials today for putting public safety first and voting to protect our community. This additional funding will save lives.”