The Pennsylvania chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroot networks, released the following statement in response to a Saturday night shooting in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood. According to reports, multiple shooters got out of a vehicle and began firing into a crowd gathered outside an area bar, firing at least 40 shots. Nine people were shot and wounded, five of whom are still in critical condition.
“It’s heartbreaking to wake up to news of yet another tragedy in our state,” said Erin Buchner, a volunteer with the Pennsylvania chapter of Moms Demand Action. “No one should have to fear for their lives regardless of whether they’re out at a bar or simply living their lives as members of their community. We all deserve to be safe, and policymakers at every level must prioritize policies that will help end gun violence in our communities.”
While there is no one solution to end gun violence, Community Violence Intervention Programs like Philadelphia Ceasefire play a key role in making cities safer. By utilizing a public health model, these community-led programs have been shown to reduce gun violence in some of the most heavily impacted neighborhoods. These programs are often uniquely situated to address violence in their communities, but they need support from policymakers in order to sustain and expand their life-saving work. Leaders and legislators must invest in these community-driven, evidence-based interventions.
In an average year 1,628 people are killed by guns in Pennsylvania, and 1,992 more are shot and wounded. Gun violence costs Pennsylvania $21.7 billion each year, of which $470.7 million is paid by taxpayers. More information on gun violence in Pennsylvania is available here.