The outrageous gun-violence epidemic we are experiencing in Philadelphia is painful, overwhelming and traumatic. We cannot continue to exist in this way, normalizing the abnormal as standard big-city fare. What can be done? What we can’t do is go about our individual daily duties and return to our homes at night, close the door, the shutters or the blinds and hope it will go away. It will not.
The immediate action required is directing our attention to the target audience of both likely victims and perpetrators, most of whom are getting younger and younger. Not that long …
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The outrageous gun-violence epidemic we are experiencing in Philadelphia is painful, overwhelming and traumatic. We cannot continue to exist in this way, normalizing the abnormal as standard big-city fare. What can be done? What we can’t do is go about our individual daily duties and return to our homes at night, close the door, the shutters or the blinds and hope it will go away. It will not.
The immediate action required is directing our attention to the target audience of both likely victims and perpetrators, most of whom are getting younger and younger. Not that long ago, the idea of a gun toting 13-year-old would be considered absurd. Now, not at all. My call is to parents and all caregivers with whom our young people reside and ask them, what do you do when the shooter lives with you?
Some time ago, we took that question – which may sound like a catchy and thought-provoking quote – and incorporated it into our violence prevention planning, because these days we need to be prepared to answer it. We need to inspect what’s under the mattress, in the closet and hidden in and behind dressers as a start. But once a gun is found, then what?
To quote RnB Rock, a Germantown native who became yet another victim of senseless gun violence in L.A., “my city needs something.” It needs all of us to engage.
City Councilmember Cindy Bass
Mt. Airy