investing in local gun violence prevention
Our newly-formed gun safety coalition, supported by the Foundation for a Healthy St. Pete, will survey St. Petersburg residents over the next six months to better understand concerns about and the impact of gun violence in our neighborhoods. An analysis of that information will help us identify and hopefully implement program(s) that will be most effective in preventing gun violence here in St. Petersburg.
In addition to the emotional, physical and psychological impact, the nonprofit Force Detroit recently measured the monetary cost of gun violence to their community. One gun homicide there costs local and state governments $1.6 million; for a gunshot injury, it’s $1.1 million. One could argue that it costs much less to incentivize the work of local activists than it does to pay that cost. Click here to see Detroit’s costs broken down by each phase in the aftermath of a shooting, from the crime scene response and medical treatment to the criminal justice system and ongoing support for victims. Read more about the study here.
Our next LWVSPA gun safety team meeting is 7-8:30pm, Monday, July 29th at the Wesley Room, Allendale United Methodist Church… join us! Click here to see the minutes from our June 24th meeting.