Harrisburg – February 27, 2020 – State Senator Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) released the following statement today announcing gun violence prevention grant legislation:

“Gun violence is a tragedy across the Commonwealth. Everyone knows of someone affected by gun violence, whether suicide, homicide or a shooting.  I introduced legislation this month providing grants to support community-based violence reduction initiatives.

In 2019, Philadelphia alone experienced 2,615 aggravated assaults and 2,181 robberies committed with firearms, an increase from the previous year. We can and must reduce gun violence.

Experts testified during my Senate Democratic Policy Committee hearing on gun violence reduction solutions.  They recommended promoting community-driven interventions to reduce gun violence in neighborhoods.

Under the proposed legislation, grants would go to organizations like Cure Violence in Philadelphia, which has reduced shootings in a North Philadelphia neighborhood it targeted by 30%. In Chicago, Cure Violence reduced shootings by 41% in certain neighborhoods. With help, this program and others can be expanded and prevent further violence. Research and experience prove that selected community-based gun violence reduction programs are part of the solution.”

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