THE ISSUE
Community violence, particularly homicide, occurs primarily in public settings. It is interpersonal, i.e. taking place between individuals and small groups that may or may not know one another. It is loosely planned at best and generally impulsive in nature.
That said, the impact of community violence is nevertheless severe, often resulting in death or disabling injury. Its perpetrators and victims are usually, but not exclusively, young men and boys from disadvantaged backgrounds and communities. Community violence may result from disputes or from conventional forms of street crime, e.g. robberies, and implicates both the public health and public safety fields as well as multi-disciplinary, multi-sector responses.
Madison had an increase in gun violence by
88
percent in 2020
WE
_HAVE_
TO DO
BETTER
GUN VIOLENCE DESTROYS
COMMUNITIES
Aside from death and injury, gun violence destroys entire communities. It causes a decrease in property values and economic development, perpetuates urban flight, and subjects children to horrific traumas; as well as causing many of them to struggle in school and increasing their risk of becoming a victim or perpetrator of gun violence. While a variety of root causes are responsible for community gun violence, including poverty and structural racism, gun violence in and of itself is the primary driver of further violence, creating this vicious and devastating cycle.
WE
HAVE
HOPE
The cycle of gun violence can be interrupted. Evidence-based methods have been proven successful in communities across the US and can be modified to be impactful in Dane County. While thousands are affected by community gun violence, only a small group are at high-risk for pulling the trigger. By focusing individualized programming on the small groups most likely to shoot and supporting the communities most impacted, we can save thousands of lives.
_WE HAVE THE SOLUTIONS_
Since introducing its evidence-based violence reduction plan in 2012, Oakland has decreased annual shootings and homicides by 50%.
_RESOURCES_
Community gun violence is a solvable problem.
With your help, we can stop the current increase of shootings in our City. We encourage everyone to learn about community gun violence and share resources within their network. Additional great resources include: Giffords: Courage to Fight Gun Violence and the book, Bleeding Out by Thomas Abt.