Activist/advocate Alim Howell recently had a Zoom call with legislative aide Jared Namnun and policy director Eliza Alford, of the office of Councilwoman Katherine Gilmore Richardson (D-at large).
The topic of discussion was gun violence in Philadelphia.
“The youth in the city have to realize that there are more options than just gang-related violence. Guns in our city have been a wrongdoing for some time now. I do think that gun violence will go down one of these days or years to a point where it is at a real all-time low or barely happening. Sometimes it can be a financial mental issue that makes a person want to use a gun. But in our offices we have to come up with more ideas, laws, regulations, procedures, to put away this gun violence issue and that goes towards removing the guns. Some people in political government do not believe in taking away the guns. If we take away the guns that are doing the bad things out here then that would solve most of the problems,” Namnun said.
Richardson’s website explains she is focused on addressing Philadelphia’s most pressing issue of keeping young people and communities safe. Through her effort six Community Evening Resource Centers are operating across the city, providing young people with essential resources and safe spaces to have fun. Additionally, Richardson worked with the School District of Philadelphia to provide tier conflict resolution training, taking a preventive approach to violence reduction, including daily programming, to every student in the district to avoid the argumentative consequences of youth.
“The gun violence in Philadelphia is reported to be lower and I have heard Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel say so as well in their past statement speeches. But it is still happening time and time again because it is covered on the news media almost daily. Through the City of Philadelphia government the Special Committee on Gun Violence Prevention is still in place by Philadelphia City Council President Kenyatta Johnson, and having gun violence awareness month in June is implemented. Both are strong systematic enhancement strategies to defend gun violence but it is just not enough for some reason. In my opinion there needs to be gun buyback events monthly by the Council members, state representatives and senators in Philadelphia. Police presence needs to be more heavily increased, and a new tactical strategy to get the illegal guns off the streets needs to be taken into account immediately. Having meetings with Philadelphia political elected officials is needed to put a voice towards telling them that gun violence is still a problem and has to be genuinely resolved while they are in office,” Howell said.
The Special Committee on Gun Violence Prevention mission statement is to address Philadelphia’s enduring plague of gun violence by facilitating coordination among stakeholders and formulating a comprehensive gun violence prevention strategy including law enforcement, public health, education, social services, advocacy and community organizing for essential meaningful progress.
For more information, go to phlcouncil.com/KatherineGilmoreRichardson. ••
