Gun violence in Philadelphia continues unabated, making each murder senseless and more heartbreaking than the next.
Consider the losses incurred in the first four days of the month. West Philadelphia Recreation A mother of her three children who was cleaning outside her center was killed in a stray bullet and a man in his mid-30s was shot in the head in Overbrook. Her 17-year-old girl, who was carrying groceries to his wife’s house, was shot dead while walking her dog in Frankford, and her SEPTA manager, 37, was shot dead on the front lawn of her Germantown home. rice field.
There have been nearly 1,700 shootings in our cities so far this year, causing a series of traumas to family, friends, neighbors and first responders, and mounting economic damage. Earlier this week, The Inquirer detailed the depth of human trauma affecting nearly every corner of Philadelphia.
The shootings have led to the COVID-19 pandemic that has claimed more than a million lives, deadly insurrection riots in the US Capitol, war in Ukraine that could easily escalate into a global conflict, and an economy in zigzag. , deepening political divisions, and severe weather events due to climate change.
» READ MORE: Philadelphia marks another turbulent summer as 750 shootings since Memorial Day | Editorial
A recent poll found that three-quarters of Americans see gun violence as a major problem, and eight in 10 say gun violence is on the rise. On the other hand, 71% of those surveyed believe: Gun safety laws should be stricter. A common sense move like that would save lives and money.
More broadly, gun violence affects people’s lives. A survey by the American Psychological Association found that 81% said they were worried about gun violence, and 40% said they avoided going to public places with large gatherings such as movie theaters, nightclubs and concerts. rice field.
Gunshot trauma has a particularly severe impact on the health of children. Guns are now the number one killer of children between her age 1 and her age 19, overtaking car crashes, which have been the number one killer of children for more than 60 years.
The pain and suffering of this crisis are far-reaching. Research shows that children exposed to gun violence experience more mental health problems than other children, including depression, suicide, and anxiety. They are also prone to violence themselves and tend to carry guns.
Blacks and browns are disproportionately affected by gun violence, including the constant killing of blacks by police officers. In addition to their emotional impact, these murders foster a deep mistrust of police in the black community.
» READ MORE: Philadelphia gun violence epidemic reaches dangerous new low after 7-year-old was shot while playing video game | Editorial
Violence also has an economic cost that all taxpayers bear.
A recent City of Philadelphia report found that each murder costs $1.42 million in medical bills, lost profits, property damage, and criminal justice costs. The report The 351 homicides in 2018 cost the economy nearly $500 million. The city has already surpassed the number of murders this year. The non-fatal shooting cost him nearly $50,000 in medical bills and lost productivity. In 2018, the city alone cost him over $65 million.
Another report by city controllers found that the shootings also reduced property values. According to the report, one homicide decreased the value of homes sold within three miles of the incident by an average of 2.3%. Reducing gun deaths means more money for the city. According to reports, if homicides drop by 10% in his five years, tax revenues collected by the city will increase by $114 million.
Philadelphia does not have a monopoly on gun violence. In 2021, she will see nearly 49,000 Americans killed by guns, breaking the previous year’s record. According to another report, gun violence costs the nation $557 billion annually.
Pervasive trauma and huge economic costs are just two reasons why we need gun safety laws. But preventing senseless gun deaths requires action by responsible leaders at all levels of government and is of the utmost importance to each of us.
