Tragic Milestone: Philadelphia Records 10-Year High in Homicide Rate
12.20.2018
PHILADELPHIA — The Pennsylvania chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today responded to reports that the city of Philadelphia has recorded more homicides in 2018 than it has in any other calendar year in over a decade.
According to police data, Philadelphia experienced at least 333 homicides this year, resulting in an 11 percent increase from the recorded total in 2017. This is the highest number of homicides recorded in Philadelphia since 2007, when the city experienced 391 homicides. There have been at least 1,296 people shot this year in Philadelphia, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, and the vast majority of the city’s homicides were committed with guns. Additionally, 85 percent of the shooting victims were Black Americans.
Mayor Jim Kenney recently met with residents of South Philadelphia to discuss possible solutions to help reduce the city’s gun violence.
STATEMENT FROM MELISSA CARDNE, VOLUNTEER WITH THE PENNSYLVANIA CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:
“My heart goes out to all the families and neighborhoods that have had been traumatized by the violence plaguing our city. Across this city, gun safety advocates and organizations are coming together to build a safer Philadelphia for our children. We know that we do not have to accept this level of violence as our new normal. We will continue to work together to address the root causes of this issue, as well as work with our lawmakers to pass common-sense gun laws. Too many lives are on the line.”
There are a number of evidence-based violence intervention programs and prevention strategies working in Philadelphia, including:
- Philadelphia Ceasefire, a cure violence program, mediates conflicts to prevent retaliatory violence and works with those at highest risk of involvement in violence to change their behavior
- The Philadelphia Anti-Drug/Anti-Violence Network, which provides wraparound support for young people who are most likely to be involved in violence in neighborhoods with high rates of violence
- Temple University’s hospital-based violence intervention program, which engages violently injured patients during or soon after their hospital stay, partnering with patients and families for months after the injury to reduce the likelihood of retaliation and re-victimization.
- Victims services and community advocates such as: Mothers in Charge, The Charles Foundation, National Homicide Justice Alliance, Operation Save Our City, Ray’s Rhythm for Justice and Men Who Care of Germantown.