As gun violence in the United States has declined from the historic heights of the early 2020s, the national conversation about the crisis has faded, too. But that doesn’t mean the epidemic has been solved — a fact people affected by shootings and those tasked with caring for the wounded know well. A new study from CDC researchers illustrates the stubbornness of the problem, The Trace’s Fairriona Magee reported this week, showing that hospitals treated 93,022 shooting injuries from 2018 to 2023. That amounts to an emergency room in the U.S. treating at least one gunshot wound every half-hour.
The authors of the study, which primarily looked at time periods when gunshot wounds peak, concluded that knowing when shooting injuries are highest can help to more effectively deploy care and implement violence prevention strategies. Among the strategies the researchers pointed to were homegrown solutions like hospital-based violence intervention programs and community violence intervention programs. As The Trace’s Chip Brownlee reports, a recent analysis of New York City’s violence interruption network, the Crisis Management System, provides more evidence for the efficacy of CVI: A report by the Comptroller’s Office found that, from 2012 to 2024, police precincts with CMS-funded programs saw 20 percent fewer shootings than would be expected without them.
The CDC study also nodded to the relationship between gun violence and climate, finding that monthly rates for shooting injuries were highest in July. The Trace’s Mensah M. Dean has a story this week on a local response to that: Philadelphia’s “clean and green” initiatives. Mayor Cherelle Parker has made environmental initiatives a key component of her administration, saying they can improve quality of life issues, including gun violence — a strategy that’s backed by a growing body of research. But as Dean reports, the Parker administration’s efforts are still a work in progress.
From The Trace
Can a Greener Philly Reduce Crime?: In a bid to improve public safety, quality of life initiatives are bringing brighter lights and more green spaces to Philadelphia.
Every Half Hour, Someone Arrives at an ER With a Gunshot Wound, According to the CDC: A recent analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could help hospitals better treat firearm injuries — and support staff members.
How Many Guns Did Americans Buy Last Month?: About 1.2 million firearms were sold in April, according to seasonally adjusted estimates. Find the national and state breakdowns in our tracker.
In a Brooklyn Neighborhood, Residents — Not Police — Take the Lead on Preventing Violence: For a week each quarter, 911 calls are routed to community violence interrupters. A new analysis found that precincts with these programs saw a marked drop in shootings.
What We’re Reading
DOJ Shakeup May Put Civil Rights Probe of 1970 Jackson State, Mississippi, Killings At Risk: The Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Act made way for investigations of racially motivated killings, including the police shootings at Jackson State College in 1970. The federal agency enforcing the law is in disarray. [The Marshall Project]
U.S. Republican budget proposal has removal of gun silencer tax in its sights: A 12-line item in the massive budget bill could eliminate a nearly 100-year-old tax on firearm silencers. [Reuters]
Trump Aims to Use More F.B.I., Drug and Gun Agents to Pursue Immigrants: The Justice Department plans to bolster enforcement and deportation work in 25 cities across the United States. [The New York Times]
Social Worker or AR-15? Portland Struggles Over How to Respond to People in Mental Health Crisis: As Portland, Oregon, weighs expansion of an alternative crisis-response program, new data shows that police often deploy force on residents who are unhoused or grappling with mental illness. [MindSite News and Medill Investigative Lab]
Domestic violence law named in memory of Karina Gonzalez took effect on Mother’s Day: Karina’s Law addresses several risks associated with guns and domestic violence. It’s named after Karina Gonzalez, whose husband allegedly shot and killed her and her 15-year-old daughter after Gonzalez submitted an order of protection against him. [WBEZ]
Did You Shoot Somebody in Self-Defense? There’s an Insurance Policy for That: Rising gun ownership and stand-your-ground laws drive a lucrative new market to insulate shooters from criminal and civil liability. [The Wall Street Journal]
Who Is Searching for Emmilee Risling?: More than three years after she disappeared, Emmilee Risling is the face of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People crisis. Her story draws attention to twin issues: Native Americans experience disproportionate rates of violence and homicide, and jurisdictional questions can lead to confusion about which law enforcement agencies lead investigations over tribal lands. [The New York Times]
In Memoriam
Qidere Johnson, 30, was on the way up. Known by his moniker LGP Qua, the Philadelphia rapper had made a name for himself with lyrics speaking out against violence. His mom was waiting for him to celebrate Mother’s Day when he was shot and killed. He called himself the “voice of the youth”: As LGP Qua, his music highlighted the struggles and strengths of young Philadelphians; he wanted to speak truth to power and steer kids in a positive direction. “He was bringing so much light. He was encouraging these young people,” a friend said. “He wanted to give sneakers, to buy water ice. He understood the craziness and systematic issues like these communities face and refused to let people dictate that these kids can’t change their lives.”
Spotlight on Solutions
In September 2020, Tina Sykes Mosley lost her son Marcus, a 28-year-old expecting father, to gun violence. In the years since, Mosley has kept his memory close: Every day, she looks at a photo of Marcus that sits in the living room of her Charlotte, North Carolina-area home. She’s also worked to make sure that other mothers in her situation have access to support, resources, and community as they mourn their loss. That’s the purpose of the nonprofit she founded after her son’s death: Mothers Advocating for Real Change and Unwavering Support, or M.A.R.C.U.S. for short.
Now, Mosely’s organization is partnering with the Union County District’s Attorney’s Office to create a local Homicide Victims Assistance Support Group. WCNC Charlotte has more.
Pull Quote
“These guys are able to reach people in the streets that most people are not able to reach. They have some reputable guys on their team who are able to say, ‘I don’t think you should do that. There’s no need for you guys to have guns, or to have a shootout, or to have a fight.’”
— Bilal Jacks, a barber in Brooklyn’s Brownsville neighborhood, on the work of community violence interrupters, to The Trace
