Last month, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy declared gun violence a public health crisis. Surprisingly, this is the first advisory on gun violence ever issued by the surgeon general’s office. The advisory report acknowledges the devastating impact of gun violence on families and the increase in firearm-related suicide, especially among younger people.
In 1995, I experienced the agony of losing a child to gun violence. There is no pain on earth like losing a son or daughter in that way. A part of me went down in the grave with my son. In 2022, more than 48,000 people died from firearm-related injuries, according to the surgeon general’s report.
Over the Fourth of July weekend in Chicago, more than 100 people were shot and 19 killed. Last week, mail carrier Octavia Redmond was gunned down during the day while delivering mail on the Far South Side. The level of gun violence in Chicago is destroying the soul of our city and nation. According to national data for 2023 from the nonprofit Gun Violence Archive, 300 children age 11 and younger were killed by guns as well as 1,406 victims between the ages of 12 and 17. The trauma and mental health anguish imposed on families and residents is insufferable. A 2022 study by Everytown for Gun Safety found gun violence costs the country $557 billion annually.
Mayor Brandon Johnson, during a news conference with police leadership after the Fourth of July violence, said he was heartbroken and there would be consequences for those “wreaking havoc on my streets.” Johnson’s words have not slowed the ferocity of gun violence in the city. The Black community is being decimated by guns while Black elected leaders turn a blind eye to lives cut short too soon. They eloquently shout “enough is enough,” but the violence continues unabated on their watch — shattering the hopes and dreams of those wrapped in the darkness of poverty.
“Black persons endured the highest age‑adjusted firearm homicide rates across all ages,” the surgeon general’s report revealed. Black people make up 29% of the population in Chicago, but more than 70% of the shootings over the Fourth of July weekend happened in Black-majority communities. Two researchers recently found that if you were a young man living in Garfield Park in 2020 or 2021, your risk of dying by firearm violence was three times greater than the risk faced by troops in Afghanistan and four times greater than the risk of combat death in Iraq, they wrote in an op-ed for the Tribune last year.
Most Chicago City Council members have raised their pay to $145,974. They have failed at their most basic responsibility — the safety of their constituents. The violence in Chicago does not respect age or gender — babies, teenagers, senior citizens and women are victims.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently announced a $100 million investment by civic and business leaders to curtail surging gun violence. I applaud the business community for stepping up. However, throwing money at this problem without accountability measures for ensuring the resources reach those most in need is counterproductive. Black and brown children living in poverty are at a significant disadvantage. Their parents lack the economic security to provide for a good education.
There is an African proverb that says, “The ruin of a nation begins in the homes of its people.” Growing up in Louisiana, my siblings and I were accountable to my mother and father. We were taught right from wrong at an early age. There was discipline, and that is missing.
The following are a few suggestions to reduce gun violence:
- Johnson should allow law enforcement to do its job. Provide police officers the resources they need to prevent and solve crimes. Strictly enforce the law.
- Pritzker, Johnson and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle should coordinate resources and direct economic empowerment tools to areas with the highest crime and poverty. Create a fund to allow citizens to access capital for new businesses.
- Business leaders should provide entrepreneurship opportunities to residents from high crime ZIP codes.
- Labor unions should target training and apprenticeship opportunities to high crime ZIP codes.
- Johnson should use sister agencies such as the CTA to provide contracts and job opportunities for high-crime areas.
- The U.S. attorney general should prosecute more gun cases, such as those targeting postal workers.
Elected leaders must apply common sense to deal with gun violence. Too many guns are flowing into the hands of people who should not have them. Democrats, Republicans and independents should find common ground on sensible restrictions and background checks. In September, President Joe Biden created the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Perhaps their work will help save the soul of America.
I write this commentary to make those comfortable with high numbers of Americans being shot and killed uncomfortable.
Willie Wilson is a business owner, philanthropist and former mayoral candidate.
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