As we head towards the holidays and a new year, far too many families in Philadelphia will have empty seats at their dinner tables. News reports indicate that more than 110 teens and children have been hit by gunfire in Philadelphia in 2019. These children and teens have been shot walking home from school, standing on the street, attending sporting events and practices, participating in average, day-to-day activities. The toll of daily gun violence is having a devastating effect on families. The deadly year in Philadelphia is not unique, but it should never be accepted as normal.
Despite the fact that 100 Americans are killed every single day in this country and gun homicide overwhelmingly affects communities of color, these deaths rarely make the national news. They rarely get mentioned outside of the local papers. These deaths are marked with small memorials, not huge vigils or viral hashtags. Community gun violence is an unspoken epidemic that many in America — including many of those elected to public office — choose to look away from.
Philadelphia and the entire state of Pennsylvania need action at the state and federal level to address these tragic deaths. So far their state has refused to even hold hearings on gun violence prevention measures. At the federal level, gun violence prevention measures that could make a difference in Pennsylvania have…
