Stopping Gun Violence

As two families and the community at large mourn the loss of two young men to gun violence, some have raised the question of how to prevent illegal guns from coming into the city.

The U.S. Department of Justice has published information on the scope of the problem and also some strategies that have been applied to reduce gun trafficking. Click here to see more.

Operation Ceasefire, a program initiated in Boston, is mentioned as having some success in reducing the number of illegal guns on the street. Plainfield had its own version for a while until it was stopped by budget cuts affecting the Union County Prosecutor's Office.

Perhaps the most prominent advocate of gun control is the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. Its web site tells of efforts spanning four decades, what has been accomplished and what remains to be done. Click here to learn more.

A few years ago, it was a common thing to hear gunshots in the early morning coming from the vicinity of Park and Fifth. Sometimes the volleys were followed by sirens of police cars, then an ambulance. The sound of a helicopter coming in at 2:30 or 3 a.m. was most ominous, as it signaled an effort to take somebody to a trauma center for life-threatening injuries.

Our neighborhood around Park & Seventh also saw some fatal daylight shootings. These are even more scary than the ones that happen when most folks are home in bed. Both the recent fatalities took place in broad daylight.

It can never be known whether the $1 million proposed gunshot detection system would have made any difference in the two deaths now being mourned. Some say street intelligence is the key to knowing who has illegal guns and is likely to use them. Surveillance cameras may be another deterrent.

Meanwhile, it is a very sad time for the city. Our condolences to all who are grieving.

--Bernice