Jun 16, 2022

Weekly Brief on Gun Violence Prevention in Philadelphia

By The Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting • Issue #50 • View online

Each week we share news from the our center plus updates on gun violence and prevention in Philadelphia from our partners at Billy Penn.

Above: Walter Willis and Tashawn Strother. Photograph by Dan Colavito.

• Last week we introduced Stronger Every Day: Healing After Gun Violence from our Credible Messenger Reporting Project. Community journalist Tashawn Strother hosts this audio documentary sharing her family’s journey after her son Walter Willis was shot and critically wounded on New Year’s Eve in 2019.

Now, you can hear from another crucial perspective as well:

New podcast highlights the journey of Philadelphia shooting survivor | WITF

• Our Director of Research Dr. Jessica Beard was interviewed recently about her role in “Stronger Every Day: Healing After Gun Violence.”

www.witf.org • Share

Weekly Brief from Billy Penn

Philadelphia is about to announce a fifth round of anti-violence grants to community groups, but it turns out several earlier grantees still haven’t been paid. Of 41 awardees so far, only 12 have most of the money in hand. [WHYY]
The city announced plans to install 100 security cameras near 19 schools where students have been affected by gun violence. The move comes a month after district middle schools started to screen students for weapons. [Chalkbeat/6ABC]
In solidarity with the big March for Our Lives rally in DC, about 200 people demonstrated Saturday in West Philly to press for gun restrictions. [CBS3]
A bipartisan group of senators reached a deal on new federal gun regulations, with 11 Republicans — including Pa.’s Toomey — tentatively agreeing to sign on. [Texas Tribune/Hill/Tribune-Review]

By the numbers

Philadelphia Shooting Victims Dashboard

Public data now indicate more than 1,000 people shot so far this year in Philadelphia, including 203 fatalities and 814 others wounded.

www.pcgvr.org • Share

24: People shot in Philadelphia during the seven-day period ending Sunday night, according to the weekly major crimes report published Monday by Philadelphia Police. The previous week’s total was revised up from 51 to 78 shooting victims, the highest weekly total in more than a year, and we expect this week’s total to be revised up significantly as well.

[Philadelphia Police via Google Drive]

49: People shot in Philadelphia during the seven-day period ending Sunday night, according to the Shooting Victims data set maintained by Philadelphia Police and published on the same day as the report above.

[data.phila.gov]

228: Year-to-date total homicides reported to Philadelphia Police through last night.

104: Year-to-date homicides recorded in Philadelphia as of the same date in 2015.

[PhillyPolice.com]

Just when we needed some good news

The Trace Is Hiring a Local Reporter in Philadelphia

“You’ll find and report stories that are fueled by and are accountable to our primary audience: people in Philadelphia affected by gun violence.”

www.thetrace.org • Share

On the media

How media should cover gun violence : NPR

“What is going to help Americans understand not just this day but this broader issue?”

www.npr.org • Share

The gun crisis more of us should be talking about

“We must not limit the conversation about gun violence to mass shootings and AR-15s.”

www.phillytrib.com • Share

Opinion

Philly knows how to fix its gun violence problem. So what's the hold up?

“What’s both fascinating and alarming is that all the answers are there in plain view.”

thephiladelphiacitizen.org • Share

In memoriam

Cameron Scott-Bey, 19, clever artist and sensitive soul

“If you ever felt like there was nobody there for you or nobody who loved you, if you knew him, you knew he did.”

www.phillyobitproject.com • Share

Inside PCGVR

• Our center is operating with light staffing this week. We will be back up to speed soon but if you would like to help grow our team and avoid periods like this, please consider supporting the Initiative for Better Gun Violence Reporting. [WeDidIt]

• Meanwhile, it’s always a good week to spend more time with…

Our community reporters: The Credible Messenger Reporting Project
Our professional development initiative: Better Gun Violence Reporting
Our research collaborative: Research at the Center
And our local reporting resources: Philadelphia
More: About | Data | Contact

Please visit: PCGVR.org

Reporting on community gun violence and prevention comes with special challenges, responsibilities and opportunities. The Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting wants to help.

www.pcgvr.org • Share

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By The Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting

Reporting on gun violence comes with exceptional challenges, responsibilities and opportunities. The Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting wants to help.

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