OPINION: Combating gun violence in Brooklyn, beyond
Last month, a growing number of cities across the nation participated in Gun Violence Awareness Month with community activists as well as elected officials hosting rallies, town hall meetings and a range of activities all aimed at combating gun violence. But now that the curtains have gone down on this vital concentrated effort, the question of “What’s next?” remains.
Nationally, at least 32,000 people a year are killed by guns. As such, gun-related violence and deaths have become not just a public safety issue, but also a public health concern. In fact, firearms remain the only consumer product not regulated by the federal government for health and safety compliance, yet more and more Americans are dying from guns than automobile accidents year after year.