Friend,

When 18-year-old Tyjuan Malachi walked outside to wait for an Uber, he didn’t know his life was about to be stolen by gun violence.

He was shot in April in Pittsburgh while visiting family, planning to head home to Cleveland in just a few days.¹

Tyjuan isn't alone. Pittsburgh has seen a staggering 90% increase in shootings this year.² And nearly 800 people have been shot in Philadelphia this year, becoming the deadliest year on record if something doesn't change.³

We need to invest in safer communities. State Representative Bullock is proposing legislation that would create a competitive grant program to support effective, community-based violence intervention and prevention programs. Tell your Representative: Cosponsor legislation to invest in safer communities.

This Gun Violence Prevention Grant program would provide $30 million annually for three years to support evidence-based violence reduction initiatives focusing on the demographics most heavily impacted by gun violence, including youth.

In Philadelphia, 88% of youth were worried that gun violence would injure a friend or a loved one.⁴ And some students have even reported seeing classmates shot at during Zoom classes.⁵  An investment in school-based violence prevention programs would help reduce violence among youth.

And the legislation would pay for itself. The Commonwealth has lost over $2 billion to costs associated with gun violence, which would make the legislation's cost negligible compared to money saved.⁶

We see a bipartisan path forward for this critical legislation. By investing in targeted programming, the General Assembly can empower communities to take the unique approaches necessary to tackle violence.

Tell your Representative to cosponsor this legislation that would immediately allow targeted gun violence reduction across Pennsylvania.

Tyjuan deserved a long life surrounded by his family and friends. For him and for future generations, we must act now.

Adam Garber
Executive Director CeaseFirePA
 

¹Murray, Ashley and Lucretia Wimbley. “Officials plead for help as Pittsburgh sees 90% surge in violence in 2021.” Post-Gazette, April 2021.
²Ibid.
³Jacobo, Julia. "Gun Violence Continues as 11 are shot over 24 hours," ABC News, May 2021.
⁴CeaseFirePA Press Release. "Survey: Constant Worry from Gun Violence Taking Toll on Youth," January 2021.
⁵CeaseFirePA Press Release. "Advocates Want Mayor Kenney's Proposed Violence Prevention Budget to Go Further." April 2021.
⁶Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda, Gun Violence Prevention, March 17, 2021.