John,

In 2022 alone, over 1500 people have been shot in Philadelphia with over 350 homicides. The New York Times referred to Philadelphia as “awash with guns” — even when compared to larger cities like Los Angeles and New York.

This is beyond a public health crisis for our city — people are literally afraid to venture out and live their lives. Do you agree?

This is a problem that will take all of us to solve — elected officials, trusted leaders, and community members alike will need to come together to have hard conversations that cut through the noise and focus on the actionable steps our city can take RIGHT NOW.

That’s why Derek introduced MULTIPLE pieces of actionable legislation this past year:

• His recruitment bill will increase the number of police cadets to address the police staffing crisis;
• His bill waiving Philadelphia’s police residency requirement to address our city’s police shortage; and
• His body armor bill will close a loophole in unregistered weapons sales by ensuring that body armor purchases are reported and prevent these senseless tragedies from ever occurring.

Derek is always bringing real solutions to the table, but even more than legislation, Derek is working with local law enforcement to strengthen community relations and ensure accountability. 

John, what do you think about our city’s current gun violence epidemic? Let us know your thoughts so we can have a more nuanced and full conversation on our team.

We appreciate you taking the time to engage with us,

Team Green