Decrease in Shootings and Killings in Portland, Oregon
Impact of Gun Violence Emergency Declaration
According to Katu 2 ABC, shootings and killings in Portland, Oregon, have gone down a bit lately but the state still ranks as one of the top ten most dangerous in the country for gun violence and property crimes. Even though there are fewer shootings and killings now compared to before people are still worried. In the first part of 2022, there were 483 shootings and 34 killings. By 2024, those numbers dropped to 285 shootings and 25 killings.
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(PHOTO: Wikipedia)
Activists’ Perspectives on Addressing Gun Violence
Mayor Ted Wheeler declared a gun violence emergency in 2022 which might have helped bring the numbers down. Community activists like Lionel Irving and Bretto Jackson think this emergency got people to act quickly. They also believe that putting away big shooters in jail could have made a difference. However, Jackson says just putting people in jail isn’t the answer. He thinks there should be more programs to help people before they get into trouble.
Urgency of Addressing Gun Violence
Irving and Jackson want everyone to take gun violence seriously like they do with the fentanyl epidemic. They say it’s crucial to find solutions that work and to support organizations doing good work. They believe that by doing this, they can help save young lives and make the community safer.
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