1993_1115.ws_packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

RAMSEY COUNTY LEAGUE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ACTION PLAN for THE RAMSEY COUNTY GUN VIOLENCE PREvENnoN immAnvE based e€�BE the RCLLO Town Meetin& August iS, 1993 hatioductio-m-The Nature dthe Lghlgm Ramsey County, like most urban counties across the oountry, is facing rising rates of violence committed with guns. In 1992, Saint Paul bad a record number 31 homicides. 1$ of these were committed with firoarms. Across the river in Hennepin County, MirineapoIis had a near record 62 homicides, mauy of which were committed with firearm. In addition to these acts of violence, fi were used in hundreds of assaults, drive-by and ambush shootings, and_robberies throughout Ramsey County and the 'Twin Cities Metropolitan Area. The rise in gun violence has a tremendous destabalizing effect on a community. Play grounds which were previously places for children's entertainment become empty testimonses to the effects of random violence. Sebools begin to loose then effectiveness because students, although relatively safe within the school walls, spend time thinking about the violence they may face when they leave. Businesses invest vital resources on security rather than jobs and wages. Neighbors spend their time hiding behind locked doors and closed windows rather than meeting sech other and working together to solve the community's problems. A single shooting can result in a siege mentality being developed throughout a community. Multiple shootings only enhance this problem. The rise in gur► violence has practical impacts beyond the psychological wounds it i cts on our neighborhoods. The costs to local governments to enforce and prosecute gun Yaws keeps those same govcrnments from put t itheir funds into prevention programs.Treating firearm inju�ies costs this nation 14 billion annUaly to medical bills. This money is sorely needed for education and fob creation, both items that will help solve some of the social ills that xestilt in vio]ont behavior. .. .�,J M A,'. fit�: C COStS.tOy .. m �icaxeerate violent offenders continues to e as the number of prosecutions increase and the sentences for these prosecutions are lenZbened. We are all continually being forced to pay for the "pound of cure" rather than the "ounce of prevention,'"