Bronx Leaders Address Rising Teen Gun Violence Amidst Overall Shooting Decline

Teen Gun Violence on the Rise

• ⚠️ Bronx leaders are sounding the alarm about a disturbing trend of teen gun violence increasing, despite an overall decline in shootings in the borough.
• 🎯 In June, during Gun Violence Awareness Month, 108 people had been shot in the Bronx, with 13 of them being under the age of 18.
• 🚨 NYPD statistics show that while overall shootings are down nearly 20%, the involvement of teens as both victims and suspects is on the rise.
• ⚖️ Disturbingly, in recent months, 13, 14, and 15-year-olds have been charged with fatal shootings, including a case where a 14-year-old was charged in the murder of a 16-year-old hit by a stray bullet.

Intervention and Prevention Programs

• 🌱 To break the cycle of violence, Bronx leaders are actively promoting youth intervention programs.
• 💡 One such program, Aim High, has helped young individuals like Adrien Shaw, providing opportunities for leadership development and career opportunities to steer them away from dangerous situations.

Legislative Efforts

• 📜 Bronx leaders are also pushing for federal legislation to ban ghost guns.
• 🤝 They are collaborating with Governor Kathy Hochul to strengthen New York state laws and close loopholes in the manufacturing of ghost guns.
• 💬 It is emphasized that collective effort from everyone is crucial to making the streets safer for the community.