As gun violence rises across the country, organizations are arranging more programming to help protect community members from gun deaths. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released data for gun-related homicides in 2021. An estimated 20,966 homicides occurred in the U.S. in 2021; data tables display more than an 8% increase from 2020’s record-breaking data. African American persons continued to experience the highest firearm homicide rates across every age group. The CDC also reported that guns are the leading cause of death for U.S. children and teens, surpassing car accidents in 2020.
The East Cleveland Police Department (ECPD) and community partners aim to combat these and other gun-related statistics with the “One Gun at a Time” initiative. Empowerment Church partners with M-Pac of Cleveland, Strong Hands United and JJ’s Village to provide information on the Be Smart Program, End Family Fire and Safe Storage during the One Gun at a Time event at Forest Hill Park. The partners welcome community members to turn in useless guns being stored in homes. Guns can be turned in at the Shaw Alumni picnic on Sunday, Sept. 3 from noon until 4 p.m.
Organizers would like readers to know that the event is not a buy back program with incentives, but a chance for participants to surrender unloaded guns; no questions will be asked. They are also asking community members to help prevent homicides, chances of children finding guns in homes, suicide attempts and gun-related domestic violence occurrences: ONE GUN AT A TIME.
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