A little scary - where's the "Brotherly Love"?
At least 10 people died over the weekend as bullets cut through several Philadelphia neighborhoods - including Center City, where homicides are rare - and at a barbecue in West Philadelphia. At least nine others were wounded in shootings or stabbings. Despite the national spotlight on gun violence after the Virginia Tech massacre and at least three antiviolence conferences held in Philadelphia last week, the homicide toll climbed to 127 (from the Philadelphia Inquirer).
It's awfully scary that Philadelphia's murder rate has skyrocketed this year!! The latest count, 127 murders year-to-date in Philly is higher than the number of murders in New York City this year! While most of these murders are happening in poorer areas and involve young african americans shooting one another, some of this is hitting closer to home. We live in Centery City, where one of the murders occurred - its about 12 blocks from where we live, but just two blocks away from where we had dinner on Saturday night. And a few weeks ago there was a shooting at a bar less than 2 blocks from our apartment building.
More than 100 murders so far this year, more than 80 percent of them involving handguns. More than 400 shootings, an average of five a day. A 40 percent increase in homicides since 2002. Almost 85 percent of shooters and victims have criminal records. More than $100 million in hospital charges for assault-related medical care. Not enough jobs or social services, and way too many guns. (more from the Inquirer)
Gun control anyone??? I don't usually like to get involved in political debates, but I find it UNBELIEVABLE that PA officials are opposed to enacting a law that would limit people to only able to buy one firearm a month. It drives me nuts that they claim this is infringing second amendment rights. All these nutty officials from rural, hunting-land, middle of nowhere, PA are dictating legislation that is perpetuating the increase in homicides witnessed in Philly. Drives me nuts!!!!
