Discussions at Delaware's gun violence roundtable reveal advancements, yet enduring disparities in gun ownership and fatalities persist, particularly among different age groups and races.
Gun Violence in Delaware: A Persisting Challenge and Efforts Towards Change
Delaware is grappling with a rising gun death rate, significant racial disparities in gun homicides, and the increasing presence of high-capacity and military-style firearms among youth. Despite ranking 13th lowest in gun death rate nationally in 2023, the state saw an 8% increase in gun deaths from 2014 to 2023.
Black males aged 15-34, who constitute about 3% of the state population, accounted for 40% of all gun homicide deaths, indicating stark racial and age disparities. Wilmington police have reported young people, including as young as 12 years old, carrying high-caliber handguns and automatic weapons, raising concerns about firearm access to minors.
Gabby Giffords, a former Arizona Congresswoman who was a victim of a mass shooting, joined Delaware Congresswoman Sarah McBride in hosting a roundtable discussion on gun violence. The discussion aimed to address these challenges and explore potential solutions.
Initiatives to address these challenges include advocacy for evidence-based firearm safety laws and increased funding for public health and violence prevention efforts in the state. The Delaware Division of Public Health and allied organizations have prioritized advocating for stronger firearm safety legislation, supporting community violence reduction programs, and expanding public health infrastructure and services.
One such violence reduction effort is the BBC (Build Back Community) initiative, which has started in Knollwood, Claymont, as part of New Castle County's strategy to curb violence. Stakeholders have highlighted the need for greater financial resources to sustain these efforts, expressing concern about federal funding cuts to agencies like the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), which are critical to preventing violent crime.
The roundtable participants credited the Group Violence Intervention project created by former Gov. John Carney for helping combat gun violence in the state. They also pointed to drops in domestic violence fatalities as a sign of successful collaboration and data sharing efforts.
In summary, Delaware faces challenges of increasing gun deaths, especially among young Black males, proliferation of high-powered firearms among youth, and insufficient funding. Responses involve legislative advocacy for firearm safety, community violence interventions, and bolstering public health infrastructure to reduce gun violence statewide.
- Science and policy-and-legislation have become integral as stakeholders advocate for evidence-based firearm safety laws to address rising gun violence in Delaware.
- The health-and-wellness of Delaware's youth is a concern as young people, including minors, are found carrying high-caliber handguns and automatic weapons, contributing to the general-news topic of gun violence.
- In the realm of crime-and-justice, the Roundtable discussion on gun violence, led by Gabby Giffords and Delaware Congresswoman Sarah McBride, is a significant step towards addressing mental-health aspects of gun violence by exploring potential solutions.
