Gov. Wolf Announces $15 Million for Gun Violence Prevention, Calls for Partnership to Improve Community Safety, Equity

Governor Tom Wolf was joined by ​state Senate Democratic Appropriations Chairman Vincent Hughes in Philadelphia today to announce a $15 million increase in funding to ​further support grassroots gun violence prevention efforts through the Pennsylvania Commission for Crime and Delinquency's (PCCD) Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention program.

"Pennsylvania, and the nation, continue to fight a tragic gun violence crisis. We need to spark change at a local level, which is why I'm glad to commit an addition $15 million to community-based gun violence prevention programs," said Wolf. "But I also want to call on our legislators to partner with me over this next year to improve public safety and equity.

​"This investment is one piece of the puzzle, but we also need to address the systemic and structural issues that cause inequity-and harm-in our society," Gov. Wolf said. "We need to invest in schools, we need good jobs that pay fair wages, and we need to give communities across Pennsylvania the resources they need for a good quality of life."

PCCD ​initially had $8 million in state dollars for the next round of Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) grants to be funded this month. The extra $15 million announced today, available through the ​federal American Rescue Plan, will further extend the reach of community violence prevention programming in the commonwealth.

"We are grateful to the governor for his increasing commitment to neighborhood-based solutions and his faith in the people who are doing this incredibly challenging work," Hughes, Phila/Montgomery, said. "We know that the need is far greater than the funds available, but this announcement is another step toward closing that gap and helping families across Pennsylvania thrive in safer communities."

"Gun violence has had a devastating impact on communities in Philadelphia and across the commonwealth - tragically taking lives too soon and leaving families traumatized," House Democratic Leader Joanna McClinton, Phila/Delaware, said. "Working together we can make a difference. These violence prevention grants will help community groups strengthen and expand programs to prevent gun violence, keep our neighborhoods safe and save lives."

While gun violence is a statewide issue, it's most prevalent in urban areas where communities of color and low-income communities are disproportionately affected - as they are by so many forms of systemic inequality. Between 2019 and 2020, the number of fatal and nonfatal shootings in Philadelphia increased by nearly 48%, from 1,450 in 2019 to 2,139 in 2020. Pennsylvania was home to 1,752 fatal shootings in 2020 - a 13% increase from 2019.

Michelle Bolling, mother of Philadelphia gun violence survivor Sadiq Nelson, joined the governor to share their story. The day after turning 19 in 2020, Sadiq was hit by stray gunfire shot from a car window when he was leaving work. His shattered femur took months to heal, but the emotional trauma remains. While her son is still alive, Bolling knows many mothers in their community whose children did not survive gun violence.

"More people were murdered with guns in Pennsylvania in 2020 than any year on record. This important down payment will start to change that trend by investing in the community heroes who work tirelessly to staunch the bleeding," said Adam Garber, executive director, CeaseFire PA Education Fund. "I'm thankful Gov. Wolf, Sen. Hughes and so many others fought for this investment in safer communities. We each know it is dwarfed by the size of this public health crisis, which is why we need to provide even more resources to successful community solutions."

Gov. Wolf has worked throughout his administration to combat gun violence.

The 2022-23 budget will propose further support for violence prevention and reduction and law enforcement.

Note: Photo and video from today's event available at PACast.com.

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