Councilwoman Cindy Bass’ (8th District) statement on gun violence and specifically the Monday morning shooting near Central High School.
“While I am grateful to hear that the child who was shot this morning near Central High School is in stable condition, I am deeply disturbed that the shooting took place at all.
It is absolutely unacceptable to think that students would be unsafe near their schools. Schools are supposed to be safe spaces, but because of a proliferation of guns and violence around the country and within the City of Philadelphia, this is idea is changing.
In Philadelphia, there have been at least 243 victims of homicide according to Philadelphia police data as of Sunday, September 23 at 11:59 p.m., the 265th day of 2018.
The total number of gun violence victims is even more startling, with more than 1,700 people shot to date according to the most recent police data. The neighborhoods surrounding Central High School have seen more than 236 shooting victims to date. It’s egregious and frightening when a student is shot near or in a school, but our young people are at risk no matter where they are. The truth is that the crisis of gun violence is plaguing neighborhoods across the City and around the 8th District.
Enough is enough. We need comprehensive gun control measures that address legal gun buyers battling mental illness along with illegal gun sales on the street, which often put guns in the hands of our children. I will continue to work with police, government officials and neighborhood groups to bring awareness to and help end gun violence in our communities. I hope and pray that our state and congressional lawmakers take seriously the daily looming threats to our children’s safety and enact measures that can save lives rather than save guns.”
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Councilwoman Cindy Bass represents the 8th Council District, which includes Germantown, Mt. Airy, Nicetown, Tioga, Chestnut Hill, portions of Logan, Olney, Feltonville and West Oak Lane. She is Chair of Council’s committees on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs and Public Health and Human Services.
