Gun violence in America: The root causes and the importance of data for prevention strategies

Gun Violence is an issue in most cities across America. There are compounding factors that come into play that lead to the interaction between the shooter and the victim. Factors like disenfranchisement and poverty are some of the motivations that lead to this crime. Dr. Joseph Richardson is a professor of African American Studies in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Maryland. He has explored this topic on different investigations and is a part of crime intervention programs in Baltimore, MD. Dr. Richardson is an expert who shares why gun violence rises in the summer, the root cause of it, and why we need the data to create working strategies to save more lives.

“Science is critical in translating information into prevention and intervention strategies. We need data in order to create strategies that save more lives. Suppose we consider gun violence to be a disease. We need to take the same approach the science who created the vaccines for polio took to reduce the level of homicides and non-fatal shootings,” said Dr. Richardson.

Gun violence in most cities in America has been trending downward, according to the latest research from Dr. Richardson. Washington D.C., Dallas, TX, and Memphis, TN, are among the cities that have seen fewer homicides in 2024. Atlanta, GA, currently is at 78 homicides this year, according to the cobra report by The Atlanta Police Department. The most significant variable in this equation is the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Richardson explains that gun violence was at a 30-year high during the pandemic. The numbers recorded during this period rivaled what the early 1990s produced. Now, homicide numbers are dwindling back to the levels they were before the pandemic.

Poverty, mass incarceration, and disenfranchisement are some of the structural issues that lead to gun violence. Dr. Richardson references a study done by his colleague, Dr. Mudia Uzzi. The Johns Hopkins University professor shows in the study the relationship between redlining and Baltimore neighborhoods impacted by gun violence. Redlining denies people access to credit because of where they live, even if they are personally qualified for loans.

Dr. Richardson reveals that Summer is the season when gun violence rises. The University of Maryland Professor breaks down how this time of the year leads to more social interaction, but those in low-income areas who may not be able to afford air conditioning can be more flustered and less patient in moments of conflict.

“In the summertime, people may be a little bit more agitated and have less tolerance in terms of patience regarding conflict when more people are outside, which increases the likelihood of social interaction. Add that with the number of young people who are not in school and may not be engaged in summer youth employment programs, which are necessary also to keep a lid on gun violence during the summer months. You have this concoction, which is tailor-made for the increases in gun violence during those months,” said Dr. Ricahrdson.

Dr. Richardson got into this line of work because he witnessed gun violence growing up and lost good people from it. Dr. Richardson grew up in Philadelphia during the crack era. He saw the impact gun violence had on his community. A personal discovery he made while pursuing his Ph.D. was parenting. Dr. Richardson’s dissertation was on the social context of adolescent violence in Harlem, NY. In the early 2000s, he followed two 7th-grade classes and how they navigated violence in New York City. After speaking with parents, he learned about different parenting styles and how to raise children in low-income neighborhoods.

“I learned a lot from the parents in my study about the everyday challenges of parenting. Raising kids in disinvested communities that suffer from intergenerational poverty and trauma made me think a lot about my own upbringing. Parents are trying to keep their kids safe. Still, it is contingent on a parent’s skill set when navigating social systems in the community and the city government. Not all parents are equal regarding their knowledge about systems and resources.” said Dr. Richardson.

The University of Maryland professor has had a series of experiences that make him aware of what attributes a good violence prevention program possesses. Dr. Richards shares that a skilled and committed frontline staff is the first item a good program should have. Frontline staff members build trust and rapport with the community, particularly high-risk individuals. The next item would be an efficient community violence intervention model. This model would show how an organization would intervene when an intense situation arises.

Gun Violence is a matter that is not going anywhere anytime soon, but supporting the right programs in local communities can gradually shrink this problem.

The post Gun violence in America: The root causes and the importance of data for prevention strategies appeared first on The Atlanta Voice .