Everytown/Moms Demand Action: “A Victory for the Gun Violence Prevention Movement;” Promise Neighborhoods of Lehigh Valley: “Each Dollar Is a Down Payment on the Lives and Well-Being of Pennsylvanians”
HARRISBURG – Grassroots advocates, survivors and family members impacted by gun violence, and community-based organizations across the Commonwealth are praising investments in Governor Josh Shapiro’s budget plan that would help to prevent gun violence.
“We are making progress in many Pennsylvania communities to make our neighborhoods safer, but there is still much work to be done — and too many lives lost to the epidemic of gun violence,” said Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, who chairs the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. “The Shapiro-Davis budget includes strategic investments totaling $100 million and creates a new office to address gun violence, so we can coordinate a statewide response that brings together the knowledge, expertise and resources from across state government.”
From Brady:
“We cannot free ourselves from gun violence without broad investments into research-backed solutions to interrupt the sources and cycles that continue to plague our communities. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is taking a critical step towards a safer future for all Pennsylvanians. By ensuring the supply side of crime guns is addressed and the gun industry is held accountable, this budgetary allocation will be impactful in putting a stop to this public health crisis for not just the Keystone State but the surrounding region. Brady applauds the Shapiro administration for this historic move.” – Kris Brown, President of Brady
From Everytown and Moms Demand Action:
“Today is a victory for the gun violence prevention movement and our efforts to support the communities most affected,” said Gina Pelusi, the legislative lead with the Pennsylvania chapter of Moms Demand Action and an Everytown Survivor Network Fellow. “The crisis of gun violence affects communities across the Commonwealth everyday, and preventing it requires a whole-of-government approach. We’re grateful to have partners in Governor Shapiro and Lieutenant Governor Davis who recognize this and are taking important steps to further support our communities with today’s announcement.”
From Adam Garber of CeaseFirePA:
“By letting the green flow from Harrisburg, Gov. Shapiro’s budget will staunch the red from flowing in communities throughout Pennsylvania… the creation of a dedicated Office of Gun Violence Prevention under Lt. Governor Davis’ leadership will help dollars reach even further into our communities and support local groups who have been so busy developing innovative solutions that they may have missed out on applying for and receiving critical funding.”
From Dr. Hassan Batts of Promise Neighborhoods of Lehigh Valley:
“Gun violence remains the leading cause of death of children under 18 in Pennsylvania, and continued investments in gun violence reduction programs will divert children to graduation instead of the grave. We appreciate the Governor’s continued investments in community-led initiatives to end gun violence across Pennsylvania. Each dollar is a downpayment on the lives and well-being of Pennsylvanians making it through a crisis and then thriving.“
From Dr. Dorothy Johnson-Speight of Mothers in Charge, Inc.:
“I will never lose the pain of having lost my child. But today’s budget will help ensure more mothers don’t have to feel the same pain by helping kids puts the guns down and stopping trafficking that costs too many lives. We look forward to working with Gov. Shapiro and Lt. Gov. Davis on saving the next child’s life.”
From Deacon Keith G. Kondrich of Foundation of HOPE:
“Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has proposed investing $100 million in state-wide gun violence prevention programing and education…. We urge all Pennsylvanians to support Gov. Shapiro’s proposal. Contact your elected representatives and strongly encourage them to invest in community-centered programs that intervene before a shooting, stop the illegal flow of guns into our communities, and use evidenced-based research to guide future policies and initiatives… Gov. Shapiro is proposing concrete action. Lets not waste any more time or lives!”
###