By Judge Greg Mathis

Guns kill nearly 30,000 Americans every year. Only automobile crashes kill more people. Unfortunately, it appears firearm deaths won’t decrease any time soon: Incidents of gun-related deaths, including suicide, are on the rise. This, despite the fact that crime in America is at a 30-year low.
The Chicago-based Joyce Foundation, as part of an ongoing effort to end gun violence, recently partnered with The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and issued a report that provides recommendations for reducing gun violence.  With so many Americans dying senselessly each year at the hands of guns, it is time for the U.S. government to take real action to end the violence. This report points us in that direction.
In their report, the Joyce Foundation and IACP make what seem to be fairly simple recommendations, including requiring that all gun sales take place through federally licensed dealers, restoring funding to crime fighting programs and mandating that private citizens safely store firearms. Simple in theory, the proposals would require a coordinated effort between federal and local governments, law enforcement and the community to actually make a difference.  Without the necessary funding to fully realize these ideas, the plan just falls flat.
With proper support, crime-fighting programs co-designed by community members – law enforcement and citizens working together – can be put into place around the country. In some neighborhoods, such a program would have police officers patrolling beats on foot, familiarizing themselves with residents and ‘hot spots’ for crime. In other areas, it would involve working with community organizations to encourage residents to report or turn in unregistered/illegal firearms. The possibilities are endless, but only with adequate funding.
Government must also get stiff on gun laws. Instead of bowing to the powerful pro-gun lobby, which spends millions each year to make sure lawmakers support their interests, Washington must consider the safety of the American public. Gun sales should be highly regulated and easily tracked. Individuals with a violent past should not be allowed to purchase guns. Penalties for those who are caught with them should be stiff. 
Most Americans support gun laws that make sense. We all want to keep our families safe.  Yet, year after year, more Americans die at the hands of guns. It is time that this country puts its resources behind a sound prevention plan.  Joyce Foundation and IACP have laid the groundwork. Now it is time for the federal government to build upon that and develop a strategy that can be implemented on a national level. 

Editor’s note: Judge Greg Mathis is the national vice president of Rainbow PUSH and a national board member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

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