City Leaders Address Baltimore Gun Violence As 'Public Health Crisis'

Baltimore City leaders addressed gun violence as a public health crisis at a meeting Wednesday night while looking for alternate ways to curb the violence plaguing the city, according to WBAL-TV 11's Tre Ward.

City council members, leaders, residents and experts packed into City Hall Wednesday night to address gun violence as the city's homicide rate is at 283 so far this year.

The large group discussed ways to reduce the city's homicide rate while looking to consider gun violence in Baltimore, a public health crisis.

"We mourn the loss of 283 people who have been lost to violence in Baltimore City." City Councilman Kristerfer Burnett said at the meeting. "Unfortunately, these facts are not surprising for anyone in Baltimore as the disease of gun violence has been an issue for a very long time."

The city's health department reports that firearm homicide is the leading cause of death for people ages 25 and under in Baltimore City. The health department said in 2017, 30% of gun victims were within the same age range.

"We're slaughtering our children right now. These children are carrying around trauma similar to some of these young people in war-torn countries like Afghanistan," Antonio Moore, of Challenge 2 Change, said at the meeting.

Council members said to the group if gun violence is considered a public health crisis, it could lead to further funding for programs to address the issue in the city.

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