MEMPHIS, Tenn. —
Already in 2024, there have been 44 homicides reported and at least 12 children treated for gunshot wounds.
In response, the Gun Violence Prevention Steering Committee is taking proactive steps towards tackling gun violence in Memphis.
This week, a newly formed committee took their concerns to state lawmakers in Nashville, advocating for stricter gun laws.
Now, they are back in Memphis actively seeking solutions.
The committee is made up of faith leaders, community organizations and healthcare professionals, like pediatrician Dr. Jason Yaun.
"Gun violence is the leading cause of death for children in our state, so it is a very critical issue,” said Yaun.
The African American Clergy Collective of Tennessee is one of nearly a dozen groups in the committee. Executive director, Shirley Bondon, said it was time to take a stand.
"Our elected officials don't have the will or the desire to pass much of the gun safety legislation. so, rather than throw up our hands, we needed to do something ourselves,” said Bondon.
The Steering Committee is spreading awareness about gun violence, prevention programs and intervention programs. They also plan to educate people on safely storing guns. Dr. Yaun said gun violence is having a detrimental effect on communities.
"Even being a bystander or witness or just having that exposure in the community is something that is having a devastating impact,” said Dr. Yaun.
This is why unlike other groups, the steering committee plans to tackle gun violence like a public health emergency.
"Similar to what has worked for smoking and motor vehicle crashes. How can we better track data around this? How can we scale up interventions that we know are already working in communities and already based on evidence?” said Dr. Yaun.
They hope to get to the root of gun violence and make a real change.
"This has happened over time. So, in order to end this, we know it's going to take time to do so,” said Bondon.
The Gun Violence Prevention Steering Committee includes representatives from the following organizations:
- African American Clergy Collective of Tennessee
- Tennessee Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
- A. Philip Randolph Institute
- AWAKE Tennessee
- Mothers Over Murder
- Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi
- Rise and Shine Tennessee
- Stand for Children Tennessee
- Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic & Sexual Violence
- Tennessee Disability Coalition
- Tennessee Equality Project
So far, the have only had three meetings, with just one of them being public. That public meeting was at the Collage Dance Collective in Binghamton on Wednesday, Feb. 28.