Hundreds of advocates gather in Harrisburg to push for gun violence prevention, emphasizing a 38% decrease in gun deaths over the past two years. Adam Garber, executive director of CeaseFire PA, points to this change as a critical step in saving lives, as community-driven efforts gain traction and support for Governor Josh Shapiro’s proposed budget increase for violence intervention programs grows.
Amid calls for universal background checks and a ban on ghost guns, advocates raise concerns over alarming suicide rates, which account for nearly 60% of Pennsylvania’s gun deaths in 2023. Larry Harris, an outreach worker, notes the urgency of addressing suicides among youth, while Dr. Jay Breneman stresses the importance of community discussions around mental health and firearms to help change the narrative surrounding suicide prevention.
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