Gun violence is a public health crisis

We don’t yet know the name of the victim of Friday’s tragic death on Willy St but I offer my condolences to family, friends and fellow workers of the victim and to the entire community as we grapple with the devastating effects of gun violence.  The Madison Police Department is actively investigating the incident on Friday, as well as two additional events this weekend. Early Sunday morning at least 10 people were shot at and wounded downtown and Sunday night two people were injured by gunfire on the east side. As a community, we must demand state and federal legislators limit access to guns and implement common sense gun laws to keep our communities safe. Each act of violence leaves behind trauma and suffering for the friends, family, and communities of those who have been harmed. Simply hearing the sound of gunshots ringing out in neighborhoods can be a traumatic experience for many.  We must do better. 

From the Mayor’s blog:

Before Friday, Madison had no reports of shots fired for five straight weeks. That needs to be the norm. This is a moment to refocus our efforts on ensuring the circumstances that lead to gun violence don’t happen in the first place. It shouldn’t be easier to buy a gun than cast a ballot.  

https://www.cityofmadison.com/news/2024-06-10/message-from-mayor-rhodes-conway-on-recent-incidents-of-gun-violence