HAPPY NEW YEAR - 2025

The latest finalized data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, highlighting that 48,204 people, the second highest on record, died from gunshots in the U.S. in 2022, including 27,032 suicides, an all-time high for the country.

2025 New Year's Resolution

What is the definition for A New Year's resolution?  

It is a promise to do something differently in the new year. It can be a personal or professional goal that one aims to achieve in the year ahead. As 2024 has drawn to a close, 2025 presents a new opportunity to ask the question "What will make a difference in our community" and renewing the opportunity to identify what are the  things that matter to you. The year 2024 was challenging for many of us; with the year ending in a horrific, sorrowful way.  Madison police continue to search for a motive for the shooting that took place at Abundant Life Christian School, a private, K-!2 Christian School in Madison. Police Chief Shon Barnes, who in February 2025 will be leaving his position as the Madison Police Chief to assume the new role as head of the Seattle Police Department, said "enough is enough". A new report from the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions underscores the continuing epidemic of gun deaths in the U.S. For the third straight year, firearms killed more children and teens, ages 1 to 17, than any other cause including car crashes and cancer.  The report highlights firearms as the leading cause of death for children and teens, and disproportionately affect youth of color. (Published September 12, 2024, publichealth, jhu.edu) The shooting in Madison brought the number of people killed in U.S. school shootings in 2024 to 13. 

Question - How long do New Year's resolutions typically last? The average New Year's resolution lasts less than four months, according to a 2023 Forbes Health/OnePoll survey. The week just before the Christmas school break, our community was shaken to the  core. Triggered by a 911 "Active Shooter" call from a second graded teacher. Subsequent local and national news reported the shooting. It was powerful to witness the outpouring of compassion and support following the shooting at Abundant Life Christian School.on Monday, December 16, 2024. One writer shared...Let us continue to pray for Abundant Life Christian School, students, families, teachers, administrators and our community. We will not soon forget Monday, December 16, nor the aftermath. 

Focus Group Forming -  Safe Madison: Access to Guns

What is the definition of "focus group"? A focus group is a research method that brings together a small group of people to answer  questions in a moderated setting. The goal of a focus group is to gain insight into the experiences and perspectives of the participants. The group is chosen due to a predefined demographic traits, and the questions are designed to shed light on a specific topic of interest. 

Interested? Please email: district20@cityofmadison.com - Safe Madison: Access to Guns for additional information.