Title
Authorizing a joint hearing between the Committee on Public Safety and the Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs to examine the presence of firearms in public recreation spaces, the enforcement of existing laws, and strategies to reduce gun violence in parks and playgrounds across the City of Philadelphia.
Body
WHEREAS, Philadelphia's homicide rate in 2025 declined to its lowest level in roughly 60 years; however, despite this progress, there were still at least 935 recorded shooting victims, with the vast majority of shootings concentrated in a small number of neighborhoods. Research underscores this disparity: a Pew Research Center analysis of 2022-2024 data found that nearly 40% of shootings occurred in just 12 of Philadelphia's 159 neighborhoods, demonstrating that gun violence remains highly localized rather than Citywide; and
WHEREAS, Gun violence continues to disproportionately impact young Black males, with a University of Pennsylvania report estimating that approximately one in eight Black males in Philadelphia will be shot or killed before the age of 25, underscoring the urgent need to protect young people and ensure that public spaces, especially City parks and recreation facilities remain safe and free from gun violence, and the City of Philadelphia has implemented measures to address these concerns; and
WHEREAS, Children and adolescents remain disproportionately affected by firearm violence. Public health research from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia PolicyLab indicates that nearly all pediatric firearm injuries and deaths occur in low-opportunity neighborhoods, with approximately 96 percent affecting Black and Hispanic youth, and that children in these neighborhoods are more than twice as likely to be injured or killed by a firearm; and
WHEREAS, Juvenile involvement in nonfatal shootings is increasing. Data reported by the District Attorney's Office shows that 49 juveniles were charged in connection with nonfatal sh...
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