In any city, there is a small number of very high-risk individuals who are responsible for the majority of gun violence.”
—David Mohammed
David Mohammed is known for his work in reducing gun violence in Oakland California—a city consistently ranked in the top 10 most violent as far back as the 1980s. Oakland called their operation “Cease Fire.” It utilized clergy, community leaders, law enforcement and public officials to interact with perpetrators and victims of gun violence.
Some cities have had miraculous results. As of 2018:
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- Oakland, CA: 6th straight year of reductions in shootings and homicides, a 50% reduction since the program was introduced in 2012.
- Stockton, CA: 40% reduction in homicides during first year of implementation of the program.
- Sacramento, CA: First time in 35 years with no youth homicides.
- Indianapolis, IN: Commitment to begin a gun violence initiative to begin in 2019
The fact that we pretty much know who the potential shooters are should be shocking, but it’s not. We know them. They have a rap sheet. In Oakland the perpetrators had an average of 10 prior arrests, felony convictions, firearm charges, and had served time in state prison or were on parole.
Our citizens have painfully watched while more and more young men and women are victimized. In the first 9 days of 2022, one person was shot every single day, and the numbers continue to rise. But now, with $150 million in federal funds, the mayor is upping the ante—from a handful of people working in violent areas, to 50 people who will be hand-picked, with lived experience, who can relate to those they engage.
A new organization, Congregations United to Reduce Violence (CURV), has been formed to support this effort. It is our hope that they will be directly involved with the necessary interventions that are part of the gun violence reduction strategy. Heart-rending testimony from Oakland interventions tell us that when they told someone that they are not only loved by their family members, but also by God, whose love never fails, they have witnessed tears and redemption. The response is often, “No one has ever told me that before.”
God’s love is a revelation that has the power to change lives. If we tell these people anything, let’s make sure they hear that.
Jim
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