Gun violence rises in US Cities Amidst Pandemic

America is going through a lot during this pandemic. There is no single answer for the spike in gun violence besides the country facing a toxic combination of issues. Here is insider information on the REAL reasons for the spike in gun violence in the US. These reasons will SHOCK you!

Summer spike

  • Summers are notably shown to have a spike in crime which leads to police departments deploying more officers to patrol the streets during these months. Due to recent events, police funding has been cut.
  • Though overall crime rates are low across America, homicides and shootings are on the rise this year in Chicago, D.C, New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Houston,North Carolina, Milwaukee, Denver, Charlotte, Minneapolis and Kansas City. Chicago experienced a big spike in homicides and shootings this year.
  • Research shows that an increase in gun violence is always seen as temperatures rise in the summer.
  • In the first week of June, the Los Angeles Police Department reported that homicides increased 250% compared to previous weeks.

Social unrest

  • A huge rise in homicides this year, one of which is national backlash against police tactics. Other reasons include mass anti-police brutality protests that have led to law enforcement budget and reforms cuts.
  • Experts also noted the intense protests and spite towards law enforcement and tensions between communities of color since Floyd’s death. The murder of George led to a nationwide and sometimes violent protests.
  • Most recent victims of shootings are disproportionately Latino communities and Black communities, who most often have unequal access to healthcare and sometimes have a lot of pre-existing medical conditions.
  • The tensions between the public and police due to police brutality and systematic racism. This year, the police have also been able to arrest about one in four shootings, instead of the usual one in three due budget cuts.

COVID-19 pandemic

  • Ever since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, people have lost loved ones, jobs and have increased stress levels due to the restrictive stay-at-home orders.
  • Police claim that the surge in gun violence is a combination of early releases of criminals from jail due to the pandemic and the effects of a new bail reform law.
  • Economic hardships as well as the stress of enduring the outbreak, are possible drivers for gun violence.