Letter to the Hon. Mitch McConnell, Majority Leader and to the Hon. Chuck Schumer, Minority Leader and to the Hon. Richard Shelby, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and to the Hon. Patrick Leahy, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee - Gillibrand Joins Push To Fund Gun Violence Prevention And Support Programs Amidst Covid-19 Crisis

Letter

Dear Leader McConnell, Leader Schumer, Chairman Shelby, and Vice Chairman Leahy:
As you work on the next legislative package to address the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)
pandemic and its devastating impacts, we strongly encourage you to include resources to
address the specific and urgent needs of communities plagued by gun violence during this
unprecedented time.
The devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including increased absences amongst
youth due to school closures, unemployment, and housing and food insecurity, have exacerbated
community gun violence, especially in communities of color. Since the stay-at-home orders
have been in place, community gun violence has significantly increased in cities like Chicago,
Portland, Baltimore, Cincinnati, and Louisville. In Chicago alone, gun violence has increased
over 25 percent compared to last year and in Trenton, a curfew was implemented to address
spikes in gun violence. In addition, the increase in gun sales over the last couple of months
could continue to amplify risk factors for those vulnerable to suicide, domestic violence and
community violence. With gun sales soaring and stay-at home orders in place, individuals--
especially youth--will be exposed to potentially higher rates of violence because in many
communities impacted by gun violence, staying home is not safe and local recreation centers
and other safe spaces are closed.
Making robust investments in violence intervention programs would be an important step in
mitigating gun violence during the pandemic as gun sales continue to rise and emergency health
services are strained. Violence intervention outreach programs decrease rates of firearm-related
violence and homicides by addressing the underlying causes of violence, all of which have
worsened since COVID-19 has swept through urban communities. With the closing of nonessential businesses and a decrease in transportation services, community-violence intervention
programs are having an even more difficult time reducing violence. Many of these outreach
programs rely on recreation centers and libraries as office space and public transportation to
reach at-risk youth. Because of COVID-19, these community organizations have had to cut
staff, programming and outreach efforts, drastically affecting their operations and ability to curb
gun violence. Funding for these programs in the next package is also vital because these
outreach workers serve the dual purpose of acting as first responders and violence interrupters
--mitigating violence and the spread of COVID-19, as they continue to educate their
communities on handwashing, social distancing and mask-wearing.
Therefore, to strengthen our Nation's public health infrastructure to combat gun violence and
gun deaths as communities rally and respond to COVID-19, we respectfully request that any
future legislation to address this pandemic include the following:
* $100 million in designated Byrne-Justice Assistance Grant Program (Byrne-JAG)
Funds. As the COVID-19 pandemic depletes local budgetary resources, emergency JAG
funds are needed to sustain lifesaving community-based violence intervention programs
in cities most impacted by gun-violence. These additional funds will enable cities to
retain violence interrupters, who help keep the peace, and reduce the number of gunrelated deaths and injuries that continue to burden the healthcare system during the
pandemic.
* $150 million for a Community-Based Violence Intervention Fund. The fund would
allow local governments in the areas hardest hit by gun violence to develop and replicate
effective models for lifesaving violence intervention initiatives. Funds should be awarded
in a manner consistent with the purposes of implementing initiatives, through strategies
such as hospital-based violence intervention, evidence-based street outreach and
partnerships with critical stakeholders -- such as health and education providers, law
enforcement, local businesses and community leaders.
Ultimately, it is critical that community violence intervention programs receive the resources to
sustain their services as our nation responds to this unprecedented public health crisis. With this
assistance, we can assure that our communities emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic stronger
than ever and no one is left behind.
Thank you for your consideration of this request