Franklin County publicizes gun violence a public well being disaster

Franklin County is stating gun violence a public well being disaster as of late amid a upward thrust in capturing deaths during the last decade.

Main points: The answer taken up through county commissioners this morning resembles one enacted through Columbus previous within the yr. It mobilizes the county well being division to paintings towards decreasing native gun violence.

• The answer cites the greater than 45,000 U.S. gun deaths in 2020 — a brand new annual report.

Zoom in: Franklin County recorded 1,066 gun deaths and a pair of,541 accidents between 2017 and 2021, expanding to a fee of 20.6 deaths according to 100,000 citizens, from 16.1.

• The Black neighborhood is disproportionately impacted, with greater than 4 occasions the mortality fee of white citizens.

The large image: The answer notes different possible elements riding the capturing uptick, from poverty to the loss of psychological well being products and services and deficient gun protection insurance policies.

• “Gun violence destroys lives, devastates households, and cripples communities,” the answer reads.
• “It’s incumbent upon all elected policymakers to increase workable insurance policies and protections which stability one’s proper to possess a firearm with any other’s inherent and inalienable proper to lifestyles, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”