PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — As gun violence continues to rise in Philadelphia, an effort is underway to address the need for funding to help victims of gun violence and their families in their time of need. Some lawmakers and community advocates are calling for support on state and federal levels.
Cease Fire PA hosted a discussion on the need for everyone to come together to stop the spread of gun violence and for survivors to have the resources available to them. That would include medical, legal and financial support.
"Most of the things we need to do immediately after a shooting or homicide is when we are most vulnerable, most depleted, and yet have the highest challenge," said Aleida Garcia. Her son, Alejandro Rojas Garcia, was shot and killed in 2015.
U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey are introducing the Resources for Victims of Gun Violence Act in Congress. An interagency advisory council would be established.
"The advisory council has to gather the information, then of course you want to disseminate it and that is going be critically important to make sure that it is not just a set of recommendations that sits on a shelf in Washington," said Casey. "We want to make sure it has wide distribution."
it's unclear if the bill will have the support to pass both houses. But those behind the effort are urging the public to contact their lawmakers stressing the need to make resources available to survivors of gun violence.
"It is this kind of effort that will have to make a difference, and on our part that leadership is what makes the difference, recognizing that gun violence is not only a public health issue, it's a racial equity issue," urged Evans. "It is an issue that we can not take lightly."
