State Democratic leaders are touring Virginia, getting feedback from community members on addressing gun violence. It’s in preparation for the July 9th special session.
So far, Virginia Secretary of Public Safety Brian Moran has visited northern Virginia, Charlottesville and Richmond. Abingdon, in southwestern Virginia, is up next.
“To hear from our community members, whether it be law enforcement, activists, folks who have been a victim of gun violence,” described Moran in Richmond. “And hear from them, in terms of how do we proceed forward.”
The Governor is proposing a number of gun control measures.
But at the roundtable in Richmond Monday, Mark Whitfield said in his community jobs should be a priority, so people don’t have to sell drugs, turning to a violent black market economy. His young daughter was shot and killed at a public park over Memorial Day weekend.
“That day showed me it don’t matter where you go, what you doing, you ain’t safe nowhere. But how can we change that? For every problem there’s a solution. We gotta try to figure out what that solution will be,” he said to a group of community and state leaders.
Whitfield says the solution to everyday gun violence starts at home - with economic opportunity and neighbors fostering community.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
