Gun Summit Convenes Amid Concerns of Gun Violence

Photo by Zengzheng Wang

Mayor Marty Walsh hosted the second annual Gun Violence Summit on November 19th.

Mayors and Police Chiefs from 31 towns and cities throughout Massachusetts Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island were in attendance, along with representatives of Every Town for Gun Safety, Arms with Ethics, Mayors Against Illegal Guns, and the Center for American Progress, according to press release issued by Walsh’s office.

“Our goal is to strengthen the regional approach to reducing gun violence in our communities,” Mayor Walsh said in a statement released by his office. “We are all committed. We have newly elected Mayors across Massachusetts and New England, creating a unique opportunity to build upon existing coalitions and bring fresh ideas to the table about combating gun violence and the illegal use of firearms in our region.”

Topics highlighted at the summit include gun safety, firearms education, gun violence, violence reduction, and addressing the ramifications of illegal firearms, Walsh’s office said. Attendees stood in solidarity to express a commitment to addressing the public’s growing concern for guns and gun violence.

“We see far too many guns on the street of our cities and the devastation that they cause,” Boston Police Commissioner William B. Evans said in a statement released by Walsh’s office. “Meeting here today only reinforces our commitment to stopping the flow of guns into our neighborhoods and making our communities as safe as they can be.”

Bridget Mannion is a student at Suffolk University