ST. LOUIS — An urgent town hall on gun violence was held Wednesday at Better Family Life in St. Louis Wednesday night.
The event was called "A Community Conversation on Gun Violence." Victims of gun violence, ex-offenders, local law enforcement, nonprofit outreach teams, clergy coalition leaders and Congressman Lacy Clay were all in attendance.
Congressman Clay said the community needs to take action to confront gun violence.
“Doing something to stop gun violence begins with us, listening and working at the ground level to reduce the flood of guns into our community and to de-escalate situations before they explode with tragic consequences," he said. "The common-sense gun control legislation that I have introduced will help, especially when it is combined with the good and courageous work of Better Family Life, Inc. in our most challenged neighborhoods. This is not just a fight against gun violence; it is a fight to save our community’s future.”
St. Louis Director of Public Safety Judge Jimmy Edwards, Trauma Surgeon Dr. Laurie Punch and St. Louis Police Chief John Hayden were at the event to discuss ways to stop gun violence.
Congressman Clay’s Town Hall meeting will be followed up by a Wear Orange Day Walk on Saturday, June 2 at 10 a.m. The march is organized by Better Family Life, Inc., Radio One, and the St. Louis Regional CrimeStoppers. It will start at St. Alphonsus Liguori Catholic Church. The march is another effort to address gun violence. June is National Gun Violence Awareness Month.
