By Shawn Nowlin
Almost everyone either knows someone impacted by gun violence or has experienced it themselves. When Terri Beasley, 42, was a senior at William Byrd High School, she lost three loved ones to gun violence.
“They were a cousin and two friends that I grew up with. They just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. We must never become numb to senseless gun violence,” Beasley said. “My opinion on guns is not shared by everyone. If it were up to me, people could collect certain guns. Just not ones designed for war and they would have to be locked up in storage.”
Roanoke Police Chief Scott Booth says the Star City has seen much success in its fight to dwell local gun violence. So far this year, there have been six homicides, Booth noted. Last year, he explained, that number was 22 by the end of August.
Certain portions of Belmont, the Hunts, Lincoln Terrance and the Lansdowne area – all deemed problem spots for crime – have a new accountability model. When Booth assigned a qualified captain to each location, that individual was responsible for directing law enforcement and non-law enforcement services. Monthly, they will report their compiled data to Booth.
The city has invested in other community-based organizations that prioritize the safety of all residents.
The Roanoke Gun Violence Prevention Commission consists of 13 members: Booth, Robert Lamour, Shakira Williams, Amy Hodge, Catherine Koebel, Eric Anderson, Elliott Major, Tim Harvey, Jared Rose, Rabbi Cohen, Joe Cobb, Stephanie Moon Reynolds and Nazier Jackson.
Studying the issue of gun violence within the community, making recommendations to city council for potential actions and aiding the city in developing community partnerships are the primary objectives of the commission.
Under the Biden Administration, Congress was able to sign the first major gun safety legislation into law in nearly three decades. Passing 234-193 in the House, the legislation prevents individuals convicted of domestic abuse from owning a firearm.
The legislation, which the National Rifle Association strongly opposes, also expands background checks on people seeking to purchase a gun between 18 and 21, among other things.
Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have made their opinions on gun rights clear.
Trump, who survived an assassination attempt in July at an outdoor rally, has said, “During my four years nothing happened. And there was great pressure on me having to do with guns. We did nothing. We didn’t yield. Every single Harris attack on gun owners and manufacturers will be terminated my very first week back in office, perhaps my first day.”
Dozens of mass shootings, defined as “a violent crime in which one or more attackers kill or injure multiple people using a firearm,” happen every year in America.
Addressing the recent Georgia school shooting, Harris said, “Our kids are sitting in a classroom where they should be fulfilling their God-given potential, and some part of their big beautiful brain is concerned about a shooter busting through the door of the classroom. It does not have to be this way.”
Implementing evidence-based strategies will be vital to reducing Roanoke’s gun violence in the future.
