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Questions about guns and killing in the East End
With gun violence on the national stage these days, my thoughts turn to the killings that recur in our community.
Over the last 10 years (Jan. 1, 2006 – Dec. 5, 2015), 441 people have been murdered in Richmond – the vast majority of them by being shot. Of these 441 people who were killed, 119 (26.9%) were killed in the East End of the city.
I have questions… What do we really know about this violence? Are there laws or programs that we should press our city to adopt that would directly impact the violence? Can it even be stopped?
Each killing has a ripple effect on our community. I taught at a school in the neighborhood for almost 10 years, and had a number of students whose father or uncle had been killed, or were killed during the school year. I’ve seen a depressingly high number of former students make the news for either being shot to death or shooting someone else to death. Whichever side of the gun they were on (and it’s almost always a gun), I can not help but think about the mothers, grandmothers, brothers and sisters that these young men left behind when they are killed or sentenced to prison.
I’ve got ready access to data on area killings going back to 2009. From then to now, at least 62 of the 70 killings in the East End were shootings. Every one of the multiple homicides was a shooting. It seems that in any given year, there will be a domestic incident that does not involve a gun – but every other homicide in the East End is a shooting.
Some facts from 2009-2015:
- At least 10 of the 11 murders so far in 2015 were shootings
- 3 of the 4 murders in 2014 were shootings
- 8 of 10 murders in 2013 were shootings
- 8 of 9 murders in 2012 were shootings
- 11 of 13 murders in 2011 were shootings
- 14 of 14 murders in 2010 were shootings
- 8 of 9 murders in 2009 were shootings
- Over this time period, two people killed someone with a gun in self-defense (not included in the 70 killings specified above)
There is a geography and a demographic associated with the violence in our community. There is a sadness, but no surprise, when a young black man shoots another young black man to death on Redd Street or Coalter Street. The same census tracts with the highest unemployment, with the highest percentage of children – these are where shooting deaths happen year after year. If we can predict this, what can we do to make it better?
Is the problem guns? Poverty? Lack of job opportunity? Are the guns merely the tool or more like gasoline on a fire?
While the level of violence in the community is way down from the mid-1990s heyday, the number of killings in our community seems to have effectivly plateaued to an average near 11 per year since the implementation of sector policing in 2005 and the big drop in killings after 2006. What can be done to push this number even lower?
I’ve some questions about the murder guns that I’d love to have answers for, but have no idea where to look, if this information is even recorded anywhere:
- Of the fatal shootings over the past 6 years up here, how many were with illegal guns?
- What types of guns were used in the killings?
- How many of the victims had a gun on them when they were themselves killed?
Anybody got a line on any of this?
TAGGED: crime
Thank you for looking into this and getting a conversation started.
Killers prefer guns over other wepons. Gets the job done. It’s a vicious cycle of street cred and how to get it, IMHO.
Yes, #5. I thought the same thing. What other implement would be used in a homicide? I just don’t see knives and a west side story type dance doing the job. This seems like a file-by-file research project for a justice and social work double-major. I think the illegal gun data point would help change policing as well other things.
I believe there’s some evidence, though it may just be anecdotal, that crossbows and even high-end nail guns are popular murder weapons when firearms aren’t available or convenient to obtain. I realize that this doesn’t speak to your questions about the legality of the firearms used in murders in the neighborhood, but I can’t help but think that only so much of the homicide rate can be attributed to the fact that firearms are “convenient”. I think a relevant question is “how many of these homicides are directly or indirectly drug related?” I think answering that question (accurately, which may also be difficult to do) would be a better starting point with regards to finding answers to your first set of questions about guns (I.e.those causation vs correlation.)
http://www.courts.state.va.us/courts/circuit/Richmond/home.html
The question you should ask is why are so many violent felons being given suspended time for carrying guns….
The release of thousands of “non-violent” offenders from federal prison is the fuel to the fire….
Those in the know realize that the feds don’t take cases unless the offender had a violent history to begin with and the case was airtight…
John, It seems to me that you are the most qualified person on this subject to offer an opinion. If you taught school in the City for 10 years you certainly have an insight that others don’t or can’t have.
A person has to have a license to cut hair, but one can have as many children as they want and do nothing to insure that they will be productive citizens.
I did volunteer work at the Bon Air detention center for 15 years in the boys section and 10 to 15 year olds were in there for rape, beating someone with a baseball bat, stealing cars (one of which was mine) etc. The common denominator in ALL instances was lack of parenting and many times hostile parents.
I admire you for teaching for 10 years. I would not and could not do it.!
Grant – our state senator is Dance
Knowing the current regime’s penchant for ignoring the rule of law and the Constitution, why would anyone want to have their gun in “Federal” database? Do you really think a criminal or felon with a gun is going to register his gun? Too funny to even discuss. BTW- Sturtevant is a state senator, not a US senator he doesn’t make federal policy.
The late ’80’s were the Crack Cocaine wars in Church Hill. Who needed cable TV when you had Cops and Robbers playing on the streets. I remember when the Hill Café was the Rendezvous. You stayed the hell away from that place lest you take a stray bullet.
Thanks for starting this conversation John. It is very much needed. I think #8 is onto something that is very important—that is, a number of offenders (both with a history of violence and non-violence) are given suspended time for carrying guns. I’m in favor of the approach that if someone commits a gun crime, this person should get serious time. While a lack of hard sentencing measures may be a national trend (see for example http://time.com/4100408/a-criminologists-case-against-gun-control/?xid=fbshare), I’m curious about #7’s point about drugs as a causation/correlation point in East End homicides.
I’ve lived in a number of urban high crime areas (e.g. New York city during the crack/cocaine epidemic), and I’ve lived in Church Hill now for more than a few years, and I am baffled by the culture of toleration towards drug dealing. It is incredibly disheartening to see guys on street corners, in front of corner stores, in front of known drug houses, slinging drugs, and few people finding what they are doing objectionable. When I’ve spoken to neighbors about this, some are either too scared to call the cops and others have point blank told me that I shouldn’t expect more from poor black boys/men. By the way, I’m a black woman. What am I missing? Have we, as community residents, become apathetic?
#6. What happens when you take guns away from killers? They kill with something else:
http://www.bbc.com/world-asia-china-26402367
There are about 32,000 deaths in the US by guns per year. 60% are suicide. Only 3 percent are from legally purchased guns (which equals 960 by legally owned guns).
About 88,000 deaths in the US per year are caused by alcohol. Almost all of which is purchased legally.
There are about 480,000 cigarette related deaths per year in the US. Almost all of which are purchased legally. This equates to 1 OUT OF 5 OVERALL DEATHS PER YEAR IN THE US!!!
Look at the facts people, 960 (legal by guns), 88,000 (by legal alcohol) and 480,000 by (legal cigarettes), BUT OUR LEADERS ARE ONLY WORRIED ABOUT MAKING LEGAL GUNS HARDER TO GET???! And every one falls in line behind them and agrees. While people daily still smoke and go to the bar.
Seriously, what a joke. Look at the numbers people. Passing legislature against guns isn’t because the government or the president cares about lives. If so, they would regulate alcohol and cigarettes more, or ban them. It’s about taking our right to bear arms away, plain And simple.
@16 Aren’t most cigarette deaths self inflicted? In fact the government has taken steps to limit “homicide by second hand smoke” by limiting where people can smoke. The government has also taken steps to limit the effects of one person’s drinking on others by placing limits on blood alcohol level when driving. You also cannot consume alcohol in a public place without a permit.
@16
This is why I don’t really like statistics. You can make them say pretty much anything you want by manipulating them in a seemingly sensible manner.
Since you remove suicides from your gun death count, you also need to remove the deaths of the people who smoke or drink from your alcohol and tobacco statistics. And since you only count deaths by legal gun owners, you need to remove the deaths that were caused by illegal use of alcohol and tobacco (so no drunk drivers, underage drinking, etc.). Do all of that and you will be comparing apples to apples.
@17
Yes most cigarette deaths are self-inflicted, but 60% of gun deaths are as well.
Seriously, the government has taken steps to limited second hand smoke?! But I still see parents riding in their cars smoking away with their windows all the way up during the winter, with 2 toddlers and an infant in the back. If the government was that worried they would do something about the second hand smoke of children who can’t control their environment.
But seriously, a blood alcohol level while driving? That should be a no brainer. How many people stop, take a breathalyzer and say “Gotta stop because I’m over .08”? Drinking and driving isn’t the only reason that alcohol kills people (and actually it’s only a secondary reason for deaths). Direct causes for alcohol death include: alcoholic liver disease, fetal alcohol syndrome and alcohol poisoning. Some secondary reasons are liver cancer, hypertension, stroke and accidents.
Also there are many places/states/cities where you can consume alcohol in public legally. There are some places like church hill where it is illegal and no one is held accountable.
What we need to focus on is:
1) how to get guns out the hands of felons
2) make laws stricter for those who are felons and those who have gun charges
3) How to pass laws that will actually affect the majority of the gun deaths. The laws that they are trying to pass only affect those who legally purchase guns. Look what happened in California; it is one of the strictest gun law states in the nation and they failed to prevent what happened. Sad but true.
@#18
Your statement “Since you remove suicides from your gun death count, you also need to remove the deaths of the people who smoke or drink from your alcohol and tobacco statistics” does not make sense.
You obviously don’t like statistics because they provide evidence of these matters, which portray what is really happening. Statistics are used in everything because they give you incite of what is actually what is happening versus what is “perceived” of taking place.
You obviously missed the whole point about the guns: Politicians are looking to change laws (background checks, registration, limits) that only affect those who are legally purchasing weapons, which is a very small amount (960). Criminals do not play by the legal rules! It is also likely that even with enacting these laws they would not make a difference in the deaths (like the California shooting).
There are more people dying on a daily basis from cigarettes and alcohol but because they are such integral part of society we deem it “okay”. The reality of the matter is that there are circumstances where guns have saved lives. Give me one example where Cigarettes or alcohol has saved lives?? Cigarettes or alcohol ONLY have a negative impact on lives, and they aren’t an Amendment of the United States Constitution.
Yes, the government has taken steps to limit second hand smoke. Smoking in most restaurants, public buildings, and public means of transport is banned. Could more be done? Probably, but that is not to say nothing has been done.
No, most people don’t carry a breathalyzer. Most people I know do call a cab after few drinks rather than driving because they do fear a drunk driving conviction.
My point is that these items are regulated to limit the impact they have on others. Society seems somewhat accepting of causing slow damage to your own health by tobacco, alcohol, or even cheeseburger. It is when your actions effect the health of others that people get upset.
Can gun laws prevent every homicide? No, but they can be effective at reducing the overall number.
https://img.njdc.com/media/media/2015/09/01/wholechart.png
@Hill Runner
You made some very good points:
1) Society seems somewhat accepting of causing slow damage to your own health by tobacco, alcohol, or even cheeseburger.
2) It is when your actions affect the health of others that people get upset.
But, second hand smoke has proven to be horrible for the health of children and their FUTURE health. And alcohol kills people pretty quick when someone gets hit by driving under the influence…
That’s the problem with society, if they cannot see it right in front of their face it does not exist.
And I’m glad that “all the people you know do call a cab after a few drinks rather than driving because they do fear a drunk driving conviction”. But do they not fear stepping behind the wheel drunk to kill someone? That’s what they should fear!
And let’s register all those guns. Let’s do that and post it online so all the criminals know which houses to break into to steal these weapons……. GREAT IDEA
Pew gun homicide stats: http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2013/05/07/gun-homicide-rate-down-49-since-1993-peak-public-unaware/
@JAMES, #18, HILLRUNNER, ETC.
I hear gun fire frequently enough that I know longer find it unnerving. I’ve worked in Richmond for years but only lived up here a few months. Something is wrong when people – myself included, now, unfortunately – hear gunshots and think nothing of it.
I don’t know that we need to have a conversation about NATIONAL gun rights and gun control. I think we need to have a conversation about our own neighborhood, i.e. – “Is there anything that is local in character, specific to this area that is behind this?” And If so “why, and what can we do about it?”
Again, I think drug trafficking has a lot to do with it, but I could be wrong. I also think that these conversations devolve into a debate about gun rights because folks who aren’t involved in drug trafficking and who don’t live in or have occasion to visit certain parts of the neighborhood don’t usually experience drug-related gun violence – at least not directly-drug-related violence.
I think it’s easy but also logically lazy to see that people are shooting each other and conclude that people shouldn’t have firearms when it’s something you haven’t seen or experienced personally, when gun violence is something distant. I think the better response is to ask WHY people are shooting each other, because if we fail to understand WHY, I don’t think we can predict what will happen if we “just take away all the guns”. If these are just crimes of passion, exacerbated by convenience, then maybe there would be a reduction in murders, sure. But we might just as easily see more stabbing, beatings, and god only knows what else, especially if the gun violence and the culture surrounding it is the result of some other factor (again, probably the drug trade) I don’t see how statistical evidence comparing murder rates and varying gun-laws across states or countries wouls accurately capture this nuance.
Sorry if I repeat things already said earlier- didn’t want to read every response.
We don’t need any conversation about local gun control. It’s not going to do any good. There is no need to punish legal gun owners who carry legally and obey all Virginia laws, just because a select few are abusing the right to own weapons. I carry every day. I don’t feel safe walking my dog at night. I carry for protection all hours of the day. I’m not paranoid. I just like to have one with me.
Most of the guns in the area that are used for violent crimes are probably obtained illegally. How many of these shootings or homicides actually get solved? Is there any way to find that out? I know of a few driveby shootings that were related to known drug dealers/users in the area. I hear gun shots pretty often late at night/early morning hours. How many of these actually get reported? Or that police are doing something about?
Before we can even talk about gun control, let’s focus on keeping our packages safe on our front door steps. Last year my lawnmower was stolen. I’ve had it behind my house for 3 years. Had the blades sharpened and had it tuned up, and it was stolen the next day before I could use it. I lock my new one to my porch now. Had two packages stolen a few weeks ago.
We live in a pretty poverty stricken area. There will always be crime here. Creighton Court is right in our backyard. Low income housing is in our area. There are many foreclosed//abandoned/empty rotting houses. It’s human nature to find the easy way to survive. As long as there is poverty in the area, there will be violent crimes. Not saying that poverty is the only reason. If anyone has taken any law classes or criminal justice classes then you should know that crime is directly related to the poverty level of an area.
On a positive note- The area has been making a huge turn around in the past few years. New houses. Property values rising. People moving up here.
Chicago has some of the strictest gun control laws in the country. And they have uncontrollable homicide rates. Removing guns isn’t going to solve anything. It’s absurd to think that removing guns is going to solve anything. There will always be black markets. There will always be guns. Taking them away leaves opening for bad people to do harm. And they will do harm. Especially if we don’t have a means to stop them.
If no one else will blatantly say it – in no means is this racist, but If you really want to reduce the crime in the area, we need to address the poverty issue. Reduce the illegal drugs in the area. We need good parents so future generations won’t have these issues.
There is no such thing as a bad dog. Only bad dog owners.
“How many of these shootings or homicides actually get solved?”
The RPD has list of currently open/closed homicide cases here: http://www.richmondgov.com/Police/MajorCrimes.aspx
There are links at the bottom of that page to open/closed for previous years.